Forgiveness

I had a friend ask me about forgiveness. This is a hard one. I would love to have some other commits on this, to help my friend. All I could say was what is in my heart and to give some scripture to back up my thoughts. So any help would be appreciated. Jesus says that what we bind on earth will be bound in heaven and we should forgive 70 times 7. Which is allot. We are to forgive in the way we want God to forgive us. Not how earthly people forgive. There is a huge difference in man's forgiveness and God's forgiveness, so to me you only have control over what you do and you think, you can never control another persons thoughts or deeds, only yours. So if you want God to forgive you, you have to have a forgiving heart. The Bible also say to be angry and sin not. And Jesus was very angry when he turned the money changers out of the temple. So God understands that as humans we are going to get angry. Its how we handle that anger that defines us to God. He can forgive us for anything, but he expects to see a change in us, that we are not doing that same behavior over and over again. So my answer is as long as I have done everything Biblical correct to seek to forgive some one and they refuse my forgiveness. It is then on them. God is please with you when you can forgive. So don't look at it that you can get the other person to ask to be forgiven, you've just got to do it for your own soul and the people who look to you for guidance. Please read all the scripture that I have for you, I hope this helps. Its hard to get over things that cut us to the bone, but only with God's help can we do it, and it takes time for cuts to heal, and when they're that deep its not an over night thing its an on going process, and some times you even have to have surgery to cut out dead and dying tissue to get a cut to heal. But I promise it you just let if fester you will be eaten up with infection and part of you will die. So use the Bible to wash out your cuts, keep them clean, cut out the dead flesh, and sometime in the future you can have true healing. And true frogiveness only comes from God.

Matthew 5:38-48

Go the Second Mile
38 "You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn from him.

Love Your Enemies
43 "You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 7:21-29

21 "Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

Build on the Rock
24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26"But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
28And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.



Matthew 6:8-15

8"Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

10Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

11Give us this day our daily bread.

12And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

13And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

14"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.



Matthew.

18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Luke 6:29
And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.