Scripture is very clear on the necessity of forgiveness. Jesus begged forgiveness for his tormentors as they nailed Him to the cross. The Lord taught the apostles to pray, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” So forgiveness is conditional and long-suffering. If your brother sins against you seven times and repents, forgive him.
This treatise, then, is humbly offered only as a simple cornbread English adaptation and application of the principle in our everyday ongoing lives. A
person can never be free from the wrongs done to him until he can say, “It’s all forgiven” (and if possible, to tell the perpetrator so). Not until the slate is wiped clean, and he can walk away without a backward glance, will he be free at last. But he is the one who holds the key to the lock. Once he opens the lock and willingly and permanently destroys the evidence, his burden is lifted. What the bad actor does with this information is up to him, but repentance will free him also to make amends or at least better choices in the future. Small wonder that God commands forgiveness. It pays great dividends. It may have little or no effect at all on the one forgiven, but the aggrieved has laid a burden down and can go on his way rejoicing. The onus is now placed altogether on the trespasser for future good or ill. The one who freely forgives has opened a door to the perpetrator to heal the situation—or not. The ball is in his court.
“To forgive is to set a prisoner free only to discover that the prisoner was you.” Unknown Author
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” Mahatma Gandhi
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