Forgive (1) To pardon or absolve of wrongdoing;(2) to cancel a debt;(3) to give up resentment. The biblical doctrine of forgiveness explains how God deals with our sins. Human beings have sinned and deserve punishment, yet God in love forgives and restores a harmonious relationship through the atonement of Christ. As sinners, human beings are alienated from God and hostile to him. Before a harmonious relationship can be reestablished, the sin which caused the alienation must be dealt with. Is God's forgiveness contingent on forgiving others? The Lord's prayer does say, " Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." And Jesus said, " If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive men their sins. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. The Revell Concise Bible Dictionary pg. 226-227
Transform Your Mind
Transform is defined as making a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character of an individual. As it relates to the believer in Christ, we often quote, “let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus". Although we are in the world we are also instructed not to be of the world. Why? Because the current state of this world is full of wickedness and against the teachings of Christ. Only through the word of God can a true believer overcome or separate from what man’s wisdom teaches. Jesus Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice for our sin by giving his life for ours on the cross. Man was the one who transgressed and broke God's laws not Christ.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:1-2 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.12.1-2.KJV
Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Galatians 1:3-5 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/gal.1.3-5.KJV
Wait! it was Jesus who sacrificed himself for our sins that he might deliver us! Why?? This requires some critical thinking on our part...
Read!
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/2ti.3.1-5.KJV
It appears society has taken a turn for the worse. Mankind has become selfish, having no love for others, no respect for those in authority...Yea, the whole head is sick...now are you understanding the mission of Jesus in regards to delivering us from this present evil world.
Continue!
Those laws pastor told you that were nailed to the cross are still in effect.
Let's continue to put on our thinking caps for a minute, this ride is about to get a little uncomfortable.
Say On!
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
1 John 3:4 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/1jn.3.4.KJV
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.6.23.KJV
The Wages Of Sin Is Death
So, you mean to tell me, The breaking of God's commandments can get you cut off...yea, the ones that say thou shalt have no other Gods before me, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not commit adultery or bear false witness against thy neighbor…. just to name a few.
Let's go back to the beginning and see who else was bargaining with their lives.
Check It Out!
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Genesis 3:1-7, 17-21 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/gen.3.1-21.KJV
Brothers and sisters, did you dissect that entire conversation. That is the reason why I asked you to put your thinking caps on, however the very end on the matter is very telling. Remember God said the wages of sin is death. Was Adam killed on the spot! Now ask yourself, where did coats of skin come from??? If you said an animal, you guessed right. Yes, the law of animal sacrifice, because God knew he would send his son Jesus to atone for the sin of man. The transgression of one man brought death into the creation. And yes Adam did for his sin, because the Lord said one day with him was like a thousand years. Adam only lived 930 years (2 Peter 3:8).
The Law Of Animal Sacrifice Was Our Schoolmaster
Let us reason together, you see the blood of bulls and goats could never take away sin; therefore, God sent his only son Jesus. Remember Jesus said I come in the volume of the book; it is written of me. Only through repentance, baptism in the name of Jesus can a believer receive remission (forgiveness) of sin. Only the blood of Jesus can remove sin, while the blood of animals only provided a covering for sin.
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Check It Out!!
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Galatians 3:22-27 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/gal.3.22-27.KJV
Continue Reading!
Through The Sacrifice Of One Man Sin Was Forgiven!
We Must Repent And Be Baptized In The Name Of Jesus!
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Acts 5:30-31 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/act.5.30-31.KJV
Does Grace Allow The Believer To Continue In Sin After They Repent?
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Romans 6:1-2 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.6.1-2.KJV
After a believer repents and is baptized in the name of Jesus one is to walk in newness of life. That old man is buried, however if one chooses to willfully turn back to living a life of sin you shall die (Eternally). Grace does not give you the license to continue sinning against God.
** Caution Read Very Carefully **
The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God : and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.
Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.
Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God . Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
Ezekiel 18:20-30 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/ezk.18.20-30.KJV
Jesus is that light and if we repent and are baptized in his name, what do we become?
Read!
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
John 1:1-5, 7-9 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.1.1-9.KJV
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.5.14-16.KJV
After the sinner is forgiven of his/her sin the expectation is for you to forgive others. Why? because we ourselves are guilty of doing wrong to someone. The apostle Peter asked Jesus, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him til seven times. Christ's response was I say not unto thee, until seven times, but until seventy times seven (Matthew 18: 21-22). That is a hard saying, having to forgive those who have spoken evil against you…. Vengeance belongs to God!
What The Book Say!
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Mark 11:24-26 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/mrk.11.24-26.KJV
And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
Exodus 12:22-23 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/exo.12.22-23.KJV
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
1 Corinthians 5:6-8 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/1co.5.6-8.KJV
Brother’s and Sister’s,
Let us continue to edify one another!
Peace in Jesus mighty name!
Brother Naphtali Israel