CharismaticLady
Well-Known Member
One thing I would add . . . I agree completely, forgiveness is love. I don't believe that forgiving others earns our own forgiveness, as God tells us to forgive others as we have been forgiven, so for the church, God forgiving me comes first, and we forgive others having been already forgiven ourselves.
But that being said, to walk in love towards others is to have no offense from them, that is, nothing to be forgiven, only love for them. No counting wrongs, no record of wrongs, I'm not the Lawgiver anyway! And I'm no better than anyone else. So to even have a complaint much less to hold on to it, that's not love.
I like to think in terms of just living forgiveness, not counting anything against anyone, whenever possible. But I think it is possible!
Much love!
I would read it again if I were you. Our past willful sins of lawlessness 1 John 3:4 is what is taken away out of our nature. Trespasses depend on maturity of fruit. They are two different types of sins. Sins unto death, and sins not unto death. We probably disagree on that, but I can't help that.
There are two sections in Matthew 5 and 6 that teaches us the truth.
Matthew 5:23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 6:
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive others their trespasses against us.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.