Today,
forgiveness is described as an expression of divine grace and sacred
revelation, rather than human kindness or a celestial response to
sinners who seek favor and restoration by their declarations of
apology, embarrassment, regret, and remorse. What many call
“confession” is little more than boasting and proclaiming their
errors and transgressions without also expressing sorrow for sin.
Rightly understood, divine forgiveness only pertains to those who are
in covenant and intimate relationships with divinity that are
maintained through praise, prayer, repentance, unselfish service,
suffering, and thanksgiving. Those who receive forgiveness are to
grant forgiveness, for those who receive grace are to minister grace.
It is written: Colossians 1: 16-22, King James Version (KJV): 16
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are
in earth, visible and invisible, whether they
be thrones, or dominions, or
principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for
him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things
consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the
beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might
have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the
Father that in him should all
fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his
cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I
say, whether they
be things in earth, or things
in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in
your
mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of
his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and
unreproveable in his sight: The fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers”
public forum on Religion & Spirituality who uses the ID “Floyd”
(Level 1 with 156 points) posted the following:
Forgiveness
?
Can
god forgive someone who lives in guilt and regret about their past?
The wrong they have done and the one sin they can't get rid of?
THE
GOLDEN ARROW: If thou, LORD, shouldest mark
iniquities, O LORD, who shall stand? But there
is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. I wait for the
LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I
hope. (Psalms 130: 3-5, KJV)
THE
DOUBLE DAGGER: Living Your Best Life? (07/05/2020); The Outcomes Of
Judgment (06/28/2020); Acknowledging And Confessing Sin (06/21/2020);
Forgiveness A Sacred Practice (05/28/2020); Believers Are To Forgive
(05/17/2020); TWO Kinds of People? (02/21/2020); The Character of GOD
(06/27/2019)
“Floyd”,
when speaking of forgiveness by divinity, the spotlight must be on
GOD, not on the sinner, and not on the sin. Forgiveness is not
bestowed in response to begging, complaining, crying, displaying
misery and wretchedness, importuning, and pleading. There must be
confession, contrition, meekness, and resolve. Thus, it is correct
to use such words as “gifts” and “grace” to acknowledge GOD
as the origin and source of sacred forgiveness. Properly understood,
the divine practice of forgiveness that appears among mankind is an
expression of the character and makeup of divine fullness (i.e.,
divinity; the Godhead; the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit), and is
not the outcome or result of lawful tribunal and sacred judgment
against sin. Forgiveness is a sacred operation where divine process
and substance make visible the inseparable aspects of the divine
makeup that include balance, commitment, faith, holiness,
longsuffering, lovingkindness, oneness without sameness, personhood,
wisdom, and wrath against sin. Forgiveness does not take on its
focus and form on the basis of human attitudes, behavior, emotions,
frameworks of time (past, present, etc.), or motives and intent. The
active and unseen presence whom we acknowledge as our Creator and
Maker are to exist within the awareness and self-will of the living.
Intimate fellowship and on-going relationship with GOD are possible
where mankind will take on a fresh endowment of the life essence
(breath; spirit; utterance; word) imparted from divinity. Sinners
are to turn away from such elements as guilt, self-condemnation,
self-importance, self-pity, and shame. Through discovery, gradual
growth, practice, repentance, study, suffering, and good works all
are to display the image of GOD, and as developing believers, they
increasingly are to resemble, reflect, and reveal the character and
likeness of Jesus Christ. Consider again the following that uses
language from the Bible, and a selection from the music ministry of
Steve Amerson:
(1.)
Matthew 6: 9-15, King James Version (KJV): 9 After this manner
therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy
name. 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is
in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us
our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and
the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men
their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But
if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father
forgive your trespasses.
(2.)
Psalms 25: 5-11, KJV: 5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for
thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the
day. 6 Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and
thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. 7
Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according
to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.
8 Good and upright is the LORD:
therefore will he teach sinners in the way. 9 The meek will he guide
in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. 10 All the paths
of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such
as keep his covenant and his testimonies. 11 For thy name’s
sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is
great.
(3.)
Ephesians 4: 29-32, KJV: 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed
out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying,
that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the
holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil
speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind
one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for
Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
There
is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually
apprehended. (For example, (4.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G8dZTWwvmU.) Even so, I
trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your
faith.
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THE
BLACK PHOENIX
Washington,
DC
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