“For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the
test, whether you are obedient in all things. Now whom you forgive anything, I
also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one
for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of
us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (2 Corinthians 2:9-11 NKJV)
How does the church of Christ function and operate in the
world? Church is the bulwark of the truth of God, built and founded by the Lord
Jesus Christ Himself. So, church functions and operates exactly the same as our
Lord Jesus demonstrated during His earthly ministry and beyond. The climax of
Christ’s ministry on earth is the death of the Son of God as the ransom sacrifice
according to the promises of God. The cross of Christ Jesus is the proof and
evidence of God’s unfailing and faithful love that has been promised to give to
the patriarchs, the prophets, the apostles, the evangelists, the teaching
pastors, and all the saints. The blood of Christ Jesus can cleanse and wash
away all the transgressions and sins of humanity because it pleases the Father
God who forgives and never remembers the sins of those who are in Christ the
Son.
In the world, people forgive only with the condition that
others first do something like making the sincere apologies. But authentic
Christianity is exactly opposite that Christ died for us while we were still
sinners. If not, no one can be saved. As a matter of fact, we were completely
blind and ignorant in unbelief, being the object of God’s wrath. Every man
comes into existence in time and space with the fatal wound and fault, suffering
in fear, despair, and guilt. Man has been the hopeless victim of the ancient serpent
of murder and deception since the fall of Adam. Until the ancient serpent,
Satan the devil is punished, condemned and locked in the burning sulfur forever
and ever, man will be remain as the helpless victim of the mastermind of deception
and violence.
God is righteous and just, compassionate and merciful
forever and ever! Just as He promised He sent His Son Jesus Christ that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life, being snatched once for
all from the bondage of murderous and deceiving mind of the devil. Through the
faith in Christ, we have been liberated and delivered into the freedom and
righteousness of God. It is not because we deserve nor did something favorable
to God but because we believed in the Son of God Christ Jesus. So, we have
nothing to boast of ourselves but only Christ Jesus the Lord. The principle of
reaching out to the world is true and unchanging forever. This is the way the
church of Christ Jesus ought to function and operate, forgiving one another just
as we have been forgiven from the beginning in Christ.
Forgiveness ought to be practiced just as our God has done
to us all. “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your
sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as
crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18-19 NIV) God blotted out our
sins in the past, present, and the future and never remembers at all. “Therefore,
there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through
Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law
of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2 NIV)
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