August 6, 2026 -- What is forgiveness? I mean, seriously forgiving the other
/People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 6:14-15 ESV
This morning I listened to R.C. Sproul’s message: “Forgiveness: Renewing Your Mind”. To be honest, I listened to it twice. It was that good. Sproul noted there are five aspects of forgiveness that must be present. He was so thorough, and so good in his explanation of it. It happens that people might not be forgiven, but feel themselves forgiven. And it can be true that one does not feel forgiven, but is in fact forgiven. (In that case pride is the obstacle!) Today’s devotion is based on his work. I have included the full 26 minute teaching as a link below. Here is a summary.
What must be true if we are to forgive others as God requires? According to Sproul:
Repentance. There must be godly sorrow over one’s sin. Sorrow before God, first and foremost. But there must also be godly sorrow before brothers and sisters.
Remission. It is by the blood of Jesus Christ that the sins are sent away from the guilty parties. Jesus bore the wrath of God. The only way brothers and sisters can live in unity is because Jesus bore the full cost for this.
Restitution. This is not light. It is not easy. It is hard to speak to someone else, restore what was stolen, as best as possible make amends for a ruined reputation. True repentance in the path of forgiveness means what can be made right must be made right.
Reconciliation. This is so important, Paul wrote “All of this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” II Corinthians 5:18. It is the good news of God in Christ that men and women who were estranged and separated can now be restored and the offense is no longer thrown up into their faces.
Restoration. Parables, like the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) and (Matthew 20:1-16) demonstrate God’s delight to bring ruined sinners to Himself in restored fellowship. It is people, the “older brothers” and others who’ve worked a long time in the vineyard for the same pay as those who arrived at the last minute, who resent the goodness of God expressed in the lives of others. Oh, what wretches we can be. The benefit of forgiveness must ultimately result in men and women who are brought into relationship with God will be restored in relationship with one another and celebrate that restoration.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
https://youtu.be/qydrHaTaW8w?si=t61TqfDIdLo8UdbV
This is the full episode from R.C. Sproul
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