Marbaniang, Domenic

Jesus gives the answer to this question in His Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matt.18:23-35). The man was forgiven but his forgiveness became invalid and was withdrawn the moment he showed unforgiveness to someone else who was indebted to him. This man failed to walk according to the grace he received and soon turned to the law when it came to someone else. Jesus told that with the measure we measure out to others, it will be measured back to us (Matt.7:1-2). We are told not to judge. We must be forgiving not just in deed but also in disposition. Forgiveness doesn't mean that we restore people to the same circle of relationship; it means to harbor absolutely no hatred or desire to hurt or of they being hurt. Forgiveness flows out of mercy and "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Matt.5:7). The entire service of the Temple was founded upon the concept of mercy; the Law only functioned to show people their state of sin. It was at the Temple, at the ...

- Mercy involves forgiveness. - Only the one who has power to execute justice can show mercy. - When mercy is shown to one, the price is paid by someone else. To forgive a debt means that what has been taken or spent was taken from someone and not given back to him/her; so, the latter has paid the price. - The price paid will be the withdrawal of justice from the one who pays the price either voluntarily or involuntarily. - When one is forced, involuntarily, to pay the price, then s/he suffers injustice. - Forced payment creates injustice which in turn demands for justice. - Only justice, if not mercy, can be the terminal point. - When one pays the price voluntarily, then s/he shows mercy, and the voluntary payment is called sacrifice. - Someone, always, has to pay the price. - Infinite mercy requires infinite sacrifice. - Infinite sacrifice demands an infinite source. - The infinite pool of mercy is Love. God is Love. God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He ...

1. Perfect Forgiveness - Procured God has forgiven us in Jesus Christ (Col. 2:13,14; 1Jn. 2:12; Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13) -The High Priest has completed the atonement for sins (Heb. 9:7,11,12, 25,26; 10:14,17,18) -The Way into the Holiest is open because He has gone before us (Heb. 10:19,20; 6:19) 2. Practical Forgiveness - Applied God is faithful to forgive us our sins (1Jn. 1:9) - If we confess our sins (1Jn. 1:9; James 5:15,16) - If we forgive others (Matt. 6:14,15; Luke 6:37)

“Love…keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Corinthians 13:5) (Written for a Youth Magazine forthcoming) The scenic valley of the Satpura range in Central India bustled with fresh streams, chirping birds, grazing cattle, and woodcutters chopping wood in the forest. A few women were gathering the yellow flowers that fell from the Mahua ( Madhuca Longifolia )trees that were all over the forest. The nearby fields were all ready for harvest and one could see little boys and girls, with school bags on their back, singing and hooting and hurrying along the hedges of the fields to the little Government School in the village. But, little Ashruti, seven years old, walked very slowly with head bowed down, a frown on her face, and swollen cheeks. She didn’t seem to be in a very happy mood. From her little shack in the distance, made of mud walls and a thatched roof, her mother watched her walk very sadly away. She was, evidently, sad about her daughter that day. She had been angry with Ashruti and had s...

"Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel!" (Jer 31:4). Amazing is that GRACE that blots away the past irrevocably: the once HARLOT (Jer.3:8) is now a VIRGIN (Jer.31:4)!!... Behold CHRIST makes all things new! I remember the story of Doreen Irwin, a woman who had been in the occult for very long and had been the queen of black witches. But, Jesus delivered her from all the evil spirits that had captured her soul. One day her heart was in distress thinking of all her sinfulness and the immoral life that she had lived. While deeply grieving her miserable state and pained by the memory of guilt, she suddenly heard a voice. It was the voice of Jesus speaking in her spirit. He reminded her of Mary Magdalene and how Christ had changed her life. Then He declared to her that she had been forgiven. All her sins were forgiven and her guilt removed because of the price Jesus paid on the cross. She had been delivered from the condemnation of guilt. Her conscie...