The Purpose of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a powerful characteristic of God’s love enabling us to transform into eternal creations.

Forgiveness has been misunderstood as a type of covering so we can remain in sin. Yet, the purpose and gift of forgiveness is to create an environment for us to grow out of sin and into righteousness, thus into eternal creations. Proverbs 12:28 To willingly remain in our sin is to trample on the forgiveness of God. Christ gave us His spirit NOT so we remain in sin/death, but that we would have the power to break free from it.

Forgiveness is the ability to see someone in true love after they have sinned against you. The love absorbs the hurt from their sin; so, if repentant, they can grow and learn in a safe harbor of love. 1 Peter 4:8 True forgiveness is an exchange between two people; one giving forgiveness and the other receiving forgiveness. In this exchange healing occurs.

Atmosphere for Growth

God’s forgiveness provides us an atmosphere to grow. In His love, He forgives us of our wrongs as His love absorbs the hurt we caused so we can stay connected to Him; the One to deliver us from the lies that cause sin. Forgiveness enables the dross, the unrighteousness, to be burned so we can become precious jewels as we were intended to be. Proverbs 25:4 Without it, we could never break free because we would be severed from the source, God, who assembles the truth in us so we can be free from sin. John 8:32

You see, we’ve all been in prison, a prison of our minds for believing lies instead of the truth. Isaiah 42:7 In believing the lies, we act in unrighteousness. When we seek wisdom, truth and love from God; He starts to open our eyes to the lies; thus our unrighteousness. At that point we also understand our need to be forgiven by God. What we find is God’s forgiveness is an ever gushing stream so we can remain in His presence and therefore learn and grow in His righteousness. It’s always there in abundant amounts. It allows God to use our sins and their consequences to teach us and direct us to the paths of life. God remains by our side and leads us out of the pit of lies, rung by rung, that keep us bound and transgressing His perfect will, ways and love.

Thus, the power of forgiveness is to learn the lessons of truth that save us. James 1:21

When we desire to live according to God’s ways, we embrace His forgiveness, thus His love. If we aren’t learning; we aren’t abiding in His forgiveness, but are trampling upon it. Thus to know His love; we must receive His forgiveness. If we receive His forgiveness, our lives show it because righteousness is being sown in our soul. Isaiah 33:6

In forgiveness, God gently works with us transforming us into holy creations. He makes the transition into righteousness peaceful and gentle as we willingly follow His lead. He unravels our twisted soul of lies with the least amount of stress and turmoil. However, if we reject it by not repenting and learning, we face torment that we bring upon our own soul. If there is no repentance, we aren’t accepting His forgiveness. Hebrews 6:4-8 Thus, there is no exchange and no healing.

Forgiving Others

Once we understand and receive the forgiveness God gives, then we give it to others. Luke 6:37-38, 40 For we give what we are and what we have. We do as our teacher.

True forgiveness sees the transgressor in love. Because forgiveness is of love, when we forgive someone it means we are continuing to see them in love. In our love for another, we absorb the hurt they caused as they are trying to grow and learn. In that atmosphere of forgiveness and love; the transgressing soul can grow. If they aren’t trying to grow, repent, then they are harmful to us and we can’t continue to engage them because it only causes harm. Without the repentance; no healing exchange occurs. Matthew 18:21-22

When our hearts are hardened, we don’t or won’t see another in true love.  Instead, because of the hurt they have caused we build spiritual walls that block our love to them. We don’t give them a chance. If we harden our hearts toward others; we also are hardening it toward God, for it’s His will that we forgive. Matthew 6:14

Our forgiveness fosters others’ growth. If we don’t offer forgiveness, we prohibit their growth and ours. John 20:23 We neglect to give the love they need for their soul to heal, thus ours. Matthew 18:18

May we all truly receive and give forgiveness so that we are sowers of righteousness in us and others.