Christian Living

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What does it really mean to forgive someone?

●How Are Matters Between Christians That Involve Suits, Cases, Or Litigations Addressed?

●Knowing How To Forgive While Operating In The Influences Of The Spirit Are Extremely Important.

CHAPTER 8

HOW SHOULD MATTERS BETWEEN CHRISTIANS THAT INVOLVE SUITS, CASES, OR LITIGATIONS BE ADDRESSED?

In the Corinthian church, believers were taking legal action against their fellow believers before pagan or unbelieving judges. It appears that these suits were considered legal, constituting civil issues, which were considered as being small matters. Small matters seem to refer to the smallest matters that are involved in suits, cases, or litigations.
Criminal matters, however, would go before ordinary tribunals.

1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?

These small matters could be classified into two different categories.

They can be explained as being those minor offences that were addressed in the lesser Jewish courts known as a Bench Of Three Judges or The Bench Not Authorized, which involved suits for debts, robberies, bodily injuries, compensation for damages, thefts involving a twofold, fourfold, or fivefold value to the proprietor, seduction (to persuade to do something bad or wrong), slander5 (a spoken statement that harms a person’s reputation in an unfair way and makes others laugh at or hate the person6).

The other category could be that small matters could refer to property matters or family inheritance.

There appears to be two ways to address these small matters in the church.

The first is to have the case be brought before someone that is appointed by the church, who is governed by piety and integrity, to decide in these cases. Some would call this person an arbiter.
In the case of minor offenses which involve issues whereby a fellow believer is injured by being slandered, robbed, etc. then this would be resolved by approaching the offender alone and then if need be by witnesses as previously talked about in previous chapters according to Matt. 18:15-17.
In the case of minor offenses involving property or inheritance issues, then it would be appropriate to secure a Christian auditor in order to
to sort all this out, one who is recognized as exhibiting piety and integrity.

5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

The second option concerning addressing these legal matters seems to suggest that if an arbiter is not available, then it would be better to endure the wrong patiently and cheerfully instead of taking it before a civil pagan court.
Some would suggest that what Paul was saying to the believers in Corinth is that by them taking their fellow believers to civil court this indicated that there was an inability in them of not being able to bear anything, as when one is easily broken down by injuries, which signified weakness of mind. They further suggest that as the Lord commands us (Matt 5:44; Rom 12:21) to not to be overcome by evils, but on the contrary to overcome injuries by acts of kindness, it is certain, that those who cannot control themselves so as to suffer injuries patiently commit sin by their impatience. If contention in law-suits among believers is a token of that impatience, it follows that it is faulty7.
I don’t believe that this is what Paul meant, because if this was the case, then what he is saying is that if a believer commits a wrong against another believer, then we should bear it and not address it with them. This message is contrary to the many verses that talk about addressing offenses that are committed by one believer toward another.
The main ideas in these exchanges are for the reconciliation of believers as relating to property and family inheritances.
If indeed it was the case that there was no one available from the Christian assembly to be an arbiter in these cases involving property and family inheritances, then it would be preferable for you to let other people take from you what is yours than to take the matter to civil court.

7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

In summary, minor offenses between Christians relating to debts, bodily injuries, thefts which involved a twofold, fourfold, or fivefold value to the proprietor, slander, etc.) should be handled according to Matt 18:15-17. Minor offenses between the brethren involving property or family inheritance should be handled by a Christian arbiter.

Even though the word forgiveness is not mentioned in any of these verses, what I wanted to help get across to you is that for many Christians issues such as this might be dismissed by them meaning that they choose not to address these issues, because of their perception of Christ’s forgiveness on the cross toward those (unbelievers) who mistreated him.

I hope that what you have learned is that the protocol for forgiveness toward unbelievers is different from the protocol for forgiveness toward believers.

I have a closing word for you.

KNOWING HOW TO FORGIVE WHILE OPERATING UNDER THE INFLUENCES OF THE SPIRIT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

I hope that you have enjoyed this paper on forgiveness. Like any biblical subject, which relates to our spiritual walk, we should be fully
informed by the teaching of our church assembly so that we can think, speak, and act in a Godly manner.

What is meant by forgiveness is determined by who is involved and what the situation is.

Knowing when to forgive and how to forgive is hopefully what you have learned from this study.

In summary, what does forgiveness mean?

●If a believer is being persecuted for their faith by unbelievers, then they should pray to God the Father that he not punish those who caused the physical injury, along with the hope for their salvation. Lk 23:34

●If a believer has been injured by words, physical harm, or in regards to their property (having it damaged, stolen, etc.) by a fellow believer, which includes those in leadership, then they should go to the offending believer alone in order to address the matter. If the offending believer admits guilt, then they are to be forgiven. Even though this word is not mentioned it is implied with the idea of accepting them back into fellowship with oneself, providing instruction for renewal, and forgetting the offense.
If the offending believer refuses to admit wrong, then go back to them with at least one more first-hand witness.
If they still refuse to admit guilt, then bring the matter before the judicial authority of the church. If wrong is admitted, then discipline could be imposed in the form of a censure. This would remove the person from the fellowship for a period of time. When the time was fulfilled, forgiveness (restoration to participate in the church assembly) would be forthcoming.
If they still refused to admit guilt, then they would be removed from the fellowship indefinitely with no forgiveness. This means that the victim would have no religious contact or communion (not associate, eat, or travel) with this person.
If the offending believer refuses to admit guilt and there are no witnesses, then the matter can’t be pursued any further. Leave the matter in the hands of the Lord to address in his way and in his time. Matt 18:15-17

●If a believer catches another believer by surprise in the act of committing sin, then they should go to them to restore (used of one, who by correction, may be brought back into the right way). If they refuse to admit guilt, then they are not forgiven. Even though this word is not used in these verses it is implied. The idea is that chastisement from God will not be removed. I would also recommend avoiding association with them. Usually in these types of cases the believer will eventually stop attending the meetings of the assembly or they will admit guilt before those, who previously approached them.
If a believer who has witnessed another believer committing sin realizes that in addressing this sin with the offender they could be attracted to doing wrong and yield to the attraction, then they should not go to them. Instead they 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. Forgiveness is implied meaning in this case to remove chastisement and restore fellowship with God the Father. Gal 6:1

●The last example of forgiveness involves a church member, including those in leadership, being involved in public egregious sin. In this case the offender is brought before the judicial court of the assembly being rendered innocent or guilty. If the accused is found guilty, and admits guilt, then the announcement is made before the church without the accused believer being present. What should follow is a public statement of the nature of the offence before the entire church, and such a censure as the case demands8. This would remove the person from the fellowship for a period of time. When the time was fulfilled, forgiveness (restoration to participate in the church assembly) would be forthcoming.
If they refuse to admit guilt in light of the factual evidence, then they would be removed from the fellowship indefinitely with no forgiveness. This means that the church members would have no religious contact or communion (not associate, eat, or travel) with this person.

Well what are you thinking?

Usually when a biblical topic is looked at there is more to it than just presenting a one-line scriptural response as to what it means.

It is important that we as believers in Christ are fully instructed in a clear and concise manner concerning the many church topics that there are.

I hope that you will continue to learn about the many topics that are contained in the scriptures. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and by all means study on your own.

And most of all may the peace of God rule in your heart.

God Bless.

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