EASY WAYS TO FORGIVE OTHERS

What is communional forgiveness? “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7-9). “My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world” (2:1-2).

The forgiveness mentioned here is neither that which we received at the time of salvation nor that which the church extends to us. After we believe in the Lord and become God’s children, we still may have need of God’s forgiveness. We have mentioned this before as the forgiveness of the red heifer.? Though we have received eternal forgiveness, we may weaken and once again sin before the Lord, thus interrupting our fellowship with God. So, once again we need forgiveness.

Life has a special characteristic—it delights in fellowship. Or, as biology students know, we may say that life has two basic features: self-preservation—to keep oneself alive and away from death, for life fears to die; and fellowship—the fear of being isolated. If you put a chicken alone in one place, it will show boredom; but if you put many chickens together, they will manifest great liveliness. A man imprisoned in solitary confinement suffers greatly because of being unable to communicate with other people. Man, like other living creatures, desires to preserve his own life as well as to have fellowship with others.

What is communional forgiveness? “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7-9). “My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world” (2:1-2).

The forgiveness mentioned here is neither that which we received at the time of salvation nor that which the church extends to us. After we believe in the Lord and become God’s children, we still may have need of God’s forgiveness. We have mentioned this before as the forgiveness of the red heifer.? Though we have received eternal forgiveness, we may weaken and once again sin before the Lord, thus interrupting our fellowship with God. So, once again we need forgiveness.

Life has a special characteristic—it delights in fellowship. Or, as biology students know, we may say that life has two basic features: self-preservation—to keep oneself alive and away from death, for life fears to die; and fellowship—the fear of being isolated. If you put a chicken alone in one place, it will show boredom; but if you put many chickens together, they will manifest great liveliness. A man imprisoned in solitary confinement suffers greatly because of being unable to communicate with other people. Man, like other living creatures, desires to preserve his own life as well as to have fellowship with others.