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NASB | Matthew 6:15 "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 6:15 "But if you do not forgive others [nurturing your hurt and anger with the result that it interferes with your relationship with God], then your Father will not forgive your trespasses. |
Subject: Does this apply to Christians? |
Bible Note: Dear fellow believers, I have stated my view of the forgiveness issue and 1 John 1:9 as briefly and 'apologetically' as I can. I do appreciate everyone's feedback and responses. I would like to say that I DO NOT feel that this issue should divide the church. I do not regard anyone as 'mislead' if they do not believe the same way that I do concerning this issue. The difference can be summed up as follows: 1) I believe that I am a forgiven person as are ALL believers. I do still sin but my sins ARE forgiven. My sins were ALL forgiven at the cross 2000 years ago only by Christ shedding His blood, not by my confession of them. I had committed none of those sins 2000 years ago when He died, but I believe that the cross was an eternal act of God (Christ was slain before the foundation of the world) and that He saw and bore ALL my sins in His body back then. And that His blood washed them ALL away. In other words, it is a done deal just like my redemption, reconciliation, justification, etc. I believe that I have been (past tense) reconciled to God and that, because of Christ sacrifice, my sins are no longer held against me. 2) Some on this forum believe that forgiveness must continually be asked for as sins are committed. They infer that Christ administers forgiveness only at repentance, whether believers or not. They also feel that if a Christian doesn't forgive others, then they will not be forgiven. They believe in keeping short accounts with God so that they do not lose fellowship with Him. While I disagree with this view, I do understand it and used it to keep myself clean before the Lord and in fellowship for 30 years (or so I thought). I, obviously, no longer hold to that view for reasons that I have stated here. But, believers, the bottom line is that only Christ can forgive sins. I think we all agree to that. We just disagree as to the timing of that forgiveness. That's Ok. It's time to move on... Blessings in Christ to all, Bill Mc |