FORGIVENESS by N. W. V.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 4, 1878

FORGIVENESS

By N. W. V.

“And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Eph. 4:32.

Then God himself, who is love, whose mercy endureth forever, is our example in forgiving one another. How sweet it is to do a favor to one who loves us, who is trying with his might to please us; but from divine example as well as precept we learn to do good to them that hate us. Matt. 5:44. Could we sing to eternity the glad song of redemption, if God had shut up his bowels of compassion, had withheld his Son, till our race were heartily sorry for their rebellion and had become thoroughly reformed? “But God commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:8.

O reader, does God love with pity that offending friend or enemy, and will you hate him? Did Christ die for him, and will you do nothing to save him from the second death? If at Jesus’ coming you are received into his eternal kingdom, that person will either be your loving associate forever, or else, at the second resurrection, be doomed to the lake of fire. Will you not, then, tenderly confess to him your offenses against him? Will you not, if need be, suffer wrong? Will you not, possessing the spirit of Christ, constrained by his dying love, render good for evil?

Christ prayed for them that had nailed him to the tree. Stephen prayed for them that were stoning him to death. What a glorious host of prophets, apostles, and martyrs have labored and suffered even unto death for their cruel persecutors! Can we hope to share with them in their glory and triumph without having a part in their reproach and suffering? How long, how tenderly has God borne with us! If we would obtain mercy in the Judgment, which is already set, let us show mercy. May the blood of Jesus Christ cleanse us from hardness of heart, from all sin. May we be like Jesus. He has said, “Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.” “Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.”

N. W. V.