The Spiritual Side Of Forgiveness

"Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector." - Matthew 18:15-17

Is there someone in your life who has offended you and refuses to be reconciled? Are they a Christian? That is an important distinction. You cannot expect fresh water to come from a bad spring. In that same way you cannot expect someone who is not born again to behave like they are. Either way, saved or not, the principles of how you are to respond to them are the same, I think. The verses in Matthew 18 have to do with a Christian who sins against you.  In this case, part of the same local church. If that brother fails to repent, then you are to treat them like he/she were not saved. It is a little more complicated if the person is not local.  That leads me to the idea of forgiveness of an unrepentant brother. (BTW, very often this is about a relative or a friend who may or may not be born again). What does the Bible say?

"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do." - Colossians 3:12-13

So then how did Christ forgive us? When we came under conviction of our sin, admitted it and repented. When did we stop being angry with the person who offended us when we thought about the issue? I think that when we stop getting angry - when love has taken over.  We can't extend biblical forgiveness in the absence of conviction of sin and repentance. God has set the example for us. He loved us while we were yet sinners, but didn't ignore the sin which caused us to be separated from Him - So He sent Jesus who saves us from sin and the Spirit who convicts us of sin. Then it's up to us to confess and repent. Sadly some people we care about will never do that - they have hardened hearts.

So what do you do? Don't use their rebuff of your attempts at reconciliation to be an excuse to hold a grudge or them with disdain when you see them. Instead, let them see Christ in you. "Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, [and] longsuffering"

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone