Christian Living

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What does it really mean to forgive someone?


●What If Someone In The Church Has Caught A Fellow Believer Unawares Committing Sin, Then How Would Forgiveness Be Applied In This Case?

●What If A Church Member, Including The Pastor, Is Living In Public Sin, Then What Would Be The Appropriate Response In Regards To Forgiveness?

CHAPTER 5

WHAT IF SOMEONE IN THE CHURCH HAS CAUGHT A FELLOW BELIEVER UNAWARES COMMITTING SIN, THEN HOW WOULD FORGIVENESS BE APPLIED IN THIS CASE?

So, what have we learned about forgiveness so far?

We have learned that if we are being persecuted by unbelievers, then we should pray to God the Father that he would not punish them, and provide opportunities for their salvation.
We have also learned that if we have been injured by another believer in character, person, or property, then we are to go to them in order to resolve the matter. The hope is that they will admit their sin, which will bring about reconciliation between the parties, along with the receiving of scriptural instruction for the renewing of their mind. If they choose not to admit their guilt, then they are not to be forgiven. This would mean that I would avoid associating with them in any capacity.

Another instance relating to forgiveness is found in Gal 6:1.
This talks about a believer being caught by surprise, in the act of committing sin before they could escape, by another believer or believers. It appears that the sin was committed by a sudden temptation that was urged on by headstrong passion. Another word it is not a sin that the believer has been committing habitually.

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;…

I’m sure that for many of us, if we are a first-hand witness of a fellow believer committing sin, then we probably might just decide to walk away from the situation and mind our own business. I do understand that this is not a comfortable position to be in, especially if we have a weakness in the area that we are witnessing another believer sinning in.

What should our response be?

The scripture says that some of the believers, who are spiritual (filled and governed by the Spirit of God; under the influences of the Spirit) should go to the believer in order to restore (used of one, who by correction, may be brought back into the right way) them.

1 …ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;…

If the offender admits guilt, then the matter is resolved.

Admitting one’s guilt is analogous to confessing one’s sin to God the Father as mentioned in 1 Jn 1:9. This verse says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive (signifies the remission of the punishment in time due to sinful conduct; to not remember the offense) us of our sins. Forgiveness also means to remove the discipline (chastisement) from God. This idea of forgiveness also has to do with recovering our fellowship with God the Father.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 JOHN 1:9

Here’s another question to consider.

What if I am the only first-hand witness to a believer’s sin and I have a weakness in this area of sin that I have observed, then what should I do?

The scriptures state that we should consider our-self. This means to examine our-self before we attempt to correct someone else. If we realize that we could be attracted to doing wrong and yield to the attraction, then we should not go to them.

…considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.(GALATIONS 6:1)

Some would say that in this case you can’t go any further. If you are the only one privy to this believer’s sin, then you can’t tell someone else about it, because this would be exposing their sin.

My question is, if we believe that this is the scriptural way to handle this then what are we here for?

You might say, I don’t know what you mean.
The purpose of going to a believer is not only so that they will admit their sin, but so that they will be taught by using the scriptures as to how to be an overcomer in this area of weakness. If they apply the instruction that they have received, then this will cause them to be able to examine their own way of feeling and acting, aims and endeavors, so that they can judge themselves and be able to express the form of truth that they are abiding in, in their habits of thought and modes of living.

For every man shall bear his own burden. GALATIANS 6:5

In my opinion, this believer should go to those believers, who are spiritual, letting them know what has taken place so that they can go to this person for the purpose of restoration.
When a believer is restored from the error of their way, according to Ja. 5:20, this will save their soul from death (the misery arising from sin) and will hide (their sins are blotted out before God; to cause to be forgotten; to bring about forgiveness) a multitude of sins.

Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. JAMES 5:20

What if this believer, who has been caught red handed, refuses to admit guilt?

Believers have a free will. They can respond to correction or rebel against it.
In my experience I have usually found that if a believer’s sin is addressed and they get angry and refuse to acknowledge it, then one or two things will happen. They will either stop attending the fellowship or they will show up and repent.

Here is an interesting story about going to a fellow believer in order to restore (used of one, who by correction, may be brought back into the right way) them.

Back in the late 70’s, I was working as an outreach coordinator for a church in my home town. The church purchased two houses, which were located on the same plot of land. At one time, both of these houses were owned by the Catholic Church, which provided housing for their nuns. In one of the houses was a chapel and office, along with residential rooms. The other house was primarily residential.
I lived in one of the houses, while many of the other rooms were being rented by other church members.
Sometimes I would be asked by the pastor to accompany him, if he needed to meet with someone, for the purpose of providing them with counseling. There was one situation in particular where a member of the church, a single male, who was living on the property, just up and left. He was very active in the church, and was a close friend to the pastor. The pastor informed me of his departure, and apparently found out where he went. I accompanied him on his way to visit this person.
When we got to the house where he was staying, we knocked on the door and were invited in. As we walked in, the young man was present along with a single woman with kids. While there, we spoke to him privately. He told us that he had sexual relations with the woman. She was an acquaintance of his, before he came to live at the church facility. He acknowledged and admitted his fault, and agreed to return with us to the church facility. Further counseling was provided so that he could begin to address this issue from a Godly perspective.
Eventually he starting dating a girl from the church assembly and they got married.

Some will argue that this interaction with other members of this church is too invasive. They will say that it is none of our business as to how other believers live their lives.

Each believer has to decide for themselves if they want to partake in this process of restoration.
That is why some leave a particular assembly and go to a different one.

I would hope that if this is the case with you, who are reading about this topic on forgiveness, you will consider that there is big difference in attempting to control someone and be a busybody verses trying to help them be an overcomer in their area of weakness.

I pray to God that all of us are given the wisdom to discern between the two.

Even though the word forgiveness was not used in these passages it is inferred by the word “restore”. Restoration involves forgiveness, which suggests the ideas of restoring one’s fellowship with God, thus indicating that the punishment in time due to sinful conduct has been removed.

What follows next is another instance in which forgiveness is to be implemented. In this case it involves any believer including someone in leadership whose sin is publicly known being evidenced to all. How is forgiveness applied in this case.

CHAPTER 6

WHAT IF A CHURCH MEMBER, INCLUDING THE PASTOR, IS LIVING IN PUBLIC SIN, THEN WHAT WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE IN REGARDS TO FORGIVENESS?

I hope that you have found this topic of forgiveness interesting. Hopefully what you have become aware of is that this word means different things depending on whom the forgiveness is directed toward and the context in which it is to be applied.

Let’s take a look at another example of where forgiveness is to be implemented.

In 1 Cor 5:1-13, Paul has received a report concerning someone in the church, who is involved in an illicit sexual relationship with his step mother. The sin is so public that it cannot be concealed, and it is so certain that it cannot be denied.

1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

He tells them that they, the believers in Corinth, were living in pride, because they were afflicted and troubled in taking the proper means for removing the offender. If he (Paul) was present, he would know what judgment to administer to him that has committed this sin.

2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,

A single sin corrupts the whole church. Therefore, they should remove this person from their company.

6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

These scriptures clearly indicate that it is our (the assembly of believers) business to judge (used of the disciplinary judgment to which Christians subject the conduct of their fellows, passing censure (to find fault with, to criticize harshly2) upon them as the facts require, when the sin committed is commonly known by the church assembly.

This process is difficult for many to agree with, especially for those in leadership.
Church has become a place where everyone becomes tolerable of each other’s sins. Holiness or godliness is replaced by volunteering in the church. Helping each other to overcome our weaknesses is replaced with the proclamation that we are to love one another, and according to this mindset love doesn’t intrude in other member’s private lives.

We should volunteer in the church; we should love one another; but we should also help one another to overcome their weaknesses.
For many, church should focus on the outward, without there being any focus on the inward, because this is what is considered socially acceptable.
Restoration is replaced with toleration.
Any mention of restoration is considered as being intolerant against a certain lifestyle.

12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

Evidently in this instance there were plenty of witnesses (one who can or does state as the truth what he himself has seen, heard, or knows) to the egregious sin that might be called to testify before whoever is in authority to address such matters. The accused is rendered innocent or guilty before the judicial court of the elders or those who serve in this judicial capacity without the congregation being present. If the accused is found guilty, then the announcement is made before the church without the accused believer being present. If the accusation is proved to be true, then what should follow is a public statement of the nature of the offence before the entire church, and such a censure as the case demands3. A censure would indicate that the accused would be removed from the fellowship for a fixed period of time. If the accused refused to admit guilt and was found guilty, then they would be removed from the assembly indefinitely.

13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

The believers in the assembly are instructed to not have contact or fellowship with the offending believer in any capacity.

11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

The censure was imposed for two reasons.
The first has to do with God permitting Satan to attack the offender’s body so that he might be corrected, humbled, and reformed by these sufferings, and recalled to the paths of piety and virtue4.

5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

The second is so that the whole church is not contaminated.

7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump,…

The idea of forgiveness concerning this particular matter is brought up in 2 Cor. 2
Paul writes to the church and tells them that the estimated time concerning this believer’s removal from their rights and privileges in the assembly is up.
The believers are to forgive (to free from further punishment; to restore) the excommunicated brother.
A public declaration is to be made before the church assembly that love is to be shown to him.

6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

If the church neglects to forgive (restore), then Satan will have gained an advantage.

11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Here is the case where sin is being publicly displayed for all to see. A hearing is held in order to address the matter. If the believer admits their transgression, then they are removed from the fellowship for a fixed period of time. Forgiveness or restoration in relation to being able to participate in the church assembly is predicated upon the fulfillment of the time allotted. If the person chooses not to admit their transgression after it has been proved that they have committed such sin, then they will be removed from the assembly indefinitely and forgiveness will not be given.

What you will find is not everyone in the church especially those in leadership will agree to the process of addressing public sin especially when it involves them. They will try to convince the assembly that they are exempt from this type of judgment as supported by scripture.

This will be addressed in the next chapter.

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