Forgiveness Is All About Healed Relationships

Some of Elly Nelson's reflections in her February 26 Bible Study:

The act of forgiveness as biblically stated, involves not holding someone’s sin against them in a way that the relationship is strained, or enmity is created between individuals.

Of course, we may never forget the way someone has wronged us. People do terrible, evil things. Even fellow believers are capable of hurting us in profound ways. The point of forgiveness, however, is that we no longer keep a record or tally of those wrongs that we might use against them in the future.

When someone sins against us, if we’ve forgiven them, we don’t bring back previous sin as an added offense. Their debt has been erased, the score has been settled, and they are free from any burden of guilt.

We too are freed from bitterness, anger, and the constant need to seek retribution or demand reparation for their wrongs. It’s not easy. When someone hurts us, we often want to hold onto our resentment and sense of indignation, believing we are justified in seeking retribution or vindication.

The Bible, however, says that we are to “let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one

another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31-32).

Forgiveness brings freedom to both parties, whereas unforgiveness only breeds bitterness, resentment, and further division. Jesus had addressed this when He addressed the need for believers to correct a brother or sister who has sinned.

When we lovingly confront those who’ve sinned against us, not in malice or vengeance but gentleness and reconciliation, we give the person the opportunity to confess, repent, and seek forgiveness. If they do, praise God. As Jesus says, “you have won your brother” (Matthew 18:15). This, of course, should always be the goal, the restoration of the relationship.

Ah, there is the word that I was looking for as I recounted the celestial event of the first of this month and the dog-walking at the last of this month. 

RELATIONSHIP.