The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1945-03-01

trespasses, neither will your Father forgive
your trespasses.-MattheW GA, Is.
Forgiveness is the very essence of
Christianity. In Christianity only do
we find an adequate and proper deal
ing with sin, leading to forgiveness.
In Christ alone do we find that for
giveness, cleansing and regenera-
ton.
Since God has so willingly and
wonderfully provided for our for
giVeness, it would seem that we
would need no urging to make us
forgiving in spirit toward one an
other.
Yet it is indeed ga melancholy
fact that there are few Christian
duties so little practiced as that of
forgiveness. It is sad to see how
much bitterness, unmercifulness
spite, harshness and unkindness
there is among men" q. c. Ryle).
/. The Extent of Forgiveness wv.
81, 22).
"HoW long do have to stand it?"
is the question of the human heart,
especially if 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 bur
den is about to crush us. What is
the answer to mans question?
The Jews had an answer. He said
three times is enough. Forgive once,
yes. Again, yes. But the third time,
no. Peter was bighearted 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 spirit OF Christ swept all of
that aside. He said that one should
forgive 70 times seven. In other
words, Christian forgiveness is to be
untiring, unlimited, to know no
WEAKNESS and have no boundaries
If one really forgives, it is because
he has forgiving spirit, and that
spirit is not 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 means that
offenses against the law Of the land
or against the good order Of society
are to be overlooked and condoned
1t relates rather to the cuItiVa-
ton of a personal spirit Of forgive
ness, the laying aside Of revenge,
of malice, of retaliation which do
not become the Christian.
II. The Motive Of Forgiveness wv.
23-34).
Two motives are given. The first
is that since we ourselves are daily
and hourly in need of forgiveness at
the mercifuI hand of God, we should
in turn be mcrciful toward those who
sin against US. Compared with our
offenses against the law of God, we
know that the misdeeds Of our
neighbors against us are usually
mere trifes. Remember what God
has done for you, when you are
tempted to be hard and ungracious
with your brother
The second motive is the rennem-
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. 1t will make
you merciful and gracious in your
judgment of others.
Forgiveness has a fine quality
which commends itself to others.
Note the sorrow of the fellow serv-
ants ". 3D. There is, then, a So
cial value in true forgiveness.
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 man and man. We
are not dealing with straight line
between ourselves and our brother
Chat was Peters error, but with
a triangle at whose apex is God
Himself.
If I expect God to forgive me, l
must let my forgiveness flow out
to my brother. If I deal with him
as though God had nothing to do
with the matter, then I must not
try to count Gods forgiveness into
the picture when I stand indebted
before Him.
God does not play favorites. He
is no respecter of persons. He is
as interested in the other man as
He is in me. The Christian should
have the same spirit.
Here we need a word of eXplana-
ton. Let no one suppose that our
redemption in Christ is contingent
upon what we do toward our broth
rem. For by grace are yc 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
mean that we are somehow going
to bargain with God, trading bit
of our forgiveness toward others for
His forgiveness of US. God is not
interested in such transactions.
But it does mean that if you can
not or will not forgive, you may
well consider whether you are a
Christian at all, for it is Christlike
to forgive.