We should stand ready to forgive. In that sense, the person is "already" forgiven, in the potential sense. However, forgiveness cannot be manifest in its full purpose, that is reconcilliation, until there is integrity in both parties. Forgiveness, honesty, humility, repentance and restoration.
I agree with everything, you've stated, Brent; however their is a spin or a nuance I'd like to season-to-taste. Since love "believes all things" instead of
standing ready to forgive - actually do it. When you do it, you will find a bit of redemption for yourself and for the circumstances that surround the offense, and you'll automatically be positioning the relationship of the party who has offended you or sinned against you to repent. Why? Cause rarely, if ever, is
standing ready to forgive as winsome as having actually forgiven. We're taught to be fishers of men - Our unconditional forgiveness bates the hook.
An example - When Verne humbled himself this morning and apologized (virtually asking for forgiveness) it was a huge incentive for me to reach out and get reconciled to him. We've been exchanging private messages...I think we're on our way.
Unconditional forgiveness is a uniquely Chrisitan facility.
Reconciliation and forgiveness
should go together. However, that is an ideal that will not be realized 100% of the time until the Kingdom comes where
Thy will will be done on earth as it is in heaven.Reconciliation presumes forgiveness. However, forgiveness does not necessarily presume reconciliation -
It should, but until our King comes the lion will not lie down with the lamb - and forgiveness with its mate
reconciliation will often be postponed until judgment.
Finally, if folks come out at different places on this - I'm fine with that, aren't you? Personally I think we see things differently because God in His infinite wisdom wants it that way and is allowing us to live by faith with Him and by grace with each other. We all see in a mirror dimly and what we can make out is often quite different. I accept you all - yet, not for the purpose of passing judgment on your opinions. I accept you all cause I need you. I need the church.
Question to the readers - Is it possible that you are missing something here? If your answer is "Nope, not me! Not on this deal"...I say "Whoa friend you're in serious trouble"...If not on this topic then maybe with your Christian walk.
Hey, I do know this -
I could be wrong! And, often am wrong...very often, probably more often than not.
And, let me be a bit outrageous -
I know I'm wrong, but here's the rub - I don't know whereexactly? And as I seek first the Kingdom of God I'm actually finding out where the Kingdom is not resident in me. Except for who Jesus is and what He did on the cross and His rising from the dead - everything for me is subject to the church for inspection, my believing friends, and I'm even open to many of my unbelieving neighbors for review (God uses them, too!).
The track record has shown that for 26 years as a believer God has regularly razed almost all my beliefs and completely revised how I look at my world, how I look at the church, how I look at people, and how I fit into all of it - And, yes how he forgives sin, and why? and how this relates to repentence and how it relates to reconciliation and why? and blah, blah, blah...
And, like you Brent I'm following this discussion with interest. With me, I'm a student and what I don't know far exceeds what I do know.
Lastly, I, like perhaps most people, have a long cycle-time to actually "get it." If I hear a view and it doesn't make sense - It would not be unusual for it to work its way back into my attention and thinking months or even years later...And, then "pop" I morph into that idea that seemed so absurd months or years earlier. If you haven't ever experienced this, well, just wait a while I think it happens to just about all of us mess around enough with really trying to "get it."
The first step to
getting it is to admit that you don't got it.
So, every post is an adventure...onward & upward.
Blessings to all of you, my friends...Chuck
::c:v::
