As promised in my Intro into this series, we’re continuing on with the subject of Forgiveness.  In part 1 I’d simply like to attempt to define the term.  Nothing more, nothing less.  I think it will help with the ground work for where the series may be taking me.

What is forgiveness?

I like to research what Webster has to say of a word so I can fully understand its intended meaning.  In turn, this helps to ensure I’m using it correctly.

Main Entry: for·give·ness
Function: noun
: the act of forgiving

Main Entry: for·giv·ing
Function: adjective
1 : willing or able to forgive
2 : allowing room for error or weakness

Main Entry: for·give
Function: verb
1 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
intransitive senses : to grant forgiveness

Do you see where forgiving means: “allowing room for error or weakness”?  It’s difficult to wrap my perfectionist brain around that one.  Each one of these definitions is rather convicting and as I read them many, many thoughts and memories crowd my brain.  Before I get hung up on my human feelings and emotions regarding the task of true forgiveness, we should look into God’s view for a moment.

Ultimate Forgiveness:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.   1 John 1:9

Throughout His word, you’ll discover what forgiveness means to God.  His forgiveness cleanses us, it frees us and it uplifts us.  We learn that He is faithful in his forgiveness.  He doesn’t say, “Well, you say you’re sorry but I know you’ll be doing that again next week so…no, I’ve decided not to forgive you.” 

His forgiveness brings with it a hope of eternity in heaven.  By sending His Son to die in our place, He has “granted us relief from payment” for our sin.  In this, He is our example.  He commands us to forgive others:

…bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.   Colossians 3:13

Can you just picture for a moment what Christ endured that we might have forgiveness?  Humbling isn’t it?  And yet, even knowing this, many of us still stamp our foot in defiance, like a spoiled child, and say, “What if I just don’t want to forgive?”

In Relation to Forgiveness:  Intro

In Relation to Forgiveness:  Part 1

In Relation to Forgiveness:  Part 2

In Relation to Forgiveness:  Part 3