Forgive. It's A Matter of Life and Death.

In a world steeped in turmoil and transgressions, one of the most profound teachings we're called to practice, as born-again believers in Jesus Christ, is forgiveness. Just as a shepherd tends to his flock, we, as followers of Christ, are commanded to understand and embody the concept of forgiveness in all its depth and beauty. As the Apostle Paul aptly put it, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32, ESV).

The Greek Essence of Forgiveness

Digging deep into the treasure trove of Scripture, we unearth the Greek word "aphiēmi," a term that encapsulates the essence of forgiveness. In its multifaceted richness, "aphiēmi" transcends mere tolerance or forgetting a transgression. It embodies a profound act of releasing, a radical laying down of one's right to hold an offense against another. This concept invites us to mirror the divine act of pardoning we've experienced through Christ's sacrifice on the Cross, pardoning we most certainly didn’t deserve and could not earn through works.

At its core, "aphiēmi" speaks of untethering the debt owed, a gracious severance of the chains that bind both the offender and the offended. It's an intentional choice that echoes the words of Christ on the cross: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34, ESV). This exemplifies a forgiveness that flows from a heart moved by compassion, even amidst pain.

The Aramaic Tapestry of Forgiveness

Drawing from the rich linguistic palette of the Aramaic language, we encounter the word "shbuq" as a counterpart to the Greek concept of forgiveness. In its exquisite simplicity, "shbuq" conveys the idea of releasing or setting free. It is as if a heavy burden is lifted, allowing both the wrongdoer and the wronged to find solace.

Delving into this notion, we realize that "shbuq" embodies the very nature of God's forgiveness, not just a lenient acquittal, but a complete liberation. It is a harmonious symphony where both parties are given the opportunity to move beyond the pangs of resentment and guilt.

The Consequences of Unforgiveness

Refusing to embrace forgiveness engenders dire consequences. Scripture warns us in no uncertain terms: "But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:15, ESV). Such words underscore the intrinsic link between our reception of divine mercy and our willingness to extend it.

Unforgiveness erects barriers between us and God, as well as between us and our fellow human beings. It festers like a masked disease, poisoning relationships and sowing tares of bitterness that stonewall our growth in Christ. Unforgiveness hampers one’s ability to receive what God has for him by drawing unnecessary weight and focus to the past, in an irrelevant form of attempted bondage, squandering the transformative power of God's love at work in his (or her) life.

The Freedom of Forgiveness

The act of forgiving, as woven into the fabric of Scripture, embodies the redemption given to us believers of Jesus Christ. Just as the shepherd seeks the lost sheep, our heavenly Father yearns for reconciliation and unity among His children. By choosing to embody the grace-filled message of forgiveness, we reflect the divine image in us, becoming vessels of healing and redemption in a fractured world. Not only are we called to forgive our brothers and sisters in the Lord, we are called to forgive everyone. Jesus makes no distinction regarding whom to forgive, in Matthew 6:14-15:

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Neither does He make a distinction on the Cross, in Luke 23:34. This is the Love of God.

While forgiveness stands as a cornerstone of our faith, the dark forces of unforgiveness, hate, and bitterness can still impose their ways onto the minds of believers. Recognizing these lurking tendencies is crucial for maintaining the purity of our relationships and our fellowship with God.

The Poisonous Residue of Resentment

Unforgiveness leaves a bitter residue that taints interactions. If you find yourself replaying past hurts and nursing grievances, you might be walking by the flesh, with the fruit of unforgiveness. These smoldering embers of resentment can manifest in passive-aggressive behavior, sarcasm, or even a reluctance to engage in conversations with the person who has hurt you. Remember the words of Hebrews 12:15 (ESV): "See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no 'root of bitterness' springs up and causes trouble." Bitterness can actually cause one to “fall short” of the grace of God (see hustĕrĕō in the Greek).

The Barriers of Cold Indifference

Hate can sometimes be camouflaged by a veneer of indifference. When you sense yourself becoming emotionally detached or dismissive towards a fellow believer, it's time for self-correction. The Apostle John warns us in 1 John 3:15 (ESV): "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." Recognize that allowing hate to fester in your heart is willful sin, it disrupts the harmony that Christ desires for His body, it rejects the abiding of the promise, and it has to go.

The Weight of Lingering Hostility

Resentment, like an uninvited guest, lingers in the flesh, corroding joy and is not befitting to one who has been redeemed by Jesus. If you find yourself dwelling on past conflicts, nursing grudges, or even experiencing a physical reaction at the thought of someone, bitterness might be at play. Ephesians 4:31 (ESV) urges us: "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice." The Greek word used for the English phrase, “be put away” is aírō, which means to lift up and to carry away, akin to weeding a garden. In a soil bed with weeds, you pull the weeds up and out to prevent them from taking root and spoiling the garden. If you ever encounter a feeling of bitterness, wrath, anger, or hatred, picture the garden of your mind and pull up and out those weeds, tossing them into the fire, where they belong.

May we, as bearers of Christ’s image (Romans 8:29), heed the call to forgive as we have been forgiven. Let us lean into the fullness of "aphiēmi" and "shbuq," extending mercy beyond measure. As we illuminate unforgiveness, we can deal with it, send it away, and find ourselves drawn closer to the heart of God, where restoration and freedom abound.

In this pursuit, let us heed the words of Colossians 3:13 (ESV): "Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." In extending forgiveness, we align our hearts with the Shepherd of our souls, remain forgiven ourselves, and embody His love and mercy in a world yearning for redemption.