Bible Discussion Thread

Forgiveness

I distance myself when I sense someone is being untruthful or worldly. I take note of it. i also want to be forgiving, because Jesus says we won't be forgiven if we don't forgive others.

Does forgiving mean I need to continue a relationship with them and forget they were worldly- what does forgiving actually mean?

Hi Derek.

You can distance yourself from someone but yet still be close.

I would distance myself from any sinful activity he or she is doing but I would still try to witness to them.

If you find forgiveness hard to do I would try having mercy them.

It's hard to advise from the outside on your situation with this person but we are to consider ourselves and our relationship to the Lord.

Jesus bore our sins while we were yet sinners!

Romans 5:6-8 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

I hope this helps.

God bless

Hello Derek , you might get lots of different answers to your question ,which isn't necessarily a bad thing . I can only say what forgiveness means to me .

Firstly , someone has to offend me for there to be anything for me to forgive them for . You spoke of worldly people ? Is that something that requires your forgiveness ? If that's the case then you have a lot of people to forgive .

To me forgiveness means , that if someone has deliberately and knowingly done something very unpleasant to me , I must not take vengeance and I must let it go and not hold it against them in any way ,shape or form . Is it my place to forgive someone for doing something bad to someone else other than myself ? After thinking about this very carefully , I've decided that it's not my place . The offence wasn't against me so it's not for me to forgive . Image if someone stole your friend's car and your friend forgave them but you didn't . Does that seem right ? Not to me it doesn't . It wasn't my car that was stolen so I'm not the victim . The grudge is not mine to hold on to .

In my life I have been very badly treated by a few people , all of whom I have forgiven but , the memories do still linger . That's the hardest part , forgetting .

Also , I found it much easier to forgive someone that I love because I love them but strangely , it's also easy to forgive those that I don't love because I don't love them . The best aspect of forgiving others , for me , is how liberating it is not to hold on to any anger or bitterness in my heart . To be free of nasty thoughts or feelings toward anyone . It's a good feeling . I hope others on here will answer you also , it's a good topic of conversation so let's hear what others have to say .