In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus instructs His disciples to petition, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matt 6:12). Following the prayer, He clarifies the principle: “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father … Continue reading Judicial and Familial Forgiveness with God
Tag: forgiveness
Vertical and Horizontal Confession
Biblically speaking, there are two kinds of confession: vertical confession to God and horizontal confession to people. Both vertical and horizontal confession play crucial roles in the believer’s life, but they serve different purposes and yield different outcomes. Vertical confession restores our fellowship with God and secures forgiveness, as it is based on His unchanging faithfulness (Psa 32:5; 1 John 1:9). This process is always certain, for God’s forgiveness is not contingent upon our feelings or external circumstances. Horizontal confession, however, is a relational matter that seeks reconciliation with others and healing within the body of Christ (Matt 5:23–24; Jam 5:16).
Overlooking an Offense
Proverbs 19:11 presents a portrait of spiritual maturity marked by discretion, emotional restraint, and gracious forbearance. The believer who is slow to anger and overlooks personal offenses reflects the character of God, who Himself is patient, merciful, and abounding in lovingkindness. This virtue is not a sign of weakness but of inner strength grounded in a biblical worldview and governed by divine wisdom. Rather than being ruled by momentary emotions or the urge to retaliate, the mature believer responds with grace, promoting peace and preserving unity. Such conduct honors the Lord, adorns the believer’s testimony, and serves as a powerful witness in a world prone to reaction and retribution.
Pardoned by God and Man
On February 10, 2005, in Carson City, Nevada, my wife and I stood before the Governor of Nevada, Kenny Guinn, along with the Nevada Supreme Court and the Nevada Attorney General. After a brief discussion, they unanimously granted me a full pardon for the crime that had sent me to prison in 1988.
Confession of Sins for the Christian
The Bible describes two types of forgiveness: judicial, which ensures eternal salvation, and parental, needed for restoring fellowship after sin. While judicial forgiveness is a one-time act at salvation, parental forgiveness involves ongoing confession to maintain closeness with God. Both highlight God's grace and are essential for a believer's relationship with Him.
The Price of Forgiveness
Forgiveness comes at a price. Though it may be offered freely to the offender, it always costs the giver something. The word “forgive” translates the Greek verb aphiemi (ἀφίημι), which means to let go, cancel, send away, or pardon. Forgiveness refers to the act of releasing someone from a debt or offense without demanding payment or retribution.
Forgiveness in Action
Forgiveness is a conscious decision to align with God’s will, transcending emotions and operating by faith. The act mirrors the grace we receive from God and benefits us personally, freeing us from bitterness. It challenges worldly values, embraces God’s love, and reflects spiritual maturity. It also leaves justice to God and defies retaliation.
Guilty Before God
The Bible reveals God is “the Judge of all the earth” (Gen 18:25), and He “is a righteous judge” (Psa 7:11), and He “judges righteously” (Jer 11:20), and “will by no means leave the guilty unpunished” (Ex 34:7). Yet, the Bible also reveals God is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth” (Psa 86:15), and One “Who pardons all your iniquities” (Psa 103:3), when we come to Him in honesty and humility.
Two Kinds of Forgiveness with People
For Christians, there are two kinds of forgiveness. The first is unconditional and the other is conditional. Unconditional forgiveness is one sided. It is given by the one who has been offended, even if the offender does not seek forgiveness or cease his sinful ways. This one sided forgiveness may also keep others at a distance so as to mitigate further harm against us and to avoid their corrupting influence.[1] Unconditional forgiveness benefits us personally, for holding on to unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies. It doesn’t work out very well for us. The second kind of forgiveness is conditional, as an agreement takes place between the one who has been hurt and the offender who seeks forgiveness and reconciliation. Conditional forgiveness not only releases the offender from his offense, but also restores the broken relationship.
Two Kinds of Forgiveness with God
In our relationship with God, there are two kinds of forgiveness. One is judicial and the other is parental. Judicial forgiveness is the forgiveness we receive from God when we stand before Him as the Judge of all humanity. This forgiveness occurs at the moment of faith in Christ, where “everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins” (Acts 10:43; cf. Eph 1:7; Col 1:14). This is a one-and-done event that is never repeated, as we are “forgiven us all our transgressions” (Col 2:13). Parental forgiveness is the ongoing forgiveness we receive from God as our Father and is repeated many times throughout a believer’s life. Judicial forgiveness brings us into a right relationship with Him at the moment of faith in Christ. Parental forgiveness restores our fellowship with Him.
Trusting God’s Provision: Resting in His Promises
As Christians, we can depend on the Lord to provide for our daily needs. Abraham knew this to be true and said of Yahweh, “The LORD Will Provide” (Gen 22:14). And Paul wrote, “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed” (2 Cor 9:8), and “God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19).
The Power of Encouragement: Lessons From the Life of Barnabas
Barnabas was noted as being an encourager (Acts 4:36; 11:23), who sacrificed his own resources to be a blessing to others (Acts 4:37). He was called “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (Acts 11:24), and one—along with Paul—who “risked” his life “for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 15:26). Barnabas was not without his flaws; however, he possessed the qualities one would like to see in a Christian leader, as he sought to build the Christian community by means grace, love, and solid biblical instruction. Churches and Christians need people like Barnabas, who will stand with them, give them wise counsel, and encourage them in their walk with the Lord.
The Importance of Christ’s Resurrection in the Gospel Message
There were some at the church in Corinth who taught “that there is no resurrection of the dead” (1 Cor 15:12). Paul addressed this issue head on, saying, “if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is useless…For if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” (1 Cor 15:13-14, 17). The clear teaching of Scripture is that “Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep” (1 Cor 15:20), and being “raised from the dead, is never to die again” (Rom 6:9). Praise God! By His resurrection, Jesus overcame sin and death.
Being the Good Boss
On a day to day basis, the good leader is one who will listen to you, stand up for you, trust you and not micromanage every aspect of your work. She communicates clearly, constantly, and in a collaborative manner. He seeks your advice, listens to your concerns, and consults you on the best solutions for success. She sets high expectations and encourage you to be the best you can be, operating according to agency standards, and striving for new heights of excellence. He also cares about your life outside of work and wants you to have good physical, social, and mental health. Lastly, the good boss can be tough when needed. She lives in reality and knows there are some who will not respond to her leadership, and, may be required to use her authority to reprimand and/or terminate staff; however, this is always a last recourse after all other positive strategies have failed. Overall, I see the good boss as one who lives sacrificially for the benefit of others, always desiring their success as well as the success of the agency.
Atonement for Sins
Jesus’ death on the cross was a satisfactory sacrifice to God which completely paid the price for our sin. We owed a debt to God that we could never pay, and Jesus paid that debt in full when He died on the cross and bore the punishment that rightfully belonged to us.
The Cross – by John Newton
The Cross In evil long I took delight, Unawed by shame or fear, Till a new object struck my sight, And stopped my wild career. I saw One hanging on a tree, In agonies and blood; He fixed His languid eyes on me, As near His cross I stood. Sure never till my latest … Continue reading The Cross – by John Newton
Suffering and Depression
Suffering touches us all. It moves and shapes us in ways we never imagine. It breaks us down and builds us up, but it never leaves us where it finds us. In Scripture we learn that God’s power is magnified in our weaknesses and that suffering reveals our true state as weak creatures who need the Lord in our lives for strength and guidance (2 Cor. 12:7-10).