What Does it Mean to Forgive?

Introduction

I am sure many have asked the question, "What does it mean to forgive?" To forgive, in truth, is to let someone off the hook for doing something that hurt you in some way or another. It also means to forget it ever happened. I can see us forgetting it, can'tyou? We, as humans, do not have the ability to forget those who hurt us. I know we forget some things, but hurts we tend to hang onto for most, if not all, of our lives.

So we are back to the big question, "What does it mean to forgive?" A couple more questions also come to mind. Is it even possible for people to forgive? Does it mean we have to forget what happened to forgive?

This hub will be written froma Biblical viewpoint because that's what I know. Comments are always welcome from any and all people as long as they are civil with no profanities.

Gen 50:17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.

God Forgives

First we will look and see how and why God actually forgives. God forgives because it is His nature to forgive. Men are like children to Him and he knows we fall short. In fact the very first man God created fell short after being tempted of Satan. God made coats of skins for Adam and Eve after the first sin by man.

When God forgives, he forgets. The sin is cast away from Him into the sea of forgetfulness. A Casting Crowns song speaks of the forgiveness of God in poetic form. The song asks the question of Jesus, "Jesus can you show me just how far the East is from the West." It goes on to answer the questions also, "From one nail scarred hand to the other."

We know that East and West cannot actually meet. The Word of God says sin is cast away as far as the east is from the west. What does that mean for us who are men and not God?

What Forgiveness is Not!

Let's examine some of the things that forgiveness is not. Forgiveness doesn't mean the one that hurt you didn't hurt you. It doesn't mean the person is not guilty. There has to be someone who is guilty in order for forgiveness to come into effect.

Holding grudges is not forgiveness. I know this is simply put and everyone knows it, but it must be written in my opinion. I know people who have held grudges for years and years and some who hold grudges still today against someone who's been dead for years. I honestly don't see the point in holding grudges, especially against someone who is dead. The grudge only hurts the one holding it even more.

Forgiveness isn't just simply saying, "I forgive you." Many don't mind saying it and not meaning what they say. It doesn't bother them to lie about it.

Forgiveness isn't making someone do things for you to earn forgiveness. I could hurt my brother and mow his grass all summer for free using my own mower, and he still might not forgive me.

What is Forgiveness?

Luk 23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

This is the perfect example of ultimate forgiveness. Even as the soldiers parted his clothes, He forgave them of all they had done to Him. This is also at the time when He hung from the cross with nails driven through His hands and feet. A crown of thorns pushed down onto His head and blood running everywhere around Him.

The definition of forgive, according to Merriam Webster's dictionary is;

transitive verb1 a: to give up resentment of or claim to requital for b: to grant relief from payment of 2: to cease to feel resentment against (an offender) : pardon forgive one's enemies>intransitive verb: to grant forgiveness.

Two thieves were with Him that day. One on the right and one on the left. One stated to Christ, "If you are Christ, save yourself and us also." What he wanted was to be saved from the punishment that was due him for the crimes he had committed. The other thief knew Jesus was Christ. He knew forgiveness was there for him and any who would partake of it. He even reprimanded the thief who berated Jesus.

Ultimately forgiveness is given freely with no expectations in return. It requires no work on the part of the one being forgiven. The hurt must be forgotten and put behind, for true forgiveness to to be. When Jesus died on the cross at Calvary, forgiveness for all men was given. There isn't a man alive or who has ever died that God has not forgiven. The Bible says that God loved the world. That means every man, woman, and child. He gave His only begotten Son. Jesus did not come to the world to condemn the world, but that through Him, the world might be saved.

The world is already condemned. Forgiveness doesn't save you from sin, because it requires nothing from the one being forgiven. Salvation comes through belief in Jesus Christ as being the Son of the Living God.

How Do We Forgive?

Getting back to the reason for this hub, I will list a few things that show the process of forgiving.

1. The main step to forgiving is to have a desire to forgive someone. If there is no desire to forgive, chances are forgiveness will not come and unforgiveness will remain in the heart of the one who refuses to forgive. Holding onto unforgiveness has dire consequences. Bitterness will set in and doors will open allowing demonic spirits to enter into the heart.

2. Once there is a desire to forgive, forgiveness must be spoken. It doesn't necessarily have to be spoken to the one whom you are forgiving, but if the person is there to hear it said, it would be better.

3. Once it has been spoken from a willing heart, it must be forgotten. As I wrote earlier, we cannot forget like God can. To forget it, we must stop thinking on it and especially not dwell upon it. Satan will bring it back to us at times and we must tell him to take it up with Jesus because forgiveness has already been loosed. The Bible states that whatever we loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

It is urgent that we forgive all who have ever hurt us. Let's leave the past in the past and forget about it because nothing we can do will change what happened back then.