Forgive yet punish, what ?

[Sel@h]

Greetings… Just my opinion but sometimes, healing from the cruelty inflicted on us can take time. Ultimately, though, our gracious Heavenly Father will work in us to help us do His will and forgive.

 

[RandyDawson]

Greetings… Just my opinion but sometimes, healing from the cruelty inflicted on us can take time. Ultimately, though, our gracious Heavenly Father will work in us to help us do His will and forgive.

True and sometimes people hear teachings falsely claiming we don't have to forgive and such a person that has experienced cruelty will not be forgiven because they refuse to forgive themselves.

God is not mocked, whatever we sow that is what we shall reap (Gal 6:7,8), if we sow unforgiveness we shall reap unforgivness.

Choosing to not forgive directly hinders a person's healing and recovery. Some have the idea if they forgive someone that did them wrong it's letting them get away with it or is somehow being in agreement with what they did. None of that is true and it's tricks the enemy uses to deceive people in to not forgiving so the continue to sow to the flesh and continue to reap corruption.

If one does not forgive... satan has advantage or power over them:

2 Corinthians 2:9-11
For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Hebrews 12:14,15
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled

 

[Davy]

How we live our life as a Christian can... affect our status with The LORD at His future coming. Make no mistake about that.

Remember the "five foolish virgins" of Matthew 25, and the "unprofitable servant" of Matthew 25?

Luke 12:45-48
45 But and if that servant say in his heart, "My lord delayeth his coming"; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
KJV

A believer on Jesus Christ being cast to the "outer darkness" with the unbelievers at His coming, like Jesus showed with the "unprofitable servant", does not mean they are sent into the lake of fire. The "outer darkness" will be a place outside... the gates of the beloved city on earth, as shown in Revelation 22:14-15. They will stand in judgment throughout Christ's future "thousand years" reign, and be taught their error, as per the Book of Ezekiel.

 

[RandyDawson]

How we live our life as a Christian can... affect our status with The LORD at His future coming.

Is that like works based salvation?

I keep hearing people say God does everything and we do nothing.

 

[Davy]

Is that like works based salvation?

I keep hearing people say God does everything and we do nothing.

Have you not read how Lord Jesus showed in Matthew 25 that He will close the door on the "five foolish virgins" in His parable of the ten virgins? Those five foolish virgins were believers also, waiting on the Bridegroom (Jesus) to come. What exactly did He mean with closing the door on those, were they then destroyed? No.

That then is where one needs to understand what He meant by being cast to the "outer darkness".

Matt 25:26-30
26 His lord answered and said unto him, "Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
KJV

Same thing in Matthew 7 about those who will say, "Lord, Lord..." that prophesied in Jesus' Name, cast out devils in His Name, and did many wonderful works in His Name, but did iniquity.

Matt 7:21-23
21 Not every one that saith unto Me, "Lord, Lord", shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father Which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, "I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity."
KJV

This is why we still need to repent and ask Jesus forgiveness of future sin, so it will be blotted out (See 1 John 1). But some brethren are deceived by devils that have crept into the Church, and are told they need never repent of future sin. That then has led those to not 'watch' their fruit, and thus they will be found having followed iniquity. Our Heavenly Father and His Son cannot be fooled. One who claims they believe on Him yet continues working iniquity will separate that one away from Jesus when He returns in our near future. And that "outer darkness" place is shown to be outside the gates of the future beloved city among the wicked, per Revelation 22:14-15.