In yesterday’s post I shared what forgiveness is not. Today I want to share what forgiveness is. It is about letting things go to God. Below is another excerpt from June Hunt’s book on forgiveness.

To forgive means to release your resentment toward your offender.

In the New Testament, the Greek verb aphiemi primarily means “to send away”—in other words, “to forgive, send away or release the penalty when someone wrongs you.” This implies that you need …

— To release your right to hear “I’m sorry”

— To release your right to be bitter

— To release your right to get even

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.”

(Romans 12:17)

To forgive is to release your rights regarding the offense.

— To release your right to dwell on the offense

— To release your right to hold on to the offense

— To release your right to keep bringing up the offense

“He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.”

(Proverbs 17:9)

To forgive is to reflect the character of Christ. Just as God is willing to forgive us, we are called to forgive others.

— To forgive is to extend mercy.

— To forgive is to give a gift of grace.

— To forgive is to set the offender free.

Jesus taught his disciples to pray,

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

(Matthew 6:12)

Hunt, J. (2008) Biblical Counseling Keys on Forgiveness: The Freedom to Let Go. Dallas, TX: Hope For The Heart, p. 5.

Forgiveness is not an easy subject to talk about. Sometimes it is even harder to do. In my life I have had some pretty big things that people have done to me that I just had to forgive and let go of for my own health and well being.

While working through the need to forgive I came across a book in my pastoral care training by June Hunt called Biblical Counselling on Keys to Forgiveness. It really helped me to understand what forgiveness is and what it is not.

The list below really helped me to understand what forgiveness is not and it allowed me to release my hurt and pain to God for Him to deal with at the right time.

Forgiveness is not circumventing God’s justice.…

— It is allowing God to execute His justice in His time and in His way.

Forgiveness is not waiting for “time to heal all wounds.” …

— It is clear that time doesn’t heal wounds—some people will not allow healing.

Forgiveness is not letting the guilty “off the hook.” …

— It is moving the guilty from your hook to God’s hook.

Forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation.…

— It takes two for reconciliation, only one for forgiveness.

Forgiveness is not excusing unjust behavior.…

— It is acknowledging that unjust behavior is without excuse, while still forgiving.

Forgiveness is not explaining away the hurt.…

— It is working through the hurt.

Forgiveness is not based on what is fair.…

— It was not “fair” for Jesus to hang on the cross—but He did so that we could be forgiven.

Forgiveness is not being a weak martyr.…

— It is being strong enough to be Christlike.

Forgiveness is not stuffing your anger.…

— It is resolving your anger by releasing the offense to God.

Forgiveness is not a natural response.…

— It is a supernatural response, empowered by God.

Forgiveness is not denying the hurt.…

— It is feeling the hurt and releasing it.

Forgiveness is not being a doormat.…

— It is seeing that, if this were so, Jesus would have been the greatest doormat of all!

Forgiveness is not conditional.…

— It is unconditional, a mandate from God to everyone.

Forgiveness is not forgetting.…

— It is necessary to remember before you can forgive.

Forgiveness is not a feeling.…

— It is a choice—an act of the will.

Hunt, J. (2008) Biblical Counseling Keys on Forgiveness: The Freedom to Let Go. Dallas, TX: Hope For The Heart, pp. 3–4.

As Christians we all sin. No matter how hard we try to live right we all stumble at times. We are all human and we live in a world that is harassed by sin.

However there are four things that help me when I sin. I have shared these in my sermons over the last few weeks and I thought I would share them here.

1. God looked for man when he sinned in the Garden of Eden – Genesis 3:8 tells us God called out to man to find him. Even after the first sin, God pursued Adam.

2. Jesus died for our sins – Romans 5:8 says that Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. He paid the price for our sin.

3. God gave us a way to get right with Him – 1 John 1:9 tells us that God provided confession as a way to get right with Him when we fall short.

4. We have an Advocate in heaven – 1 John 2:1 reminds us that when we sin Jesus pleads our case before the Father in Heaven.

These things help me to remember that God is on my side. He knows I will fall short at times and He has provided ways for us to be right with Him.

It started after the first sin with Adam and Even, it continued with Jesus death on the cross and when we confess it continues with our Advocate in heaven pleading on our behalf.

These four things give me comfort knowing that when I sin forgiveness and restoration is just a prayer of confession away.

God Bless,
Dave