What is Faith & Why We Can Forgive ❤️

Ps: 我用英文学习圣经，所以有关圣经的分享，我都会用英文分享。

Abraham Sacrifices Isaac *

[John 14:29] I have told you these things before it takes place (P), so that when it does happen (F) you will believe (Faith).

Faith = (P) prophecy + (F) fulfilment

The Story of Abraham

*God's promise was made clearer and clearer along the way

Why did Abraham have the faith to sacrifice Isaac in the end?

[Romans 4:19-21] Abraham was fully convinced God was able to do as He had promised

Abraham was able to sacrifice Isaac as he reasoned Isaac could not die [Hebrews 11:8-12] If not, God would not be able to fulfil His promise of making Isaac into a great nation [promise 1b, 1c].

It is impossible for God to lie [Hebrews 6:18]

Why am I able to forgive those who have wronged/ mistreated me in my life?

I have always been intrigued by the story of Joseph. Or rather, I question that story like crazy. So Joseph forgave his brothers, but then his brothers repented. They changed for the better. When put through the test, the brothers refused to make the same mistake and sell out their youngest brother Benjamin. What would have happened though, if Joseph's brothers still willingly gave up Benjamin to save their own skin? Does this mean Joseph would not forgive, and then churches can no longer quote that story when dishing out sermons on forgiveness?

Read the story of Joseph here [EN: Gen 37,39-50]

Churches like to say "That didn't happen, so don't make up scenarios". After which, if I'm unlucky, I get taken aside for a serious prep talk 🙄.

Yes, God calls us to forgive those who have sinned against us [Luke11:4]. Yes, we forgive for our own sake [Luke 6:37]. But some hurts run so deep that even if you know all these, you can't bring yourself to forgive that person still.

Oh, and churches need to know what they're talking about in life too. Holding a bible, donning long white robes physically doesn't give anyone an automatic sainty halo above their heads.

The key to be able to forgive

For Joseph, just being part of the fulfilment of God's promise to bring Israel into Egypt where they'll be enslaved for 400 years [promise 1c] was a good enough reason for him to forgive his brothers.

Even if Joseph's brothers didn't repent, it's okay. God has directly included Joseph into His plans for His people, his brothers intended to harm him but God intended it for good (Genesis 50:20).

For me, to be part of the fulfilment of God's promise for salvation of the world will be a good enough reason for me to forgive those who have wronged me in my life. To bring God's everlasting hope into this dark and broken world will make my life and everything I've gone through meaningful.

--This is the reason why at great personal risk, I am putting out my life story for public viewing--

Forgiving, because God's promises are enough for me ^

Forgiveness is not for us to act as though we are on 'higher moral ground'. It's not for us to be hypocrites and say with our lips we forgive when our hearts still bear grudges.

Forgiveness is not Reconciliation

That said, forgiveness is not reconciliation. Let's get that clear. The Oxford definition of forgiveness is the act of not feeling angry with somebody who has done something to harm, annoy or upset you. The Oxford definition of reconciliation is to become friends again after an argument or a disagreement.

If people are intent on hurting me in my life, I will make a clean cut with them to prevent myself from facing further hurt. However, after making the necessary clean cut, I will move on. I will not bear grudges, I will not harbour any malicious intent towards them, I will not feel angry with them in anyway. They are not my friends and they are not my enemies. We are just strangers that know each other. I choose not to remember what they have done to me, just as how when God forgives, He chooses not to remember our sins [Jeremiah 31:33-34]. But we are in no way friends. I have a duty to love myself and to protect myself from hurt. God's law states to love your neighbour as yourself.

[Mark 12:31] The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

Forgivable vs Unforgivable Sins

There ARE unforgivable sins in the world. One of the questions I have asked in churches, which results in raised eyebrows and judgmental tutting, is this: "If God does not forgive satan, why should I forgive, e.g. my "sister"?

I don't even get any attempt-at-an-answer this time. Immediately, I get taken aside for a serious prep talk 🙄.

Thankfully, God has guided me to His truths which I will now share here.

Unforgivable sin is this: 

To deliberately, repeatedly oppose God. 
satan = the adversary/opposer in Hebrew (See footnotes in the bible in Job 1:6).

This means that sins committed against us, but not against God, are forgivable sins.

So do I really forgive?

After the clean cuts I have made, the answer is actually "yes".

I've forgiven, I've forgotten and I've moved on in life.

I use an analogy of a physical wound here: The wound has healed, but the scar remains forever. That said, the scars will not affect your daily life anymore - it is just there as a reminder of what has happened in the past. It is not something you'll consciously think about until you look at it.

However, in the thick of the dramas, I admit I couldn't forgive. I couldn't forgive the deliberate, repeated hurt inflicted on me (not God, hence forgivable sin). I'm not advising anyone to move out like I did, and by the way, I only officially moved out >10 years since the drama first began. I only moved out and cut ties when I have finally reached the point whereby I've tried everything, and concluded there is no reason to hope in those people anymore.

I am not here to dish out advices on whether you should move out/cut ties or not, when you should move out/cut ties etc. That's your decision, which depends on the intricacies in your life drama.

I'm only here to share how I am able to forgive, or rather, how God has helped me forgive. I hope that you can experience the true love of God which will give you all the reason that you need to forgive.

And this true hope of God, to restore and to heal, will be a reason for you to live on in spite of everything that has happened in your life.

[Revelation 21:3-4] I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

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*Image Source: https://www.latimes.com/

^Image Source: Wix Image Gallery