Forgiving Wrong

Father forgive them for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34)

Many verses in the scriptures about forgiveness that I read are in context, speaking to those in the body of Christ. For example, "Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive" (Colossians 3:13). Certainly, they apply to forgiving those in the world, but the world has no idea, they are without God, without hope, and act according to the world and its sinful passions.

when reviled [he] did not revile in return, suffering [he] did not threaten but commended himself over to the one who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23)

The word reviled means to attack; to wrong; to persecute even. Persecution is one of the ways the evil one uses to cause us as believers not to grow into maturity. Paul writes, forfeiting grace can cause a root bitterness to grow and defile. Persecution is unfair treatment toward a person or group which causes injury, grieves, or afflicts. If you do wrong to someone like lie or steal or cheat or abuse and it causes affliction you are persecuting someone. When it comes to believers the scriptures give us warnings against causing a brother to stumble in their faith.

I have a hard time with I am wronged. It's first world issue for sure, but I recently bought a new truck and the dealership pulled one over on me. I know they are known for it but they are getting more and more clever in how they do it. For me they advertised the truck's MSRP $3,000 more than it actually was so the $10, 000 incentives/discounts they advertised I really did not get and they and charged me for a "Chevyman" package I did not receive, another $1000, and another $1200 unaccounted for,. So really I ended up paying close to the real MSRP. I was wronged and it bothered me. I love the truck but its enjoyment quickly faded.

Wrong is where the devil has been hitting me over and over again. God is using it to teach me. Jesus was wronged badly nailed to a cross yet he asked the father to forgive them. Once I did not know any better, I was like the world given over to it passions and sinful desires, yet he forgave me and made me alive. When I compare the wrong to what Jesus has forgiven and where I am heading for eternity because of the wrong he suffered, the wrong I suffer pales in comparison. Yes, I am called to holiness, my mistakes are not to be taken lightly but I still mess up, and he still cleanses me from all unrighteousness.

but you were washed, sanctified, justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

As I was reading scripture tonight I felt God's presence about the truck matter and his wisdom. So they wronged me. Surely, there should be laws in place to stop it and there should not exist an attitude "that's just how they work." Paul, writes, do not be deceived, the greedy and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). God will have his vengeance on the unrighteous one day. I pray for them. I was once like them but I was washed and cleansed and I am a new creation. In the scheme of things a few dollars and our earthly accomplishment even though some are honorable in the world's eyes, means nothing compared to eternity. I pray for their souls.

Popular (last 30 days)

The Tripartite Nature of Humanity: Spirit, Soul, and Body

The Tripartite Nature of Humanity: Spirit, Soul, and Body in Biblical Understanding The human being, as depicted in the Bible, is a multifaceted creation, often understood through the distinct yet interconnected components of spirit, soul, and body. While some theological perspectives lean towards a bipartite view (soul and body), which we do see in the Old Testament, a careful examination of the New Testament scripture reveals a compelling case for a tripartite understanding, where each is divided into or composed of three parts. Let’s explore the biblical distinction between spirit, soul, and body. The Body: Our Earthly Vessel The body is the physical form that interacts with the material world. From the very beginning, Genesis 2:7 states, " Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being ." This verse clearly establishes the body's origin from the earth, emphasizing its connec...

Blessed Are The Forgiven

Blessed! the one whose lawless deeds are forgiven and the one whose sins are covered over, blessed is the man whom sin, the Lord will not consider . * Paul writes David foresaw and spoke " blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered . * Blessed, is the one whom sin is not considered, this word considered means "to credit, count, reckon, to set down as a matter of account; regard, think, consider." This blessing comes through faith and according to grace, " also David speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God considers righteousness apart from works ." * The word for lawless deeds speaks of the violation of the Law and the word for sin speaks of missing the mark of God's righteousness. Blessed are those who (by faith in Christ according to grace) have been forgiven. In Him receiving the redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of trespasses according to the riches of His grace . * This fundamental ...

Lord, Stand By Me

"... present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness ." 1 This word for present means "I bring, present, come up to and stand by," it is parístēmi (from pará, "from close-beside" and hístēmi, "to stand") – properly, stand close beside, i.e. ready to present (exhibit). I pray Lord stand by me which expresses that I put my trust in Him, or I come up to and stand by Him. We use phrases like surrendering or bowing at the cross to explain such a moment, surely it is a coming to the end of ourselves and it is desirable that I find His will acceptable, but it is important to understand that it is about trust, not my will power, the key is that it is in Christ. The terminology the scriptures use is "present yourselves to God," or come up to and stand by and walk with Him. "... present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this...

Spirit of Life

" Indeed, the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus liberates from the law of sin and death ." 1 This word for liberates "I free, set free, liberate" is from a root word meaning free, exempt, not bound by an obligation. As partakers of God's divine nature, being born of Spirit, we are no longer obligated to the sinful nature but to righteousness which is God's nature. When we believe we receive the Spirit of promise, a guarantee of our inheritance, a great testimony that we are His children, it is a Spirit of Life. " Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." 24 The Son came not to condemn the world but to save it. "One trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. " 6 " He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and wa...

The Church as Glory and Joy: Paul's Vision of Ministry Reward

The Church as Glory and Joy: Paul’s Vision of Ministry Reward A Theological Essay on Ministry, Servant Leadership, and the True Reward of Equipping the Saints Introduction Distortion of scripture is nothing new, Peter himself warned that Paul’s letters were being twisted even in the first century—some “distort” them, as they do “the other Scriptures” (2 Peter 3:16). Paul likewise warned that distortions would arise from within the church, with people speaking “twisted things” to draw disciples after themselves (Acts 20:29–30). And when the subject turns to money, the New Testament is especially direct. Paul cautions against those who imagine “godliness” as a means of gain (1 Timothy 6:5) and insists that gospel ministry must not be peddled for profit (2 Corinthians 2:17). Peter adds that false teachers exploit others “in their greed” (2 Peter 2:3), and Jude warns of those who “abandoned themselves for the sake of gain” (Jude 11). Paul also wrote some “teach… for shameful gain” ...

All Who Are Thirsty

“ Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. .." (Isaiah 55). " Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price ." Buy is defined as to acquire the ownership of by giving an accepted price or consideration therefore; to accept or believe as true .[ 1 ] When we buy something we consider the price that we must pay, we accept this and purchase the thing we have considered worthy of the sacrifice we make in payment. W e can not buy, with money or price, redemption from t his tragic flaw we are born into. However Jesus paid the price for us, so we buy or accept through consideration, the Greek word is logizomai.[ 2] ...

True Widows: A Biblical Perspective

True Widows: A Biblical Perspective Throughout Scripture, God's compassion for widows is evident. He is portrayed as their defender, provider, and source of justice. The Bible repeatedly calls believers to care for widows, reflecting God's own heart for the vulnerable. However, in his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul provides a specific definition of a "true" widow, emphasizing the church's responsibility in supporting those who are genuinely in need. God's Compassion for Widows The Old Testament is rich with passages that reveal God's concern for widows. In Exodus 22:22, God commands, "You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child." This verse underscores His protective nature, ensuring that widows are not mistreated or neglected. Similarly, Deuteronomy 10:18 declares, "He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing." Here, God is depicted as a just and loving prov...

Sound Doctrine, Sound Minds, and the Word of Life

Sound Doctrine, Sound Minds, and the Word of Life The New Testament consistently links doctrine with the condition of the mind . Doctrine is never treated as a mere collection of correct statements to be affirmed, but as something formative—shaping how believers reason, how faith matures, and whether communities are built up or quietly destabilized. When doctrine is unsound—loosely grounded, selectively quoted, or driven by human agendas—it does not simply introduce error. It produces instability. Scripture describes this instability not as ignorance, but as a condition of being divided , tossed , and unsettled . The danger is not thinking too much, but thinking without a stable center . Murmuring, Confused Reasoning, and the Loss of Orientation Paul names this danger directly in Philippians: “Do all things without murmuring (γογγυσμός) and confused reasoning (διαλογισμός)… holding fast to the word of life.” — Philippians 2:14–16 The terms Paul uses are precise. The word mur...

The Promises of God — The Gospel Without Monetary Cost

Conversion, Gift, Priesthood, and the Stumbling Block of Money I. The Gospel Announced as Without Cost in Scripture The gospel is revealed in Scripture as without cost , without price , and without exchange . This is not rhetorical flourish, nor merely ethical exhortation, but a declaration about the nature of divine life and the way it is received. Isaiah proclaims to covenant-breaking Israel: “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” Isaiah 55:1 The command to “buy” while explicitly possessing “no money” abolishes transactional logic. What is offered is life from God, not a commodity. The absence of price is essential to the nature of what is given. If payment were possible, the gift would cease to be what it is. This prophetic declaration stands prior to any later ecclesial practice. It defines the category of the gospel before questions of ministry, support, or organization a...

The Promises of God — The Promise of Eternal Life

There is such a great promise of eternal life to the elect, through faith and knowledge of truth, "to the extent of the hope of eternal life, which God can not lie, promised before times eternal. Now, brought to light in his word at his own timing..." (Titus 1:2) Before time began God made a promise, established it on his oath, there being nothing greater to establish it on, but accordingly to his purpose by which he can not lie. "just as he chose us in him before creation of the world to exist holy and blameless in his presence in love predestining us for adoption as his own through Jesus Christ..." (Ephesians 1:4-5). For those chosen this promise is very precious and honorable and effective. It is a promise that God will always be with us even to the end of the age. It is a promise he is working out all for good to those called according to His purpose. The promise is fulfilled through "predestinating us for adoption" and adoption is of the S...

Love Fulfilled Ministry

Search This Blog