Understanding how forgiveness works

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To truely understand forgiveness, we must look to Jesus. To begin, Jesus asked God to forgive the world through His accomplishment on the cross. Jesus did not hang on the cross and say I FORGIVE YOU ALL. However, we know that Jesus didn't ask the Father to forgive them if forgiveness was not in His heart.

And that is the point. Forgiveness is from the heart, not the mouth. Although the cross is clearly understond to be the decree of pardon from God the Father to us all, yet Jesus says that without repentence, one can not be saved. Everyone has been pardoned, not everyone is going to heaven. God will judge the hearts of men, and that is where we find the answer. Forgiveness is from God's heart. God tells Israel long ago, see, I have given you the decree of pardon and release you from your captives Egypt, but YOU MUST take an unblemeshed lamb and pour it's blood over your door posts and windows or my judgment will not pass over you. God sent the deliverer first, and also sent a commandment that through the blood of the Lamb, we would show our willingness to recieve and participate with Gods grace, an act of repentance to turn away from Egypt and look forward seeking God and His kingdom.

If I forgive someone in my heart, I don't need to say I forgive you. You see, God already forgave that one on the cross. He said "remember me when you come in your Kingdom" after admiting his guilt before Jesus and justifying his own punishment. Even if you're bitter towards someone, and that someone came to you the very next hour, and heartfully aske you for forgiveness; would you turn it down? No, you would not, because you bear Christ's name, Christian, forgiveness was already in your heart. Yet Jesus hung on that cross with forgiveness for both, only one would be in paradise with Jesus that day.
 
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MatthewG

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I was mad at my buddy at work the other day, and his demeanor towards me that moment changed completely in that moment, when he met at work the next day, he was kind of offish from his regular attitude towards me. He knew I was extremely upset, the reason why is because I was hurt. I never told him that. However, I told him hey man, I forgive you, it's not big deal what happened. I stated "it says if I say I love God, and I hate my neighbor what good is it that I say I love God." By the end of the day, he was back to his regular self with me. Sometimes words are meaningful if you truly mean them from the heart towards others.
 
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Verily

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The blood of the everlasting covenant shown in Jesus also

Isaiah 55:3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. (See Acts 13:34)

Speaking to Jesus, the faithful witness (Isaiah 54:4 & Rev 1:5)

Isaiah 55:4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.

John 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all

Acts 13:34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

Acts 13:35 Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.(Psalm 16:10,& Acts 2:31)

Acts 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.(Acts 13:37)

Acts 13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
 
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Windmill Charge

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The thing about forgiveness is that it is conditional on the offender/sinners repentance.
Jesus on the cross only forgave the repentant thief.
He prayed that God would forgive his crucified. He did not forgive them.

Throughout the bible God only forgives those who turn from their sins.
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, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
 
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The thing about forgiveness is that it is conditional on the offender/sinners repentance.
Jesus on the cross only forgave the repentant thief.
He prayed that God would forgive his crucified. He did not forgive them.

Throughout the bible God only forgives those who turn from their sins.
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, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Jesus said these words: "Fe thing about forgiveness is that it is conditional on the offender/sinners repentance.
Jesus on the cross only forgave the repentant thief.
He prayed that God would forgive his crucified. He did not forgive them.

Throughout the bible God only forgives those who turn from their sins.
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, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
 

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Jesus said these words on the cross: "Forgive THEM Father for THEY know not what THEY do". The reason Jesus came, is because all of mankind needed forgiveness through a blood sacrafice not just from animals to satisfy the Jewish law, but the blood of a Man, and not just "A" man, but an unblemished first born who could take the place of all men. "for GOD so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoSOEVER believs shall not perish but have everlasting life. Whosoever does not refer to ONE man.

Paul speaks to the first Gentile about salvation. He goes to the house of Cornelius and says this regarding the vision God gave Paul before Paul went to Cornelius home. "...for you know, speaking to Cornelius, that it is UNLAWFUL for a Jew to enter the house of a Gentile; but GOD has SHOWN me, regarding his vision, the NO MAN IS UNCLEAN IN HIS SIGHT. In other words WHOSOEVER.
 
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Windmill Charge

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Jesus said these words on the cross: "Forgive THEM Father for THEY know not what THEY do". The reason Jesus came, is because all of mankind needed forgiveness through a blood sacrafice not just from animals to satisfy the Jewish law, but the blood of a Man, and not just "A" man, but an unblemished first born who could take the place of all men. "for GOD so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoSOEVER believs shall not perish but have everlasting life. Whosoever does not refer to ONE man.

Paul speaks to the first Gentile about salvation. He goes to the house of Cornelius and says this regarding the vision God gave Paul before Paul went to Cornelius home. "...for you know, speaking to Cornelius, that it is UNLAWFUL for a Jew to enter the house of a Gentile; but GOD has SHOWN me, regarding his vision, the NO MAN IS UNCLEAN IN HIS SIGHT. In other words WHOSOEVER.

Interestingly Jesus prayed ' Father forgive them.' He did not say I forgive them.
John3:16 is in the contex of belief, an unrepentant sinner does not believe and so is not forgiven and not saved.

Please read acts 10:10 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!

Paul went to a devout non Jew. A man searching for God.

Two examples that God deals with repentant sinners not unrepentant.
 

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Interestingly Jesus prayed ' Father forgive them.' He did not say I forgive them.
John3:16 is in the contex of belief, an unrepentant sinner does not believe and so is not forgiven and not saved.

Please read acts 10:10 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!

Paul went to a devout non Jew. A man searching for God.

Two examples that God deals with repentant sinners not unrepentant.
Jesus hadn't died yet. The New testament doesn't begin until the fulfillment of Joel in the upper room; I will pour out my spirit upon "ALL" flesh. Jesus was born under the old testament law, and then He had to walk the walk of the OT in order to fulfill the "WHOLE" law unscathed by temptaion and remaining perfect as a man before God who indeed was the Judge of all right up untill Jesus gave up His spirit. Jesus is now our advocate and stands before God as the perfect sacrifice for all mankind when Satan attempts to accuse the brethren. The High Priest. At the Great White Throne Judgement it is God almighty who stands as judge.
 
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