| by Gary Miller (Pocahontas, Arkansas) |
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“Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors…” (Matt. 6:12) FORGIVING TRESPASSES “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you.” (Matt. 6:14,15) WHAT FORGIVENESS REQUIRES: “If your brother trespass against you, rebuke him; and if he Repent, Forgive Him and if he trespass against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to you, saying, I repent; you shall Forgive him.” (Lk. 17:3-4) Yahshua put forgiveness in context showing how it follows repentance. Very often we hear that forgiveness is unconditional. But does Yahweh automatically forgive all human sins….without any repentance; completely unconditional? No, not at all. Just the opposite: “Repent….for the remission of sin…” (Acts 2:38) “Repent: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand…” (Matt. 3:2) “And they…preached that men should repent.” (Mk. 6:12) “…but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.” (Acts 17:30) REPENTANCE OF SIN: “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the Law: for Sin is the Transgression of the Law.” (I Jn. 3:4) FORGIVING A DEBT: Is payment required when a debt is made? Yes. Why? Because an unpaid debt is stealing, getting something without paying for it; doing without being accountable: “Thou shalt not steal.” (Ex. 20:15) Forgiving the debt means either the person pays his debt; or the one he owes pays the debt for him; or maybe a third party pays the debt. That is, the creditor or third party absorbs the loss. Either way, when payment is made, the debt is forgiven. But someone must pay. By law, forgiveness requires an atonement, a payment: “…the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.” (Lev. 4:26; also 4:20,31,35; Note the guilty pays with an animal sacrifice) THE PRIEST WHO NOW MAKES ATONEMENT: “…We have such an high priest [Yahshua; Heb. 5:5,6]… A minister of the Sanctuary…it is of necessity that this man [Yahshua] have somewhat to Offer.” (Heb. 8:1-3) IF “…we Confess our Sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I Jn. 1:9). —————————————————————————————————– Reprinted with permission from: International Congregation of Yahweh http://www.icyahweh.org/ —————————————————————————————————– |
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