The Omaha guide., 1940-01-06

GOLDEN TEAT-And forgive US our
debts. as we forgive our debtors.-Ma
thew 6:l2
Christianity and forgiveness be-
long together. Among the religions
of the earth Christianity stands out
as the one true faith because il prop
erly and adequately meets the prob
lem of sin. In Christ is provided
forgiveness for sin. cleansing from
all unrighteousness. a new birth by
which one enters into a life Of hoii-
ness and power.
Since these things are true 1t
would seem to be almost unneces-
sary to urge Gods children to be of
a forgiving spirit. But as Bishop
Ryle says, 1T is a melancholy fact
that there are few Christian duties
so little practiced as that of for
giveness. II is sad to see how much
bitterness, unmercifulness, spite,
harshness and unkindness there is
among men," Surely these things
ought not so to be.
l. The Extent Of Forgiveness wv.
81, 22).
How long do | have TO stand it,
is the question Of the human heart
untouched by the spirit of Christ.
The injustices Of life, the offenses
of our fellow men against us, all
seem to pile up until the burden is
about to crush us. What is the an
swer to mans cry?
The Jews had an answer Three
times is enough. Forgive once, yes.
Again, yes. But the third time, no.
Peter was big-hearted enough to
more than double that allowance OF
mercy. He was willing to forgive
not just two or three times, but sew
en- times. The point to be kept in
mind, however, is that whether for
~giveness means three times or seven
times, If there is a limit. 1t is a mat
ter of reckoning, of keeping books.
and of ultimately bringing down our
judgment upon the heads Of the Of.
tenders.
The spirit Of Christ swept all o.
that aside. He said that one should
forgive 70 times seven. In other
words, Christian forgiveness is to be
untiring, unlimited, to know ne
WEAKNESS and have no boundaries.
If one really forgives 1t is because
he has a forgiving spirit and that
spirit is 10 exhausted by use. but
rather grows by exercise.
A word of caution is in order at
this point. Let no one suppose that
our Lords instruction mean that Of
lenses against the law of the land or
against the good order of society are
to be overlooked and condoned. 1t
relates to the cultivation OF a per-
sonal spirit Of forgiveness, the lay
ing aside Of revenge. of malice. OF
retaliation which do moi become the
Christian.
ii. The Motive Of Forgiveness tvv.
$3.50.
Two motives are given in our text.
the first being that since we our
selves are daily and hourly in need
of forgiveness at the merciful hand
of God, we should in turn be merei-
full toward those who sin against us.
Compared with our offenses against
the law of God, VIZ know that the
misdeeds of neighbors against
us are mere trifles. Remember what
God has done for you. and then when
you are tempted to be hard and un-
gracious with your brother. remem-
Der the mercy Of God.
The second motive is the remem-
brance that a day of judgment is
to come. There is always a time Of
reckoning ahead even as was the
case with these servants. Remem-
Der not only what God has done for
you and is doing for you, but what
you must yet expect Him to do in
that day of judgment.
III. The Importance OF Forgive
ness ". $50.
A man dealing with his fellow man
is apt to think that it is merely a
matter between mar and man. We
are not dealing with a straight line
between ourselves and our brother
Chat was Peters error. but with a
triangle at whose apex is God Him.
self. If l expect God to forgive me,
l must let that same forgiveness
flow out to my brother. If l deal
with him as though God had nothing
to do with the matter, then ! must
not try to count Gods forgiveness
into the picture when | stand in
debted before Him.
Here again we express a word of
caution. Let no me suppose that
our redemption in Christ is contin-
gent upon what we do toward our
brethren. For by grace are we saved
through faith; and that not of your
selves: it is the gift of God; not of
works. lest any man should boast
(Eph. 2:8, 81. Nor does the truth
of our lesson meal that we are
somehow going to bargain with God.
trading a bit of our forgiveness to-
ward others for His forgiveness Of
us. God is not interested in such
transactions. But it does mean that
if you cannot or will not forgive, you
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