July 15, 2015 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

The Unforgiven

#3 in the series on forgiveness

If there is a flood of forgiveness we can find in God then we ought to forgive others even better than we forgive ourselves. To often Christians offer little forgiveness to those in need; no wonder the church is not growing in America.

I do not understand why Christians display so much hate and dislike for people who sin. Once they found forgiveness in Christ for themselves they do not take the next required step in their salvation—to forgive others with sincerity and compassion. Without offering forgiveness to others we cannot receive the completion of our forgiveness from our sin nor freedom in the Day of Judgment.

I am convinced this is the reason why some Christians hate so easily and so deeply—they no longer have forgiveness for themselves. The forgiveness they once received, no longer works in their favor. They are lost, they are condemned, they are no longer redeemed—they are unforgiven.

It is through the flood of forgivenessthat I find who I really am. Through forgiveness I have everything I will ever need in Christ: sins gone, all my healings, feelings of completeness, finding the strength to love well, helping others without wanting something in return, deliverance from evil, freedom from pride and sensual desirers, and so much more.

If salvation is only about me ‘being saved’ then I find myself alone, unconnected, and isolated from others. Forgiveness is meant to unit me with others. Forgiveness is given so I can connect with people. People need me and I need them—forgiveness purpose is to make this happen! I forgive you and you forgive me so we can connect.

God forgives me, people forgive me, and then I eventually forgive myself. But it does not end there. As I forgive others, then God forgives them too, and they find forgiveness themselves. God says if you cannot forgive others, then He will not forgive you. What sins we forgive they are forgiven and what sins we do not forgive they are not forgiven—here is the power of salvation and unity in Christ.

There is a power in forgiveness that goes well beyond what we can ever imagine or comprehend. Forgiveness is corporate and reciprocal. You want the pleasure of being forgiven, try first forgiving the one person you dislike the most.

God has ‘flooded me with forgiveness’ so that I can open up the floodgate of His and my forgiveness to others.

WWJWMTD

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

This e-mail, including attachments, may include confidential and/or proprietary information, and may be used only by the person or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this e-mail is not the intended recipient or his or her authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by replying to this message and delete this e-mail immediately.