FORGIVENESS -- PART 3

REAL FORGIVENESS DOES NOT KEEP TRACK OF OFFENSES.
Peter came to Him and asked, Adonai, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times? -- Matthew 18:21. The rabbis taught that people should forgive those who offend them -- but only three times. Peter, trying to be especially generous, asked Yeshua if seven -- the perfect number -- was enough times to forgive someone. But Yeshua answered, -- Seventy times seven, -- meaning that we shouldn’t even keep track of how many times we forgive someone. We should always forgive those who are truly repentant, no matter how many times they ask.

REAL FORGIVENESS FOLLOWS YHVH’S PATTERN.
Because our Elohim has forgiven all our sins, we should not withhold forgiveness from others. Realizing how completely Moshiach has forgiven us should produce a free and generous attitude of forgiveness toward others. When we don’t forgive others, we are setting ourselves outside and above Moshiach’s Law of Love.

CAN ANY SIN BE FORGIVEN? THERE MUST BE SOME SIN TOO GREAT TO BE FORGIVEN.
Joel 2:32: Anyone who calls on the Name of Elohim will be saved. Mark 3:28-29: I assure you that any sin can be forgiven. Romans 8:38: Nothing can ever separate us from His Love. -- Forgiveness is not based on the magnitude of the sin, but the magnitude of the forgiver’s Love. No sin is too great for YHVH’s complete and unconditional Love. The Bible does actually mention one unforgivable sin -- an attitude of defiant hostility toward YHVH that prevents us from accepting His forgiveness. Those who don’t want His forgiveness are out of its reach.

WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN TO BE FORGIVEN?
Colossians 1:21-23: You are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault. Isaiah 1:18: No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. -- Forgiveness means that YHVH looks at us as though we have never sinned. We are blameless before Him.
Acts 8:22-23: Perhaps He will forgive your evil thoughts, for I can see that you are ... held captive by sin. -- Forgiveness frees us from slavery to sin.
Matthew 5:44: Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! -- Forgiveness paves the way for harmonious relationships, even with our enemies.
Romans 4:7: Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. -- Forgiveness brings great joy.

HOW DO I EXPERIENCE FORGIVENESS WHEN I HAVE DONE WRONG?
Psalm 51:4: Against you and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in Your sight. -- We must realize that YHVH is the One Who has been wronged by our sin.
Ezra 10:11: Confess your sin to YHVH, the Elohim of your ancestors and do what He demands. 2 Chronicles 7:14: If My people who are called by My Name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land. 1 John 1:8-9: If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. -- We will receive YHVH’s forgiveness when we confess our sins to Him, stop doing what is wrong and turn to Him with our heart.
Matthew 26:28: This is My Blood, which seals the Covenant between YHVH and His people. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many. -- Yeshua died so that YHVH’s forgiveness would be freely available to us.
Acts 10:43: Everyone who believes in Him will have their sins forgiven through His Name. Acts 13:38: In this man Yeshua there is forgiveness for your sins. -- We receive YHVH’s forgiveness by trusting in Moshiach.