tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10685744.post973437124610442803..comments2024-02-07T09:43:06.021-05:00Comments on Hemmeke Blog: Rebuke or forgive?Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081920850753920313noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10685744.post-33388869491334671632010-03-29T17:59:33.741-04:002010-03-29T17:59:33.741-04:00Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His ow...Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." <br /><br />I don't know of anyone in the world who models Christ's character in this way, so to talk about the time that it is allegedly okay or wise to withhold forgiveness from a sinner seems foolish at best and wicked at worst. <br /><br />My take on the whole withholding forgiveness thing that Jesus talks about is that Jesus was warning his disciples. According to my understanding, He was not saying that it is okay not to forgive; rather He was simply telling the truth that unforgiveness tends to beget unforgiveness, and that is what will happen if the apostles withhold forgiveness from people. So... the apostles need to forgive people which tends to beget repentance and forgiveness. Thus, Jesus breathed on them and admonished them to receive the Holy Spirit, for without the Holy Spirit, how can mere man forgive others so efficaciously?<br /><br />I would hope that the person (or persons) who have been excommunicated by this session understood at the time that forgiveness is still being extended to him. He is not currently receiving it and is therefore not forgiven, but I really hope that it was communicated to him that forgiveness is being extended, for "All day long, I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people" (Romans 11) and while he was still a long way off, his father saw his son returning and ran to him and embraced him, and then ordered a celebration (Luke 15). It seems like the spirit of the older self-righteous brother or Pharisees who would say, "I don't know Dad. It seems like you are doing him a disservice, since he has yet to prove his repentance." <br /><br />What comes first? Justification or repentance? What is it that leads sinners to repentance? What spirit should we, God's people, be demonstrating to the world? <br /><br />Who in this world have we laid our lives down for?<br /><br />Would that God's people would walk in authentic humility. Really, until you are ready to lay down your life for a person, do we really need to be discussing under which circumstances it is okay to whithhold forgiveness? Very very dangerous theology here.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01752663041521804687noreply@blogger.com