Forgiveness of Sins???????

We are still commanded to forgive sins today.

If we do not forgive, God will not forgive us.

 

Jesus gave the disciples the authority to bind and loose, which is indicative of leadership responsibility. In other words, they were given the ability to judge others in the commission of sins - whether they should be retained or forgiven. I am assuming based on true repentance, ignorance or knowledge. After Jesus resurrection, there was a transitional period - Torah had been fulfilled and conversion of the Gentiles were becoming one with believing Jews. I imagine there was quite a process to decide what was considered sin or not many times.

Matt 18:15 Moreover if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone: if he shall hear you, you have gained your brother.

18:16 But if he will not hear you, then take with you one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word (o. rhema) may be established.

18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto you as an heathen man and a publican.

18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever all of you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever all of you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as concerning any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

18:22 Jesus says unto him, I say not unto you, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

 

We can forgive sins (trespasses) committed against us, but that does not negate the sin in God's eyes. That one still must ask God to forgive him or her as well.

 

Jay, I think you may be confusing a couple of things here. We are to forgive those who sin against us, personally. If someone gossips about me, and causes problems among my family or friends, I must be willing to forgive him or her. Now, that person may not care and may not ever say "I'm sorry", in which case my forgiveness can only be in my heart and not extended to make relationships better, but I must be willing to forgive no matter what.

However I do not have the power to forgive someone for what they do to YOU. That is in your ballcourt.

Nor do I have the power to forgive for God. That is in HIS ballcourt.

But I am commanded to forgive hurts done to me. I used a picture with some little kids once, trying to explain how important this was. I filled a glass with vinegar and passed it around, asking anyone if they wanted to drink some. Of course no one did!

Then I poured half out and filled the glass with half 7-UP.

"Do you want to drink it now?"

YCHHH was the general answer!

So I poured out some of that, and filled up the rest with 7-UP. No way did they want to drink that, either. In fact, I tasted it, and the mix was far worse than just plain vinegar!

It was only good when I had empties the glass, rinsed it out, and THEN filled it with 7-UP. Then they all wanted it!

And I explained that forgiveness is like that. If our hearts are full of anger or blame toward someone else, that is a bitter thing, a sour thing. But if our hearts are full, then nothing else can get in. And if we only 'half forgive' then even if God fills up the other half with HIS forgiveness of us, it is still leaving a bitter or sour taste.

We have to forgive completely and ask God to rinse out our hearts and then His love and forgiveness can fill us up and the taste is very sweet.

Hope that helps a little.

 

From my understanding of Scripture, the greater powers were given as a sign to unbelievers. Jesus healed as a fulfillment of prophecy proving that He was the Messiah. The disciples were given this power for a time, because the NT was not yet written. Once the gospels and letters started circulating, I believe the greater gifts began to be less frequent.

Jesus told Thomas - blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed. Also, the strongest statement of theology in the NT is faith - we believe by faith, live by faith - there is no need for miracles to persuade us of the gospel of Christ - we have His Word.

I am not saying that God does not heal miraculously or deliver people from demons today

Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word (o. rhema) of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 

Is this a Baptist Only area forum? Can we transfer this question and thread to the Other Religions forum?

Thanks ------Bart