Repentance UNLIMITED FORGIVENESS
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Matt. 18:21,
The disciples came to Jesus and asked how often they should forgive one another. The Pharisees said three times and you're out. The disciples wanted to show that they had learned something about the kind of forgiveness that Jesus offered, so they upped it to seven times. But Jesus said, "I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but Until seventy times seven" (Matt. 18:22).
Which is easier to forgive: the first time someone offends you, or the tenth time that same person offends you? How about the hundredth time? Usually in our dealings with one another, we feel quite self-righteous in forgiving the first time. But if the offense is repeated and repeated, it isn't long until we come to the conclusion that the repentance on the part of the offender isn't genuine anyway.
In Luke 17:4 the lines are drawn even closer. Jesus said that if your brother trespasses against you "seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. And the apostles said unto the Lord, increase our faith"! It takes a lot of faith to give that kind of forgiveness! But what is Jesus really saying in these instructions? True, He intends that we be forgiving toward those who sin against us. But this is simply another example of the kind of love and forgiveness that God has toward us.
This is the kind of love and goodness that comes only from God. He is the author of it, and it is good news that John 6:37 has no date on it. Today, again, regardless of how often you have failed, how often you have sinned, if you come to Him, you will be accepted, you will not be cast out.
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Matt. 18:21,
The disciples came to Jesus and asked how often they should forgive one another. The Pharisees said three times and you're out. The disciples wanted to show that they had learned something about the kind of forgiveness that Jesus offered, so they upped it to seven times. But Jesus said, "I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but Until seventy times seven" (Matt. 18:22).
Which is easier to forgive: the first time someone offends you, or the tenth time that same person offends you? How about the hundredth time? Usually in our dealings with one another, we feel quite self-righteous in forgiving the first time. But if the offense is repeated and repeated, it isn't long until we come to the conclusion that the repentance on the part of the offender isn't genuine anyway.
In Luke 17:4 the lines are drawn even closer. Jesus said that if your brother trespasses against you "seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. And the apostles said unto the Lord, increase our faith"! It takes a lot of faith to give that kind of forgiveness! But what is Jesus really saying in these instructions? True, He intends that we be forgiving toward those who sin against us. But this is simply another example of the kind of love and forgiveness that God has toward us.
This is the kind of love and goodness that comes only from God. He is the author of it, and it is good news that John 6:37 has no date on it. Today, again, regardless of how often you have failed, how often you have sinned, if you come to Him, you will be accepted, you will not be cast out.
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