The Christian Letter, Volume One: Chapter 46
“Woe unto me! I’m such a lost sinner! What have I done?” … Well, in regards to that last question you may have committed a horrible blasphemy. When we don not forgive the forgiven, we place Yahoweh’s very atonement, the blood of the Messiah, under human condemnation. To forgive the forgiven is a thing that is easy to say, but sometimes difficult to do. Perhaps there was a child you trusted, who drank and wrecked a car, killing another, or perhaps your very own child. On the other hand, perhaps you need to forgive yourself for years of pagan rituals involving sex, blood, and idol worship, or perhaps for what happened in a war, or what you did before coming to the Word of Elohim. Nothing, though, is worse than saying, “I can’t be forgiven, and I can’t forgive.” Yahoweh can! And He will. “For Your Name’s sake, O Yahoweh, You shall pardon my crookedness, though it is great.” (Psalms 25:11). Through He Who sets slaves free, forgive yourself. After all, you are the forgiven, as much as the most righteous, or worst of men, who accepts Yahoshuah as Saviour. … Forgiven completely. “I acknowledged my sin to You, and my crookedness I did not hide. I have said, ‘I confess my transgressions to Yahoweh,’ and You forgave the crookedness of my sin. Selah.” (Psalms 32:5).
Yahoshuah, seeing the faith of a man, said in Mark 2, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” However, a group of scribes retorted, “Why does this One talk like this? He is blaspheming! Who is able to forgive sins but Elohim alone?” It was then our Saviour replied with, “‘Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Rise, take up your bed and walk”? But in order for you to know that the Son of Adam possesses authority on earth to forgive sins…’ He said to the paralytic, ‘I say to you, rise, take up your bed, and go to your house.’” (Mark 2:9-11). Yahoshuah is the Great Physician, not because of the paralytic walking, but because Yahoshuah Elohim forgives sins in a way like never before.
“For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His kindness toward those who fear Him; as far as east is from west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion for his children, so Yahoweh has compassion for those who fear Him.” (Psalms 103:11-13). I, nor any scientist, can comprehend this distance, this extreme.
However, “doing none at all through selfishness or self-conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each one should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4). Therefore, let us lay down all pride, and tell our brother his sin in gentleness, remembering that it is easy to get prideful when correcting someone else. Never forget that we also have failed.
“And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day comes back to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” (Luke 17:4). Each day we are to forgive others. Not go against them or shun them for life, but to forgive them again and again. “And be kind towards one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as Elohim also forgave you in Messiah.” (Ephesians 4:32). As far as the east is from the west. While we might not forget the crime, we choose to emulate the Creator, and no longer remember it. (To remember is to recall by attachment, with “re” being to do it again, and “call” being to pronounce it aloud or within. Let us, therefore, no longer reattach that member of memory to the forgiven.)
“Then Kepha came to Him and said, ‘Master, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Yahoshuah said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Because of this the reign of the heavens is like a certain man, a sovereign who wished to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents, but as he was unable to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. Then the servant fell down before him, saying, “Master, have patience with me, and I shall pay you all.” And the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. And that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred pieces of money. And he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, “Pay me what you owe!” Then his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, “Have patience with me, and I shall pay you all.” But he would not, and went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. And when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were deeply grieved, and came and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master called him and said to him, “Wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt seeing you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, as I also had compassion on you?” And his master was wroth, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So also My heavenly Father shall do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.’” (Matthew 18:21-35). Not for a reward, but from our heart let us forgive those indebted to us, as He has forgiven us.
Now some are in a habit of casting away their brother because of the passages that seem to encourage this action (chiefly Matthew 18:15-18, 1 Corinthians 5:11, and 2 Thessalonians 3:14). However, I submit to you Matthew 18:15-17.
Let us say a brother of yours commits adultery. You are to go to him and confront him. “Jim. Hey, how are you doing? Say, Jim, I have something I need to talk with you about in private. I know (you had better know for a fact and not just an accusation, as assumptions do not cut it) that you are cheating on your wife Jenny. Jim, I know Suzan and you have had an affair, and, as your brother in faith, I affirm that you must flee from this sin by repenting. You need to tell Jenny, and break this off right now with Suzan.”
“Um, I’m going to have to decline. I love them both and you just can just back off.”
Ugly, isn’t it? (Not as ugly as gossip or telling him this in front of others, and being found to be wrong). Yet, now you must bring other believers with you to talk to Jim about his affair, and not just cut him off as many are in the habit of doing. Now many stumble here. I do not care if you are of one denomination and Jim is of another. Bring a brother from each assembly, and perhaps even two.
“Jim. I am bringing before you brothers in accordance to the Word of our Saviour. We all stand in encouragement and prayerful desire, bearing the gift of His Word: Turn away from your sin, Jim, turn to the Way, the Truth, and the Light.”
“I have no need to turn from this way. In fact, I have two mistresses now.”
Getting uglier, isn’t it. Yet, now you must stand before the congregation, even if it is an assembly group other than your own.
“Dear brothers and sweet sisters, in accordance to the Word of Yahoweh I have gone to our brother Jim in private, and I have gone to him with others from my assembly, and from this assembly, and he forthwith refused to repent. Your wife has been told in private of your adultery. She tearfully prays with us now for you to turn to the Messiah. Dear Jim, we love you too much to allow you to continue in this sin. Please, for the glory of His Name, repent.”
“Never!”
And that, dear brothers and sweet sisters, is the ugliest. In truth, Jim has now cast himself out. Perhaps the cold will wake him to the need of Fire.
However, dear friends of my Friend, this is seldom done, and we still love Jim. Sinners stay in their sin and are often told lies in an attempt to comfort them, while those who are cast away are all too often imitators of Messiah. They are cast away, even if still welcomed by word of tongue, because they adhere to the Laws Eternal, just like the Messiah, or because they have no children, like the Messiah, or they sup with thieves, like the Messiah. Believers in Yahoweh, I charge you that our Rabbi has said, “I shall never leave you nor forsake you.” Why then should we be different from our Rabbi? Heaven hath forbidden by the holiest force, the Holy Spirit, that we should, in hatred, cast away those who strive to walk in His footsteps, or, for that matter, even Jim. For while the paper may not tell it, the Fire of His Spirit proclaims it, we are still to pray in heart and action for the lost brothers like Jim. There was hope for a fool like me, and I accepted it, so then there is also hope for deacon Jim … and hope for you.
Forgiving others does not always require that they ask for it. “And Yahoshuah said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.’ And they divided His garments and cast lots.” (Luke 23:34). So even though Jim did not ask for forgiveness, we must forgive him, and remain loving to him. “Beloved ones, if Elohim so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:11).
Our main goal in this must be to bring them to repentance. “Brothers, if anyone among you goes astray from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the straying of his way shall save a life from death and cover a great number of sins.” (James 5:19-20). Therefore, always be very careful in this.
“bearing with one another, and forgiving each other if anyone has a complaint against another, indeed, as Messiah forgave you so also should you.” (Colossians 3:13).
“Do not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the children of your people. And you shall love your neighbour as yourself. I am Yahoweh.” (Leviticus 19:18).
“And they were stoning Stephanos as he was calling and saying, ‘Master Yahoshuah, receive my spirit.’ And kneeling down he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Master, do not hold this sin against them.’ And having said this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7:59-60). It is surmised that before the stones of hatred for the Name of Yahoweh had took him, the Owner of the Name took Stephen to be with Him. The Messiah desires none should perish, so let’s not consider whether forgiveness is deserved or not, but let us instead do as our Rabbi did for us. Even if they are still in sin, you can forgive them, and pray they come to know true peace.
We are to be like Him; therefore, we must strive to forgive with fervent prayer, as well as accepting our own forgiveness. “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12). In this prayer, we see the fundamental basics of forgiveness. We must forgive! “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father shall also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither shall your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15). Forgiving others is necessary. He did not say, “Your Father might not forgive your sin if you do not forgive others.” … it is an absolute, “Will Not!” For by denying the use of His gift of forgiveness for others we forgo our very own gift of forgiveness!
When we see a man believing in Yahoweh, we dare not see the man of ten years ago who was a drunkard. When we see a woman praying, we dare not see the prostitute of a day ago. When we scream in anger, but later pray for forgiveness, we dare not feel the guilt for that which was done an hour ago rather than the grace of this hour. For if we do these things we question Yahoweh’s very ability to forgive those who have faith in Him.
“You heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those cursing you, do good to those hating you, and pray for those insulting you and persecuting you, so that you become sons of your Father in the heavens. Because He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those loving you, what reward have you? Are the tax collectors not doing the same too? And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Are the tax collectors not doing so too? Therefore, be perfect, as your Father in the heavens is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48). Many claim you would have to be nuts to love your enemies. Yet, you cannot minister to someone you hate. Thus, I urge you, my dear brothers and sweet sisters, be ye, therefore, nuts.
Forgiving is not always easy, though. Indeed, sometimes you will feel as if you are fighting the devil himself, but more often than not it is our own pride we fight, and our memory of pain. To have victory we must accept the mindset of Messiah. We must have humility, and forgive to the point of no longer remembering this sin. … Only through Messiah can this be done.
The key, the precious key … is prayer. “Because of this I say to you, whatever you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you hold whatever against anyone, forgive, so that your Father in the heavens shall also forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:24-25). Remember: The Greatly Forgotten Prayer? Go to the Father in prayer each time something happens, or when something is remembered in your life, that needs forgiveness. It doesn’t always have to be big, in fact, often it’s the small things we need to forgive the most, such as: When you were five, and your parents corrected you in an unfit manner. When you were ten, and kids in school laughed at you. When you arrived back home, and your spouse was not friendly. These are opportunities to forgive the forgiven.
“He who hides his transgressions does not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them finds compassion.” (Proverbs 28:13). Do not be afraid. Confess to Yah that you cannot pay this pain or sin. Ask the Saviour to pay it for you (Isaiah 53:4-12). Tell Him you desire His grace so that your sin may become as the east is from the west. Removed completely. And believe it by fleeing from sin.
“And Kepha said to them, ‘Repent, and let each one of you be immersed in the Name of Yahoshuah Messiah for the forgiveness of sins. And you shall receive the gift of the Set-apart Spirit.’” (Acts 2:38).
During the days of awe, the ten days after Trumpets, we seek to forgive the forgiven. Yet, is there a way for us to look deeper? Is there another step to forgiving the forgiven? What of this Day Yahoweh set aside? What of this great mystery: the Day of Atonement? What of the Spirit that would keep it?
Be Blessed and be a Blessing
Shalom
-Valentine Thalken Billingsley
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Additional Scripture References:
2 Chronicles 6:30, Luke 6:36-37, 1 John 1:9, Psalms 86:5