A thief may steal something from
another man and do so without any qualm of conscience, but
even a thief will be angry if someone else steals something
from him. This illustrates quite clearly that he knows it is wrong
to steal, even though in his corrupt and selfish nature he
can excuse his own wrongdoings. An adulterer may excuse his own
actions while condemning the same transgression in his spouse.
Paul states that even the Gentiles, who were not given the law written
in tablets of stone, nonetheless have the principle of the law
ingrained in them. For when the Gentiles, which have not the
law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these having
not the law are a law unto themselves, which show the work of the law
written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness,
and their thoughts to mean while accusing or else excusing one
another. This is demonstrated quite clearly
by the fact that every man in the flesh believes in an eye
for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Even young children manifest
this very principle when they are struck by another child or
a toy is taken from them. The most difficult action for
any human being to take towards another is to demonstrate a spirit
of true forgiveness. It is actually impossible to
perform acts of true forgiveness apart from the work of the Spirit
of God. True forgiveness is not just an action taken now and
then, but rather a state of mind which has regard towards the
mercy of God which has been demonstrated towards them. The fruit of the
Spirit in the child of God causes him to delight in forgiveness.
The legalistic mind of the flesh is that which demands satisfaction
before granting its own version of forgiveness. It is this legalistic
mindset which holds the notion that one should not grant forgiveness
unless he sees fruits of repentance in the offending party. True
forgiveness is a product of the Spirit of God, who causes the
people of God to love their neighbor as themselves. That man who is
led by the Spirit of God hopes to be found with the same mind
which was in Christ Jesus as he prayed for his tormentors.
One of the fruits of the Spirit is long-suffering. It is impossible
to be long-suffering without manifesting a forgiving spirit,
and vice versa. Patience, tenderness, and kindness
are necessary parts of forgiveness, and where you find one, you must
find the other. It is the evident work of the
Spirit when these attitudes are found, and the obvious work of
the flesh when they are disregarded and set aside in favor of justice.
Has not Christ taught us to walk in his steps? Who did no sin,
neither was guile found in his mouth. Who when he was reviled,
reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened
not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.
The flesh promises us a feeling of satisfaction when we demand
an apology from another person, who it tells us we have a right
to be offended by. It promises an even greater enjoyment
if such apology is not forthcoming, and we can hold a grudge against
them until they come around. Yet such a spirit of unforgiveness
is like a cancer that eats at our very vitals and only serves
to bring us into a place of bitterness and quenching of the spirit.
A man cannot have the enjoyment of sins forgiven if he is unforgiving. John says if we confess our sins
he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness. John is not saying that the legal
standing of the sons of God is dependent on them confessing
their sins. The legal standing of the sons of God completely
rests in the work which Christ undertook, performed, and finished
in their behalf. Yet it is true that the application
of forgiveness is brought to them through the work of repentance
which is wrought in them by the Spirit of God, causing them to
confess their sins and thus enter into the joy of the Lord in their
own conscience. The man who is without repentance
has no enjoyment of the blessings of redemption in his own soul.
Yet as a man is humbled by the Spirit to see Christ as that
perfect substitute, he can then taste and see the forgiveness
of God in a manifest sense. This is an ongoing work of the
Spirit in them, causing them to confess their sins while being
reminded of His blessed work as their advocate, both in the
past and at the present moment. God is our refuge and strength,
the very present help in trouble. I wait for the Lord, my soul
doth wait, and in His word do I hope. Thus it is impossible
for a man who blasphemes the Spirit to have forgiveness, even
as it is impossible for a hard-hearted, unforgiving man to have his own
sins forgiven. Put on, therefore, is the elect
of God, holy and beloved, vows of mercies, kindness, humbleness
of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving
one another. If any man have a quarrel against
any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all
these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which
ye are called in one body. And be ye thankful.