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GOD FORGIVES, BUT HE IS NOT A FOOL (the 2 sides of forgiveness)

“I made a big mistake, will God forgive me?” The question is not whether you will be forgiven but if you will really repent. God is ready to forgive you, but are you prepared to stop committing the mistake?

“Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:7

God wants and seeks to forgive the human being because this is His character and nature. He knows that forgiving is the greatest virtue; it is better than seeking revenge or keeping grudges.

But there are conditions for this to happen; the Bible shows this in the verse above. The wicked must leave their wrong way to achieve forgiveness, return to the Lord, and change their actions and the direction of their ways. So, it is then they will find God’s compassion.

Note that all actions depend on the sinner. First, he speaks to forsake the sin, then to convert and return to God and then comes the promise of forgiveness.

See that there are two sides of forgiveness:

Forgiveness for the benefit of the forgiver – forgiveness benefits the person who forgives. They are the first to benefit because when I grant forgiveness to those who hurt me, I receive peace; I take bad feelings from inside of me, such as a grudge, hatred, and revenge.

Those who keep grudges need to understand this – forgiveness benefits first those who forgive. Be smart, practice forgiveness.

Forgiveness for the benefit of the forgiven – this benefit only happens with one condition – if the forgiven regrets what they did, leaving their wrong ways and changing. Jesus died on the cross for all, but not everyone will be forgiven and saved because not everyone will repent.

If you repent, convert, and return to God, then you will receive forgiveness, peace and a new life.

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Bishop Renato Cardoso