Christ First Forum

by **Remnant** » 07 Jun 2011, 06:07

What is Biblical Forgiveness?

Forgiveness, as used in the English language, is defined by Encarta World Dictionary as the:

act of pardoning somebody: the act of pardoning somebody for a mistake or wrongdoing
forgiving quality: the tendency to forgive offenses readily and easily.
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Since forgiveness is principally the act of granting pardons, it is necessary to also understand pardoning. A pardon is:

release from punishment: the act of officially releasing somebody guilty of a crime or wrongdoing from facing punishment
paper authorizing freedom from punishment: an official document stating that somebody may be released without receiving any or any further punishment
act of excusing somebody: the excusing of an impolite act or the forgiving of the person committing it
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Common English language understands forgiveness as the action of granting someone else, who is guilty of committing a wrong, a release from all further punishment. In other words, the victim graciously absolves the offender, pronouncing him blameless for his past misdeeds and releases him from all obligations to provide restitution or to suffer any further punishment.

It is an action. Forgiveness is an action. It is the action of releasing a man of his deserved punishments and obligations.

Legitimate forgiveness is only possible when the victim can look the offender in the eyes and with honesty state, "I hereby extend God's mercy to you and waive any further punishment you rightly deserve and eliminate any further restitution or reparations you may owe to me. Your debt is entirely and fully gone. You are free of any further liability in this matter." In other words, the offender is pardoned.

That differentiates forgiveness, as an action, from feelings. Forgiveness is not an emotion or a feeling. It is an action, the intentional act of deciding to grant full absolution to one who does not deserve it. It is the action of surrendering one’s rights to be compensated, or to be given reparations, or to seek rightful civil punishment against another who is the wrongdoer. Forgiveness is an action.

Biblical forgiveness is equally matched with our contemporary understanding of the same concept. In Hebrew, the dominant word in the Old Testament that is translated as forgiveness is nasa/nasah. It means "to lift," as in, "to lift someone’s punishment from off of him." Similarly, in the New Testament the most often used Greek word translated as forgive is aphiemi. It means "to send away," as if to say, "to send away someone’s punishment."

One who is forgiven in the Bible is released from his duly "earned" punishments or obligations of restitution. The first instance of the word forgive (nasa/nasah: to send away a person’s punishment) is found in Genesis 50:17. Joseph’s brothers begged him to forgive them and to not bear a "grudge against us and pay us back in full for all the wrong which we did" (Genesis 50:15-17). Notice the circumstances. His brothers really were guilty of doing him wrong, they acknowledged their guilt, and they knew they had never been fully punished ("paid back") for the evil actions they performed. Here they wanted Joseph to forgive this moral debt entirely, to take no further punitive actions, and to release them from the just penalty that they deserved. Joseph took the action of absolving them, agreeing to impose no further punishment.

Such is the nature and typical formula of biblical forgiveness. A man admits his guilt (or stated another way, he confesses his sin), requests release from punishment, and is granted forgiveness from the one he offended (forgiveness being the very act of releasing a man from his deserved punishment).

If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9)

by **JWayne** » 07 Jun 2011, 06:28

Awesome sermon Frank! What a powerful message. I know of a church that truly needs this message.

by **Jeani** » 07 Jun 2011, 21:17

I believe we have to 'forgive' because Christ 'forgives' us,but that does not mean we have to like the 'sin' within some people..

The Bible says we're not to be 'unequally yoke' with unbelievers...

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever..And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? 2 Cor. 6~

by **Remnant** » 07 Jun 2011, 22:15

I believe we have to 'forgive' because Christ 'forgives' us,but that does not mean we have to like the 'sin' within some people..

I sure hope that is not the case with anyone here. which I do not believe it is. In fact we are to hate sin. Forgiving one of sin also does not mean we are condoning of it.

Here is what I consider the most valid point of forgiveness.

If! And let me emphasize If! A man admits his guilt (or stated another way, he confesses his sin), requests release from punishment, and is granted forgiveness from the one he offended (forgiveness being the very act of releasing a man from his deserved punishment).

If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9)

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What is Biblical Forgiveness?

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