🤟The Power Of Personal Forgiveness: WW-6

Personal Forgiveness: We really need to start with a look at what forgiveness is and how the word is presented in the Bible. Often we are led to believe that it is a unique word with one single meaning. And then we turn this word into a verb meaning to “Forgive & Forget,” seeking spiritual amnesia of wrongs and slights against us. Then if you fail to produce this amnesia, it is somehow wrong and is somehow a sin. Not to mention the directive to “forgive all” and “always forgive.” Would you be surprised to learn that the topic is a little deeper than this simplistic Sunday school philosophy? It is not without its merits, but it does lack the full understanding of God’s intention for forgiveness. 

The easiest and most concise way I can define “Forgiveness” is in the word: “Separate”- To separate the wrong from the wrong doer; To no longer attach the act to the actor, seeing them as two separate entities; No longer belonging to each other nor having influence upon one another. Much like taking the peanut out of the shell, and throwing the shell away while keeping the nut. #Forgiveness #ForgivenbyGod #Forgave

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New Intro

Transcript

Neuter The Devil!

Isaiah 55:7 “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to Jehovah, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

So far, in the Weapons of Warfare series, we have learned different abilities we as Christians have to fight the spiritual battle we are in. We have learned about “The Blood of Jesus,” “The Shofar,” “Praise and Worship,” “God’s Love (loving like God),” & “The Lord’s Supper!” In this study we will be learning about the power of “Forgiveness.” While this is rooted in the forgiveness we receive from God, “God forgiving us.” We are focusing on the power to personally forgive others. We will briefly touch on how God forgives us so that we can better understand forgiving others. 

We really need to start with a look at what forgiveness is and how the word is presented in the Bible. Often we are led to believe that it is a unique word with one single meaning. And then we turn this word into a verb meaning to “Forgive & Forget,” seeking spiritual amnesia of wrongs and slights against us. Then if you fail to produce this amnesia, it is somehow wrong and is somehow a sin. Not to mention the directive to “forgive all” and “always forgive.” Would you be surprised to learn that the topic is a little deeper than this simplistic Sunday school philosophy? It is not without its merits, but it does lack the full understanding of God’s intention for forgiveness. 

Forgiven / Forgive / Forgiveness- Definitions

The easiest and most concise way I can define “Forgiveness” is in the word: “Separate”- To separate the wrong from the wrong doer; To no longer attach the act to the actor, seeing them as two separate entities; No longer belonging to each other nor having influence upon one another. Much like taking the peanut out of the shell, and throwing the shell away while keeping the nut. 

We can see this example when God’s Word says the following:

Psalms 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

Let’s Look At 3 Definitions Used For Forgiveness

Definition #1

    G630: ἀπολύω - apoluō - ap-ol-oo'-o

From G575 and G3089; to free fully, that is, (literally) relieve, release, dismiss (reflexively depart), or (figuratively) let die, pardon, or (specifically) divorce: - (let) depart, dismiss, divorce, forgive, let go, loose, put (send) away, release, set at liberty.

Total KJV occurrences: 69

~Forgive

    Luke 6:37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven.”

Interesting Note: Luke 6:37 is the only verse in the New Testament that is translated the word as “forgive and forgiven, etc”. The rest you will find to be very different, maybe even a little surprising. This will become very important later.

Example: Here Jesus uses the same word He used in Luke 6:37 as an expression of divorce!

    Luke 16:18 “Everyone putting away his wife and marrying another commits adultery; and everyone marrying her who is put away from her husband commits adultery.”

~Other

Also used here to mean divorce:

Put, 13 Times: Mat_1:18-19 (2), Mat_5:31-32 (2), Mat_19:3, Mat_19:7-9 (4), Mar_10:2, Mar_10:4, Mar_10:11-12 (2), Luk_16:18 Divorced, 1 Time: Mat_5:32

Away, 27 Times: Act_13:3 Go, 13 Times: Luk_23:22 -Release, 13 Times: Mat_27:15 - 

Let, 10 Times: Act_16:35-36 - Sent, 7 Times: Mar_6:45 - Send, 6 Times: Mar_8:3 - Released, 4 Times: Luk_23:25 - At (Liberty), 2 Times: Act_26:32 - Depart, 2 Times: Luk_2:29 - Dismissed, 2 Times: Act_15:30 - Liberty, 2 Times: Act_26:32 - Loosed, 2 Times: Luk_13:12 - Set, 2 Times: Heb_13:23 - Departed, 1 Time: Act_28:25 - Lettest, 1 Time: Luk_2:29

Bridge Verse between the next definition: 

Matthew 18:27 “Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion and released (G630) him and forgave (G863) him the debt.”

Definition #2

    G863 - ἀφίημι - aphiēmi - af-ee'-ay-mee

From G575 and ἵημι hiēmi (to send; an intensive form of εἶμι eimi (to go)); to send forth, in various applications: - cry, forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, let (alone, be, go, have), omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, yield up.

Total KJV occurrences: 147

  1 John 2:12 “I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.”

~Forgive

Forgive, 23 Times: Mat_6:14-15 - Forgiven, 21 Times: 1Jn_2:12 - Remit, 1 Time: Joh_20:23 - Remitted, 1 Time: Joh_20:23 - Forgave, 2 Times: Mat_18:27 - - Forgive, 1 Time: Luk_7:49

~Other

Left (To Depart), 36 Times: Rev_2:4 - Let (To Allow), 15 Times: Mat_7:4 - Leave (To Depart), 11 Times: Mat_5:24 - Suffer (To Allow), 8 Times: Mat_3:15 - Alone (To Leave Alone), 6 Times: Mat_15:14 - Suffered (To Allow), 6 Times: Luk_12:39 -  Away, 4 Times: Mar_4:36 / 1Co_7:11-12 (As In Divorce) - Forsook, 4 Times: Mar_14:50 - Leaving, 3 Times: Luk_10:30 - Forsaken (To Leave), 2 Times: Matthew 19:29 - Leave, 2 Times: Joh_10:11-12 - Put, 2 Times: 1Co_7:11-12 - Sent, 2 Times: Mar_4:36 - Aside, 1 Time: Mar_7:8 - Cried, 1 Time: Mar_15:37 - Go, 1 Time: Mar_11:6 - Laying, 1 Time: Mar_7:8 - Omitted, 1 Time: Mat_23:23 - Yielded, 1 Time: Mat_27:50

Definition #3

    G5483 – χαρίζομαι – charizomai - khar-id'-zom-ahee

Middle voice from G5485; to grant as a favor, that is, gratuitously, in kindness, pardon or rescue: - deliver, (frankly) forgive, (freely) give, grant.

Total KJV Occurrences: 24

  2 Corinthians 2:7 “so that on the contrary you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excessive sorrow.”

~Forgive

Forgave, 4 Times: Luk_7:42-43 -Forgive, 4 Times: 2Co_2:7 - Forgiven, 2 Times: Eph_4:32 - Forgiving, 2 Times: Col_3:13 

~Other

Given, 5 Times: 1Co_2:12 - Deliver, 2 Times: Act_25:16 - Gave, 2 Times: Luk_7:21 - Give, 1 Time: Rom_8:32 - Granted (Given), 1Time: Act_3:14

I hope we can see that the words used to express Forgiveness are also used to express many other ideas. So we cannot say that the words used provide us a unique, special, nor exceptional word such as “Forgive” as we understand it in the New Testament. What is apparent is the idea presented of “Separation.” We find this idea with most of the words used. So, to say that God has forgiven us, what we are really saying is that God has separated us from our sin. He has divided our wrong doing from our personhood. And to say that we forgive others is to say that we are separating them from their wrong doing. This is a key understanding to the spiritual weapon of forgiveness. The Ministry of “Sin Separators” is the call of all believers. The Gospel of peace is based upon man no longer being dealt with according to their sins. We preach the loving act of God providing a way to be separated from our sin, guilt, and shame. Moreover, we are also called to separate those who sin against us: dividing them from their offences against us. Therefore, we deprive Satan power through his evil schemes of un-forgiveness, and failure to receive it.

The Mechanics of Forgiveness

We need look at the foundation of Forgiveness. We find this in God and God alone. We must learn this pattern to understand how to work it out in our own lives. Then we can unlock the spiritual weapon of personal Forgiveness and forgiving others. 

The Purposeful Forgetfulness Of God

When God separates us from our sin (forgives), the act is so complete that He no longer recalls the sins forgiven. As if taking the stone called sin and throwing it as far away as possible away from us and Himself.

Isaiah 38:17 “Behold, for peace I had great anguish, but you have in love for my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; for you have cast all my sins behind your back.”

Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.”

Jeremiah 33:8 “I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against me. I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned against me and by which they have transgressed against me.”

Hebrews 8:12 “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more.”

Micah 7:18-20 “Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn’t retain his anger forever, because he delights in loving kindness.  (19)  He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot; and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.  (20)  You will give truth to Jacob, and mercy to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.”

Psalms 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

As I Said Above:

“The easiest and most concise way I can define “Forgiveness” is the word: “Separate”- To separate the wrong from the wrong doer; To no longer attach the act to the actor, seeing them as two separate entities; No longer belonging to each other nor having influence upon one another other.”

What I should add is that the sinful act once performed still has to be dealt with by God. While He separates the sin from us, sin must still be punished. We receive forgiveness, yet Jesus received the punishment for us. Without Jesus to take our punishment, there is no forgiveness. Then we must pay the price. Therefore we can understand the imperative of the work of Jesus and the cross of sacrifice. There is no other way to come to the Father, as there is no other payment for our sins. This is also a key concept to understanding forgiving others.

How Is This Accomplished?

~Through Jesus Christ & His Blood~

Please Refer to “The Blood Of Jesus” Bible Study For More Information.

In Short: Jesus paid our debt for our rebellion and sin. We could not pay it and still live. So, Jesus being perfect, did it for us. By separating us from our sin through His blood and faith in Him. God has made the way to deal with our sin and us personally, separately. Love for us and punishment for sin. This is also very important to understand forgiving others.

Ephesians 1:3-7  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ;  (4)  even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love;  (5)  having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,  (6)  to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely gave us favor in the Beloved,  (7)  in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,”

What Is The Process?

As we go over these, please keep in mind that these steps also apply to forgiving others. In our next study, we will cover how forgiving others is important to receive Forgiveness.

    We Receive The Power Of Forgiveness Through Repentance.

Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

    It Takes Admission Of Guilt And Confession.

Psalms 32:5 “I acknowledged my sin to you. I didn’t hide my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to Yahweh, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.”

1 John 1:8-9 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  (9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

God cannot and will not separate us from our sins without admission and confession. We have to, with repentance, accept Jesus in and His work of redemption or there is no deal!

    He Is Just And Faithful To Forgive If We Confess. 

1 John 1:8-10 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  (9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (10)  If we say that we haven’t sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

    It Removes Condemnation And Calls Us To Obedience.

John 8:10-11 “Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, “Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?”  (11)  She said, “No one, Lord.” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.”

    It Requires Our Conversion.

Acts 3:19 Therefore repent and convert so that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

    Here We See The New Covenant Is Based Upon Keeping God’s Laws.

Hebrews 8:10-12 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel. After those days,” says the Lord; “I will put my laws into their mind, I will also write them on their heart. I will be their God, and they will be my people.  (11)  They will not teach every man his fellow citizen, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all will know me, from their least to their greatest.  (12)  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more.”

   Furthermore, We See This Implanting Of God’s Laws In Our Hearts And Minds As The Precursor To Receiving Forgiveness. 

Hebrews 10:16-18 “This is the covenant that I will make with them: ‘After those days,’ says the Lord, ‘I will put my laws on their heart, I will also write them on their mind;’”then he says,  (17)  “I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.”  (18)  Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.”

We can clearly define the connection of repentance “turning from the sin we have committed”, to obeying God and Jesus!

Now I want to share a very important verse that Angel shared with me that her friend shared with her. It really drives home the necessity of obeying to receive forgiveness.

The MKJV Reads The Following:

John 3:36 “He who believes on the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides upon him.”

The Geneva Bible Reads The Following:

John 3:36 “Hee that beleeueth in the Sonne, hath euerlasting life, and hee that obeyeth not the Sonne, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

The Literal Translation Of The Bible Reads The Following:

John 3:36 “The one believing into the Son has everlasting life; but the one disobeying the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

Many Translations Correctly Translate the Verse:

American Standard Version, A Faithful Version, Good News Bible, English Standard Version, Easy To Read Version, International Standard Version, Lexham English Bible, World English Bible, The Scripture 2009, The Passion Translation, Tree Of Life Version, Revised Version, And Many Others.

The First word Jesus used for “believe” is the following: (He Who Believes on The Son)

    G4100: πιστεύω - pisteuō -pist-yoo'-o

From G4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), that is, credit; by implication to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well being to Christ): - believe (-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.

The Second word Jesus used for believe is the following, (He Who does not believe the Son)

    G544: ἀπειθέω - apeitheō - ap-i-theh'-o

From G545; to disbelieve (wilfully and perversely): - not believe, disobedient, obey not, unbelieving.

So, as we can clearly see, Jesus intended a different meaning than just “believe” in the second use. If He did not, He would have used the same word. We can see this play out in the following verses:

Revelation 14:12   “Here is the perseverance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

Hebrews 5:8-10   “Though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered.  (9)  Having been made perfect, he became to all of those who obey him the author of eternal salvation,  (10)  named by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.”

    Here We Clearly See Obedience Linked To Forgiveness

1 John 2:1-6 “My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.  (2)  And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.  (3)  This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments.  (4)  One who says, “I know him,” and doesn’t keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth isn’t in him.  (5)  But whoever keeps his word, God’s love has most certainly been perfected in him. This is how we know that we are in him:  (6)  he who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked.”

We cannot say that we know Jesus or love Jesus if we do not keep His word and obey His commandments. If we do, then we will walk as He walked before God in obedience. If we fail to follow the example of keeping the word, obeying the word, and walking the path, then we do not truly know Jesus. If we do not know Him, than He does not know us. Then we no longer have a counselor or payment for our sins. Furthermore, we have nothing to separate us from our sin. God will then have to deal with us through punishment. This punishment is death. Yet, if we follow the following example, we can rejoice and be glad for our salvation. We can count on being Forgiven and made New!

    Be Encouraged With The Following Verse:

Psalms 103:8-18 “Yahweh is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness.  (9)  He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever.  (10)  He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities.  (11)  For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him.  (12)  As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.  (13)  Like a father has compassion on his children, so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him.  (14)  For he knows how we are made. He remembers that we are dust.  (15)  As for man, his days are like grass. As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.  (16)  For the wind passes over it, and it is gone. Its place remembers it no more.  (17)  But Yahweh’s loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him, his righteousness to children’s children;  (18)  to those who keep his covenant, to those who remember to obey his precepts.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13  “This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.”

Now To The Point Of How Personal Forgiveness Is A Spiritual Weapon in our Warfare.

Revelation 12:10 “I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ has come; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night.”

Satan is a deceitful, lying beast. Ever ready to condemn us at the slightest failure, ready to rub our faces in our mistakes, and eager to beat us into depression over our failures. It is the great separation of God’s forgiveness that destroys his evil work and neuters the devil!

The Power Of Forgiveness IN The Life Of The Obedient Believer

    Forgiveness Makes Things New Again And Restores Relationship.

2 Corinthians 5:17-19 “So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away – look, what is new has come!  (18)  And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.  (19)  In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation.”

    Makes You Alive. 

Colossians 2:13  “And you—being dead in the trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh—He made alive together with him, having forgiven you all the trespasses,”

    It Removes Punishment.

John 5:24  “Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”

    It Removes The Guilt Of The Perpetrator.

Hebrews 10:21-23  “And having a great priest over God’s house,  (22)  let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water,  (23)  let’s hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful.”

    It Is An Act Of Blessing.

Psalms 32:1-2 “Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  (2)  Blessed is the man to whom Yahweh doesn’t impute iniquity, in whose spirit there is no deceit.”

    He Is Just And Faithful To Forgive Us When We Confessed. 

1 John 1:8-10 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  (9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (10)  If we say that we haven’t sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

    We Have Been Pardoned and Found God’s Mercy.

Isaiah 55:7 “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to Jehovah, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

    It Removes Our Condemnation And Allows Us To Obey Again.

John 8:10-11 “Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, “Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?”  (11)  She said, “No one, Lord.” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.”

As we seek God’s Forgiveness, His “Separation/Forgiveness” powers turns the Devil into a toothless lion concerning our salvation and walk with God. So, we can declare our redemption every time he tries to chime in with the false guilt. We can shut him up with every faded memory of our past sins. Let us all plainly state: “That was the old me, I’m not that way anymore. You have the wrong person, that person doesn’t live here anymore.” Then send Jesus to the door of your heart and have that failed usurper banished from your heart and mind. If the devil tries to airmail you doubts and shame, just write “return to sender” on the postage. You are a new creation in Christ- the old is gone, the new has come. 

   You cannot undo the past, but you can forge a new future with obedient love towards God and Jesus as you respond to the free gift of salvation. 

   Obediently, with a repentant heart, you receive forgiveness and enjoy being separated from your failures and guilt.

   Enjoy The Presence of Your God And His Son Forever!