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NASB | Matthew 6:14 "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 6:14 "For if you forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. |
Subject: Bill Mc, Are you twisting Scripture? |
Bible Note: Steve, one final note on Matthew 6:14. I am not saying that Christians shouldn't or don't forgive. What I am saying is that our motivation to forgive changes. The Spirit of God goes so much farther than rules ever could. How so? If we, as believers, only go by the letter of the law on this verse, many will forgive not because it is the Christ-like thing to do, but because they are afraid that God won't forgive them. It's like if you wronged me, I would then think, "Gee, I HAVE TO forgive Steve because, boy, if I don't, then God won't forgive me." So I forgive you (or at least say I do) purely out of selfish motive. I am worried, not about our relationship as brothers in Christ, but about my status before God. God has something better. Here it is: Eph 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also HAS FORGIVEN you. Col 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord FORGAVE you, so also should you. If you've wronged me, I can say, "You know what? God, in His grace, because of the blood of Jesus Christ, has forgiven Steve EVERY sin he has ever or will ever commit. God has accepted Steve as His child. And God has done the same for me. If the Lord forgave me, and forgave Steve, then who am I to hold a grudge. Am I greater than God's grace? Steve and I are brothers in Christ. That is a fact. So we need to act like brothers. Steve, you've wronged me but I care about our relationship so much that there must be a way to work this out." See where my motivation is now? Is it on myself? Or is it on Christ and what He has done? (He forgave us both and He has made us brothers in the same family) When I understand what Christ has truly done and how much I have been forgiven, then I will be prone to forgive BECAUSE I have been forgiven, not to OBTAIN it. Do you understand what I am saying here? In Christ, Bill Mc |