But he willingly forgives the sinners.

If God can forgive our worst sins, how is it that we can not forgive those who sin against us?

I believe that God can separate the Sin from the person and in doing so sees that the person is not the sin.

Can we learn to do the same and understand that the actions of people are not the people themselves and forgive those who have done us wrong.

This does not mean that we do not recognize the potential for others to wrong us that we let down our guard but that those who come to us offering an olive branch should be allowed peace.


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I saw a remarkable bumper sticker in the Jewish Community Center not far from my home. It said, "Pray for Palestine". I suspect the driver of the car understood that the people living there might not all be the same as their leaders who make statements against America and Israel and send suicide bombers into the garden parties and coffee shops.

Pray for the true liberation of the Palestinians from their selfish leaders whom abuse the religion of the people in hopes of personal gain and more power and control of the region. Pray for Israel that real peace may be found and the people of all faiths may be safe living together in the land.

This is one way we can love them as ourselves.

Forgiveness for those who would wrong us is much easier a task than to seek the forgiveness of those we have wronged. We all are very aware when someone has hurt us, but be it pride, wilfull ignorance, or just plain selfishness, rarely do we acknowledge the harm we have caused others, let alone seek their forgiveness.
No matter who we believe we are, pretend to be, or wish we were, we all sin, and therefore are sinners. To forgive without seeking our own, is to leave those who sin against us blameless, and us, left to remain in our own sin.

Since I am not a qualified to judge the sins of others, let alone a people, I can only pray God's will be done, so all God's people will find peace and comfort, no matter what name He is be called by.

God's blessings,

Rev. Campbell.

Well said dear sister! Yes, it is easier to forgive others because in so doing we can place blame on them. And isn't mankind always seeking someone to blame for the ills in our world? While on the other hand, seeking forgiveness for our violations against others requires us to look into the mirror and acknowledge our own shortcomings and character defects and becoming humble....not an easy thing to do, but a wonderfully freeing of the soul is our reward.....God's Love and Peace to you Ha`ka'ta. ...To`na Wanagi

Perhaps the word is misunderstood. Though it is easier to forgive those you feel wronged you; it is often also the first step in preparation for asking others to forgive you.

forgive--
- 3 dictionary results


Forgiveness
Learn How To Grasp The Difficult Concept Of Forgiveness.
LifeScript.com
for⋅give
  /fərˈgɪv/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [fer-giv] Show IPA verb, -gave, -giv⋅en, -giv⋅ing.
Use forgive in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve.
2. to give up all claim on account of; remit (a debt, obligation, etc.).
3. to grant pardon to (a person).
4. to cease to feel resentment against: to forgive one's enemies.
5. to cancel an indebtedness or liability of: to forgive the interest owed on a loan.
–verb (used without object)
6. to pardon an offense or an offender.
7. to hold blameless
Origin:
bef. 900; for- + give; r. ME foryiven, OE forgiefan

Related forms:
for⋅giv⋅a⋅ble, adjective
for⋅giv⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
1. See excuse. 3. absolve, acquit.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.


for·give (fər-gĭv', fôr-)
v. for·gave (-gāv'), for·giv·en (-gĭv'ən), for·giv·ing, for·gives

v. tr.

1. To excuse for a fault or an offense; pardon.
2. To renounce anger or resentment against.
3. To absolve from payment of (a debt, for example).
4. To render blameless or withdraw blame
v. intr.
To accord forgiveness.

[Middle English forgiven, from Old English forgiefan; see ghabh- in Indo-European roots.]
for·giv'a·ble adj., for·giv'a·bly adv., for·giv'er n.

Synonyms: These verbs mean to refrain from imposing punishment on an offender or demanding satisfaction for an offense. The first three can be used as conventional ways of offering apology. More strictly, to forgive is to grant pardon without harboring resentment: "Children begin by loving their parents; as they grow older they judge them; sometimes they forgive them" (Oscar Wilde).
Pardon more strongly implies release from the liability for or penalty entailed by an offense: After the revolution all political prisoners were pardoned.
To excuse is to pass over a mistake or fault without demanding punishment or redress: "There are some acts of injustice which no national interest can excuse" (J.A. Froude).
To condone is to overlook an offense, usually a serious one, and often suggests tacit forgiveness: Failure to protest the policy may imply a willingness to condone it.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

The word sin came from and Old English Archery term meaning to miss the target or to Miss the mark.

People don’t seem to understand that forgiveness benefits the person more who does the forgiving than the one being forgiven.

Forgiveness comes from the heart when the person becomes ready to forgive.

When you hold onto anger and let it fester within you it harms you, no one else just you. The one you’re angry at goes day in and day out doing there own thing often oblivious to your anger.

As far as others forgiving you its nice but once again that’s their choice. People often have a harder time forgiving themselves than forgiving others.

My Dad right now is dying of cancer, he has done some horrible things in his life, I have been working on getting him to forgive himself so he could feel real peace in his life before he dies. I have forgiven Dad long ago for things other people can’t understand how I could forgive.

It’s simple its in the past, I’m letting it go. Dad has already suffered for his deeds and continues to do so. Life becomes its own revenge. People who spend time harming others in time will suffer the results of their actions. Rather they go to jail, or become physically ill, or mentally or emotionally ill, etc.

I am not saying that we shouldn’t do what is necessary to protect each other from the unspeakable actions of another. However revenge, I believe that does more harm than good.

Forgiveness brings inner peace. I know from experience. Sincerely Reverend Penny. PS

My definition of forgiveness ��" to no longer hold ones offensive actions against them to let it go.

I'ms Sorry about your dad Penny and I hope he gives himself the forgivness he seeks.

I feel that if a person asks for forgivness then it should be given, provided that it is genuine.But if no forgivness is saught then they have not earned that right. That does not mean that we need to let ourselves be consumed by the action and the reminder of the action, if what ever has been done to us is consuming our every waking thought we are letting somone else control our lives so we should learn to forgive ourselves first aftre all when someone does something terrible to us we do tend to think that perhaps we have done something to deserve it.

All true

sorry to hear about your dad.

"Vengeance is min says the Lord." There for we should leave revenge alone after all its name itself says its redundant.



It is frequently harder to forgive ones self if you are festering guilt over having not forgiven another. This is why it should always be that we forgive those we have held grudge against before going to accept forgiveness from others. IMO.

Helps to know that God will forgive us just for asking and meaning to do right after. So do what is right and the Creator will forgive you when you ask for it. The bonus is that God will help you do whats right too if you ask.