Subject: Can we not ask God to forgive another? |
Bible Note: That is a wonderful statement, but it seems to me that, important as it is, it is not related to the need for repentance on the part of the one needing forgiveness. Above, when someone asked what happens to the person we refuse to forgive, we might have mentioned this. Jesus says, “It is impossible but that offences will come” (Luke 17) and James says, “In many things we offend all“ (James 3). “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man“. The Lord knows we are human (Psalm 103:14), that we make mistakes. We may offend one person as many as seven times in one day. The antidote is forgiveness, and if that antidote is not applied, then a poison remains. With it, a root of bitterness may spring up and defile us (Hebrews 12). We are to follow peace with all men, but God knows that we often fail to do that, and we need forgiveness for that as well. I must be willing to repent, and when I do, I must tell you so that you can forgive me. If you refuse to forgive your brother, then he is not forgiven, and he can be overwhelmed with sorrow (2 Corinthians 2). It would be nice if we could link this with what has been said already about the fact an offence against your brother is an offense against God. God cares about all of us and he does not want any of us to be overwhelmed with sorrow. In fact, he says that he only sends us sorrow in order to lead us to repentance. That repentance, (Do we need to repeat it?) it prepares us to receive forgiveness, and beyond that, restoration of fellowship, and restoration of joy. It is God’s desire that we have good ongoing open fellowship with him and with each other. Let us make it simple and say that for that, we need forgiveness from each other and from him. |