Us vs Them: 'Them'

We live in an ‘Us vs Them’ world. (See previous blogs.) There are those who are alive in Christ and those who are dead in their sins. This life and death description refers to one’s relationship with God.

The gospel message is specifically for those who are a part of the ‘them’ group. The gospel is God’s plea to those who are dead in their sins to change their thinking about Jesus and follow Him. But what about the rest, the ‘us’ group. What is our relationship to ‘them’?

First, we should possess an attitude of understanding and cooperation. ‘They’ do not live according to the word of God; they do not intend to do so. We who follow Jesus live according to the Spirit. Yet, we should not be surprised that they live according to the flesh. In fact, many of them will find it offensive if we try to make them live according to the word of God. Make no mistake, God will hold everyone accountable, but He does not force anyone to choose Jesus. Just read the next two verses after the famous John 3:16. Read what Paul preached in Acts 17, especially verses 29-31. Look it up.

God also instructed His people (us) through the Apostle Paul:

I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 

--1 Corinthians 5:9-11

So, we live in this world, not in a cave in the hills or in a monastery cut off from civilization. God expects us to ‘rub elbows’ with them. In fact...

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” 

--Romans 12:18

In order for us to be at peace with others, we will do well to remember…

Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

--Romans 12:19

To follow that instruction means that there will be injustices in the world. We know that life is not fair, but we really need to embrace that fact and recognize that God will bring ultimate justice in the end. Until then, we await the Lord’s return which is delayed because of God’s patience…

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 

--2 Peter 3:9

We should be motivated by the compassion of Jesus when He was dying on the cross. He prayed to God…

“Father forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

Those words were not for the world of lost sinners, but specifically for those who had called for and carried out His death. We should realize that those who have not chosen to follow Christ really do not know what they are doing when they ridicule us, mock us, harm us. It is an expression of love to pray for our enemies, asking God to open a door of opportunity so that the gospel might be presented to them. It is an expression of mercy to show compassion when you are hurt instead of demanding justice.

Being at peace with 'them' calls for genuine love and mercy from 'us.'

Mark Stinnett

June 14, 2026

Reacting to Guilt

People have different ways of dealing with their ugly past. Some believe that they must go and apologize to all those who were hurt by their past poor choices. Others think they must do something to ‘make it up to’ the ones they’ve hurt. Still others imagine that a life devoted to good works will somehow offset the dark deeds of their past.

These are good responses, but they are ultimately only reactions that may temporarily pacify one’s guilt. Yes, that is the focus...guilt!

The problem with guilt is that there is no ‘undo.’ A person simply cannot reverse life and undo the past. An apology is a kind and relevant gesture, yet it does not take away the wrong done. Serving someone you've hurt is a kind gesture, but it does not erase the hurt. A life of service is admirable, but the past remains.

I think we intuitively understand this, and it frustrates us.

Think about the apostle Paul...before he was an apostle, when he was known as Saul. He had great zeal for God, but it was misplaced; he was a persecutor of Christians. God capitalized on Saul’s zeal thorough a blinding confrontation. Saul was on a trip to the city of Damascus. He held papers from the Jewish leaders authorizing him to search out anyone “belonging to the Way” so he could imprison them.

A light from heaven flashed around Saul (blinding him), and a voice said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” Saul inquired, “Who are You, Lord?” The voice came back, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.”

In the course of three days Saul was allowed to think things over and he made a complete turnaround giving his allegiance to Jesus Christ. He regained his sight and from then on, he “proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’” (Read his conversion story in Acts 9.)

How did Saul/Paul deal with his past...the persecutions…his guilt!? Here are three things he did not do that would be endorsed by many today:

• He might have made some personal apologies, but he did not go on a crusade to apologize to everyone he had hurt.
• He did not try to ‘make it up to’ the church for all his persecutions.
• He did not devote himself to making ___X___ number of conversions.

Paul did not try to pacify his guilt. He turned to Jesus and received forgiveness...from God. Then, he simply devoted himself to God.

King David had it right in his beautiful confession and plea to God after having committed adultery and murder: “Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight.”

David had taken advantage of Bathsheba by committing adultery with her. He had her husband killed to cover up their sin. He had shamed Israel. Paul had physically harmed Christians, had terrified the church of God, and undoubtedly persuaded some to avoid Christianity. And yet, both David and Paul first sinned against God. Bathsheba and her husband were not the standard of holiness. Christians are not the standard of righteousness. God is holy; He is righteous. All sin is first against God.

Paul summed up his quest after having become a Christian: “I want to know Christ.” His was not a quest to undo or repair the past, but to move forward. He knew, just as you and I know, there is no ‘undo.’

For that reason, our only response is to fall at the feet of Jesus and plead for mercy. Once we have received God’s forgiveness thorough the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, we then devote our lives to Christ: “I want to know Christ!”

Mark Stinnett

October 26, 2025

A Forgiving Spirit

Forgiveness is difficult. Forgiveness is not fair. Yet, justice demands that the one who offends another pay for his offence.

Justice cries out, “An eye for an eye.” Justice demands equity. Equity demands restoration, but you simply cannot un-ring the bell. Even when the thief returns stolen goods, the theft still occurred. It cannot be undone.

Relationships are affected; trust is broken. Justice is never completely served. In the “eye for an eye” system of justice, equity demands a second injury after the first, but does it never equal the first?

When justice is demanded, does it ever satisfy? Does it take away the hurt and repair the damage? Does it balance out the wrong done?

We must realize that mankind is unjust. For that reason, no one deserves justice (fairness) from others. In contrast, God is just and He alone can demand justice. He is just because He is by nature pure and holy.

Forgiveness may appear to be the opposite of justice. However, God is, by nature, just; and God is, by nature, forgiving. He is not schizophrenic as if His justice personality and His forgiving personality battle each other. Both are part of His nature and He is not in conflict with Himself.

If we were to compare ourselves to God, we would see that we are flawed and incomplete. Such reflection should affect our attitudes toward others.

We desire forgiveness from God, and we desire forgiveness from other people. Every one has given in to sin yet desires mercy and forgiveness. Every one of us has wronged someone and yet we desire that they extend forgiveness. 

So, what does it mean to ask for forgiveness?

When I ask you to forgive me, it is because I have done something to hurt you; I have committed a wrong against you. To ask forgiveness is to ask you to bear the pain of that wrong and release me from the debt I owe. I am asking you to go on living as if the wrong had never occurred.

There are three grossly unfair aspects to forgiveness.

• First, the forgiver bears the pain.
• Second, the offender goes free.
• Third, the forgiver may be shamed and appears guilty.

Jesus taught that forgiveness has no restrictions. What limitation do you find in the following statement?

If you do not forgive men, your Father will not forgive your transgressions. 

—Matthew 6:15

When Jesus was crucified, He asked God to forgive his murderers. In reality, He asked God to place their guilt on Him. He would bear the pain; He would bear the shame; He would appear to be the criminal.

Jesus recognized that the people who crucified Him did not understand what they were doing. Do not take that statement lightly. Is it possible for us to adopt the same understanding about those who hurt us? They really do not know what they are doing. The question is whether we really know what we are doing when we refuse to forgive...and when we do forgive.

As saints in Christ, when we are faced with a decision to forgive, we should remember that we have been forgiven by God. It is true that nothing is fair about forgiveness! However, when we forgive, we are just like the Lamb of God who has taken away our sins.

Pursue a forgiving spirit. 

Pursue the heart of Christ.


Mark Stinnett

March 23, 2025

The Cost of Forgiveness

Perhaps it was your spouse or one of your children; perhaps a coworker or boss; perhaps a fellow believer…
When was the last time you sincerely and humbly asked, “Will you forgive ME?”
Whenever you asked for forgiveness, what did you expect? Did you expect to be forgiven?
When? Did you expect forgiveness now? Later today? Tomorrow? Sometime in the future?
The last time you asked someone to forgive you, were you forgiven?

Forgiveness is costly to the one that you asked to forgive you!

——————

Asking, “will you forgive me,” is not the same as, “Pardon me.” (Sometimes, “pardon me” has become more of a trite “excuse me” when you do something socially unacceptable. *Burp* — “Pardon me….”)

A governing official, like a president or king, may offer a pardon. That simply means that the one who is guilty does not have to bear the consequences for his crime/offense. The official decides to suspend justice. When a person is pardoned, justice is not served.

——————

Forgiveness is also about justice. Pardon and forgiveness may look similar to the one who is guilty. In either case, he is freed from his debt. However, forgiveness is far different from pardon when it comes to the one who has been hurt by the crime/offense. When a crime is committed (or any offense or sin), an injustice has been done. Someone else bears the pain of the injustice. It might be a minor injustice with minimal consequences, but it is still an injustice.

Pardon suspends justice, while forgiveness deals with justice in a kind of opposite way. Forgiveness is a gift that the injured person gives to the one committing the injustice. The person who is injured willingly shoulders the pain of the injury and allows the offender to go free.

Justice demands an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Forgiveness is one’s choice to bear the pain of the injury saying, “You hurt my eye, but I will suspend justice and endure the injury without demanding that you be injured in your eye. You do not have to pay what you deserve.”

And yet forgiveness is even more than suspending justice and enduring the injury. Forgiveness is about relationship. Forgiveness reaches out saying, “I value our relationship more than I value justice for me. For that reason, I’ll not demand payment for the injustice. In fact, I’ll bear the cost myself.”

——————--

Perhaps it was your spouse or one of your children; perhaps a coworker or boss; perhaps a fellow believer…
When was the last time someone asked you, “Will YOU forgive me?”
How did you feel when YOU were asked to forgive another person?
Would justice be served? Would it be fair to YOU?
Were you able to forgive, truly forgive?
What would your forgiveness require of YOU?
What would your forgiveness cost YOU??

The last time someone asked YOU to forgive them...are they still your friend?


Mark Stinnett

October 13, 2024

Forgiven...Forgiving

Peter asked, “How often shall I forgive my brother?” Jesus replied with an immeasurable value of 70 times 7 times which calculates to 490 times. Jesus also taught his disciples that if a brother “sins against you seven times in a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

These are difficult teachings. No one imagines having to forgive someone seven times in one day or a total of 490 times. In short, Jesus taught that forgiveness has no boundaries.

We (humans) tend to make forgiveness rules. Perhaps it is because we really do understand the demand of forgiveness. The one who forgives bears the insult or shoulders the pain of the injustice that has been done. The one forgiven is released from his debt. Forgiveness is unfair!

Jesus dealt with forgiveness at the person-to-person level. He taught that forgiveness makes no restrictions; there is no limit to the number of times that you should forgive your brother/sister. If, with regard to his wrong, he says, “I repent,” accept him at his word and forgive him.

Yes, but...

Some folks have difficulty accepting the words of Jesus and then explain what they think He really meant. They suggest certain limitations. Some have tried to define every possible ‘sin situation’ in order to write rules for repentance. Then they use their rules to justify occasions to withhold forgiveness. In the end they create a system for judging whether a person is worthy of forgiveness or whether their repentance is authentic. In doing so they attempt to justify an unforgiving spirit.

It is true that Jesus acknowledged that we will know a person by their fruit. However, that is not some sort of forgiveness loophole in which forgiveness is withheld until the fruit is obvious or judged acceptable. Jesus taught that we are to take a person at their word. It might be the words, “I repent,” or “Would you forgive me,” or “I didn’t mean to hurt you,” or simply, “I’m sorry.”

Anyone who assumes the task of evaluating repentance in another individual has presumed to sit in the judgment seat of God.

Repentance is a change in one’s thinking. We must have patience with fellow Christians as they mature. A changed heart is may be sorrowful but desires to walk in the path of righteousness. However, old habits often linger, and the renewing of the mind takes time. We would do well to reflect on our own past, perhaps not so distant in time, when we stumbled and sinned...yet again. Did God forgive you each time you asked?

What if I am wrong?

What if I am unsure about someone’s repentance? I do not want to forgive where I should not forgive. Yet, neither do I want to withhold forgiveness where I should forgive.

Two facts are evident:

• I am not God, and
• Jesus did not give me magical insight into the hearts of others to know their intentions and their sincerity.

In reality, we may make a mistake where forgiveness is concerned. We never want to encourage sin. Yet, Jesus taught that we will not be forgiven unless we forgive our brother from the heart. When faced with a dilemma in which you are unsure about someone’s repentance, wouldn’t you rather err on the side of forgiveness?

After all, God will judge righteously. In addition, it is wise to remember the warning that Jesus gave his disciples: “If you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”

May each of us resolve in our heart to have a forgiving spirit toward our fellow Christians. And then, may we truly forgive from the heart.

Mark Stinnett

September 8, 2024

Getting Things Off Your Chest

Do not be like the horse or the mule, 

which have no understanding 

but must be controlled by bit and bridle 

or they will not come to you. 

—Psalm 32:9

This verse is among a trio of verses in which David reflected on God’s instruction and counsel. The horse and mule are used to illustrate the wicked individual who stubbornly refuses to listen. For all the good in horses and mules, they are beasts that have no desire to work or to transport a rider. To be useful, they must be controlled by bit and bridle.

Can you see how this is an accurate description of those in rebellion to God? We exist in a world in which many people simply want to do things their own way by throwing off all restraints. The result is the removal of any sense of right and wrong. As this philosophy of life is played out, people are hurt and lives are destroyed. Like the horse and mule the only way to control someone with such an unrestrained lifestyle is imprisonment, a type of bit and bridle for humans.

In contrast David began this Psalm:

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, 

whose sins are covered. (v. 1)

He told how his body had wasted away because of the ever-present guilt of sin in his life. He described feeling the heavy hand of God at all times. Even his physical strength was sapped from his body. His description sounds like the symptoms of severe depression.

Have you ever felt the pressure of sin like David? Sin is oppressive; it ruins lives. Oh sure, we recognize the effects of the big sins: capital crimes, repulsive sexual immorality, bold rebellious sins. Yet other sins are more private and do not seem to be as serious because no one else knows. So we believe that we can just move on and it will all fade into the past.

In reality, sin, even private sin, weighs us down. We feel guilt. It is as if we have lost control. In truth sin has its own bit and bridle. It will literally take control of you and rule your life.

Our society believes in “getting things off your chest.” That is, at least in part, the function of much of the counseling that goes on today. Undoubtedly, that seems to help. It does feel better to be able to talk to someone, to share your burdens. But let me ask you a very serious question. Be completely honest.

What good does it really do? Does it really help?
Perhaps you answered, “Yes.”

Why, then, is it only temporary? Why is there another counseling session to be scheduled? Why does the weight of the burden return?

When there is sin in one’s life, the hand of God is the source of that heavy burden. There is no man that can take that off your chest. Listen to David’s words:

Then I acknowledged my sin to you 

and did not cover up my iniquity. 

I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord” – 

and you forgave the guilt of my sin. (v. 5)

When sin has control of your life you will feel its effect. You may discover times when sin causes you to feel depressed. That weight is the hand of God.

The only real and lasting solution is to throw yourself at the feet of God with an open heart confessing your sin. He will forgive your sins and remove his heavy hand. What a relief it is to get things off your chest by going to God in prayer.

Mark Stinnett

July 28, 2024

Always Saved? ("Yes" and "No")

The book of 1 John assures Christians of their salvation in Christ. However, some have taught that a Christian is always saved and can never lose their salvation. Turning to the book of 1 John, let’s answer an important question: Is a Christian always saved?

“Absolutely, Yes!”

John wrote his first letter to Christians who must have lacked confidence in their salvation. He offered convincing truths to build their confidence. Consider the following statements in John’s letter:

If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses from all sin.

--1 John 1:7

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

--1 John 2:1

This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.

--1 John 2:25

Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.

--1 John 2:28

Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God.

--1 John 3:18-21

By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.

--1 John 4:17

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

--1 John 5:13

Christians were being deceived about their salvation (2:26). John wanted to bolster their confidence by ensuring them that they would not lose their salvation. We are encouraged that God has not and will not abandon his children. The children of God have confidence that God will never change his mind or makes new requirements for salvation. He will honor all his promises regarding salvation.

So, in that respect we can confidently say, “Absolutely Yes!” Once a person has been saved, he/she has confidence in God’s promises. They will never lose their salvation.

“Absolutely Not!”

Some say that a Christian cannot fall from God’s grace. John also gives us insight into this claim in his brief letter. Remember that John was addressing those who were already saved (2:12-14). In the first chapter He reminded them of their fellowship with God through Christ. Then in the very next chapter he boldly stated:

I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father….(2:1)

John’s intent was for Christians to avoid sin. Yet in the same verse he acknowledged that a Christian might sin, but that there is a remedy for sin for the Christian: confession of one’s sins. However, if anyone refuses to confess his sins, or if he returns to a life of sin, then he walks in darkness and has no fellowship with God.

John takes it a step farther saying that anyone who hates (rejects) his brother walks in darkness. The one who hates his brother is “of the evil one” (3:7-10). So, the Christian who hates his brother has returned to a path of darkness. He no longer walks in the light and consequently forfeits his fellowship with God.

For that reason, we must answer, “Absolutely Not!” Salvation is conditional. A Christian must not adopt a casual attitude toward sin and return to his former way of life. In doing so, he will no longer have fellowship with God and will forfeit his salvation. It is important to see that, in this case, God has not abandoned his child. Rather, the child has abandoned his Father.

Conclusion

John’s letter was written to bolster the confidence of Christians. Our confidence is rooted in our salvation through Jesus. However, confidence in one’s salvation is not a license to sin.

Because of our changed nature sin is no longer our way of life. For that reason, the blood of Jesus continues to cleanse us from sin. And yet, the blood of Jesus does not cleanse those who are opposed to God. It does not cleans those who return to their old life in spiritual darkness.

God will keep his promises. The question is whether YOU will faithfully hold to Christ and His promises.

Mark Stinnett

July 7, 2024

How Do You Hide from God?

Have you ever felt like hiding from God?

There are three common ways to attempt to hide from God and I think that, at one time or another, each of us had tried one of these. After having done something wrong, our conscience convicts us: “Guilty!” Our shame makes us want to avoid God, to hide from Him.

Adam and Eve: Hiding
After Adam and Eve had eaten the forbidden fruit, their eyes were opened. The next thing they did is try to hide their naked bodies with clothing. And then, when they heard the sound of God in the Garden of Eden…

“...the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” 

—Genesis 3:8

They literally hid, but It didn’t work.

Jonah: Running
God told Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh with a message of divine judgment. Jonah ran the opposite direction from Nineveh. He revealed his reasoning: He knew that God was merciful and he did not want the people of Nineveh (Israel’s enemy) to receive mercy. (Jonah 4:2)

Jonah had not sinned like Adam and Eve. He was not running in shame. He was trying to avoid God’s instruction. Stated more emphatically, Jonah attempted to hide from God through disobedience to God’s instruction! That too, did not work.

David: Denying
King David had committed adultery with Bathsheba and then ordered the death of her husband to cover up their sin due to her pregnancy. David continued for months without addressing his sin. He was hiding from God by denying his sin and guilt through silence.

David explained how his attempt at hiding worked out…

When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer.

—Psalm 32:3-4

We can attempt to hide from God in silence, like David. We can attempt to hide from God in disobedience, like Jonah. We can even attempt to hide among the trees, like Adam and Eve. In the latter case, we may attempt to hide by avoiding fellow Christians when we feel shame. Being around anyone living the Christian life makes us feel even more guilty.

Another way of hiding among the trees is by managing conversations so that no one ever gets close to finding out our guilt.

How do you hide from God? 

You can’t.

We must understand that God knows that sin separates us from Him, and yet, He loves to forgive. He doesn’t want us to hide from Him when we sin, but rather, race to Him confessing our sins. With open arms He is eager to forgive.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness.

—1 John 1:9

If we refuse to confess our sins, we are fooling ourselves in a futile attempt at hiding. Yet, when we confess our sins, we are running to God assuring Him that we agree about sin, that sin is hideous and that we desire purity.

Have you been hiding?

Do you need to confess sin?
Confess to God in prayer! 

Run to God...Now!

Mark Stinnett

December 10, 2023

In 'My' Opinion

Does the Bible fit with your opinions?

Some people have a mixed up approach to the Bible. They start with their own set of beliefs. Then after reading a passage of Scripture they evaluate the text based on their opinions.

For example, think of an occasion when you were hurt by something a friend said about you. Even worse your friend didn’t seem to care; he/she never offered a simple apology.

What do you do when you read a verse of Scripture encouraging forgiveness? Do you accept the teaching and forgive or do you explain…

• “You really don’t understand how badly I was treated.” (In other words, the offense was so bad that it is really unforgivable.)
• “They don’t know how badly they hurt me.” (In other words, before forgiving the person, he should be required to feel similar pain so he will understand.)
• “They don’t even care that they hurt me.” (In other words, because he showed apathy, you are not obligated to forgive.)
• “They didn’t even repent.” (In other words, there was no show of remorse and promise of change. So, forgiveness is not required.)

If a person approaches Scripture with a predefined view of the requirements of forgiveness, he will either ignore biblical teaching or justify his point of view. The glaring flaw in that kind of thinking is in starting with human definitions and applying human reasoning. That is nothing less than evaluating God’s word by personal opinion or human standards.

As another example think about your anger.

• Do you believe that it is emotionally healthy to vent your anger? If so, how did you arrive at that conclusion?
• Do you believe that your anger is generally justified? In other words, your anger is reasonable and proper, a good thing. Or, said another way, you should be angry because of the circumstances. If so, how do you know that your anger is justified?

How are these questions to be answered?

These are only two examples in which human reason butts heads with biblical teaching. The difficulty comes when human reasoning is favored because it appears to be reasonable, and/or appears to be backed by human research.

Perhaps we should be asking...
   Do you want to be like God?
   Do you want to have fellowship with God?

When God revealed His divine character, He declared that He forgives iniquity, sin and transgression. In the same statement God declared that He was slow to anger. (See Exodus 34:6-7.) For us to be like God we must also be forgiving and we must control our anger.

Regardless of the issue, rationalization and self-justification come from immaturity and selfishness. If you recognize that you sometimes turn to human thinking to evaluate God’s word, what can you do?

First, recognize that you are not a piece of equipment that can be repaired with the right parts and the right tools. Rather, the problem is in the heart; a faith problem. You will need outside assistance. There is no switch to flip and no magical verse that will make everything better.

You must be serious about change. So, start on your knees in earnest prayer asking God for a change of heart. Rise up trusting that He will act. Then, commit yourself to listen eagerly to His word.

Mark Stinnett

January 29, 2023

The Law of Forgiveness

“The Bible commands us to forgive, but that doesn’t mean that I will forget.”

There are so many things wrong with that statement it is difficult to know where to start. Let’s just say that anyone making that kind of statement does not really understand forgiveness.

Have you ever asked one of these questions about forgiveness?

• When must I forgive a person?
• Under what circumstances must I forgive?
• Must I forgive a person who is not sorrowful?
• Must I forgive a person who does not repent?
• Must I forgive a person who commits the same sin over and over?

The Jews believed that a person did not have to forgive after three times. Peter was undoubtedly aware of this when he asked Jesus if a person should forgive up to seven times. (He probably thought he was being generous with his limitation.)

Jesus used a parable in to explain forgiveness (Matthew 18). There are a number of elements present in the parable; law was not one of them. In other words, forgiveness is not about obedience to law, any law.

One key element involved in forgiveness is debt. A person who has no debt (or sin debt) has no need of forgiveness. A person who is not indebted to me cannot be forgiven by me; they owe me nothing.

If an official releases a prisoner before his debt to society is paid, it is called a pardon, not forgiveness. The (crime) debt goes unpaid and justice is not served.

Forgiveness is about justice with regard to debt payment, but the payment is actually made by the one who is owed the debt. In Jesus’ parable, a servant owed his master a tremendous debt that he could not possibly repay. The master released the servant from his obligation. But we must recognize that the master never received his money. So, he is the one who paid the debt by absorbing the debt that was owed him.

There are three other elements present. 

• The master had compassion on his servant: mercy. 
• By taking responsibility for the servant’s debt, the master basically gifted the servant the full amount: grace. 
• By his actions, the master restored the relationship between himself and his servant so that there was no longer any indebtedness: love.

Withholding the penalty for indebtedness is mercy. Paying the debt is grace. And preserving the relationship is love. So, ultimately, in forgiveness justice is served and the relationship preserved. Mercy, grace, love and justice are all attributes of God.

Then the Lord passed by in front of him (Moses) and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.

--Exodus 34:6-7

When a person commits a wrong against me personally, then questions of forgiveness arise. The questions are not: When? Whether? How often? How many times? Those are all legal questions from a heart that holds on to the hurt while demanding justice for the other person: An eye-for-an-eye kind of justice.

Forgiveness is motivated by love because love is more concerned with relationships than with equity in justice. Love is merciful to release the offender from his debt against me. Love is gracious to shoulder the hurt, accept the pain and embarrassment, and pay the expense for the wrong done against me.

Love sets emotion aside. You are more important than I. The preservation of our relationship is more important than I. That’s why the law of forgiveness is love; and there are no boundaries. At least, that’s what Jesus did.

Mark Stinnett

December 18, 2022

The Forgiveness Loophole

I first heard the word ‘loophole’ when my dad and a friend were talking about taxes. They were frustrated that some taxpayers took advantage of the lack of clarity in the wording of some in tax laws (a loophole). It seemed unfair. Sometimes people use the same kind of loophole-thinking with the Bible.

Here’s an example:
When teaching about the relationship between anger and murder, Jesus said that anyone angry enough to say, “You fool,” would be deserving of hell (Matthew 5:22). He described an escalation of anger that devalued another human:

• Anger—”You are worth less than me.”
• ‘Raca’ (literally: empty-headed) - “You are worth very little.”
• ‘You Fool’—”You are worthless.”

An angry person thinks he is free from guilt. He thinks he has found a loophole in the Law of Moses. He thinks something like, “You can’t tell me I’m not righteous. I might have been angry, but I obeyed the Law; I didn’t murder anyone.”

However, that was the point Jesus was making. Just because you do not commit the act of murder does not make you righteous in God’s eyes. In fact, anger is the first step leading to murder which is an aggressive act that comes from a heart that regards another person as worthless.

Jesus made His listeners responsible in reading and understanding the Law of Moses. It was not enough to obey the letter of the law while finding legal loopholes that seemingly sidestepped ungodly attitudes and behaviors.

What about forgiveness; What are the rules??

This question betrays the heart of the person who is looking for loopholes. They are interested in the limitations of forgiveness; the extent of forgiveness; the point at which they can stop.

Do you remember Peter’s similar question?

Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times? 

--Matthew 18:21 (NASB95)

Peter might have thought that he was being generous. (The Jews limited forgiveness to three offenses.) Jesus blasted past his seven to an exaggerated value of seventy times seven. In other words, put your database away; there is no point in keeping records. Forgiveness is not limited by the number of offenses.

However, shouldn’t a person repent before I forgive them? After all, Jesus said…

And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times saying, “I repent,” forgive him. 

--Luke 17:4 (NASB95)

This is more loophole-thinking due to a misunderstanding of the concept of repentance. For centuries people have been taught that repentance is a change in behavior. It is true that repentance will result in changed behavior, but repentance is literally a mind change or change in perception. Jesus said that as soon as the person ‘expresses’ a change of heart, forgive him. You do not wait for a visible change of behavior.

God is teaching His people to think like Him. There is no limit to His forgiveness; he desires salvation for all. If we are to be like God, we must not look for forgiveness loopholes. Rather, we must adopt the heart of God toward sinners by forgiving even when we are hurt. Whether you forgive or not will not affect the salvation of another person. So, if you mistakenly forgive someone undeserving, God will sort it out. Yet, if you refuse to forgive, it will cost you your soul. (Matthew 6:14-15 & 18:35.)

Mark Stinnett

October 18, 2020

Love Is Really Unfair

Have you ever thought about how unfair love is?

We all want to be loved. We might not expect everyone to love us, but we would really like someone to love us.

Love is one of those words that means so many things to so many people that its meaning gets blurred: 

     I love chocolate; 

     I love my dog; 

     I love my wife.

Yet, the way we use the word tells us what we really mean. I’m thinking about the “I love my wife” kind of love. 

True love requires sacrifice, and that is costly. 

Sacrifice is not about doing what you are supposed to do as a father or mother or child or Christian. Rather, sacrifice is giving up something that you value highly for something of greater importance. 

Parents may sacrifice their personal desires and dreams for their children. That’s love. 

People may sacrifice financially for a worthy cause by cutting out spending in an important area of life. That’s love. 

Children may sacrifice their time for an activity or event that is meaningful to their parents. They give their time as their own choice and with a good attitude, not by force. That’s love. 

True love forgives, and that is costly. 

Forgiveness accepts the pain caused by another without holding them accountable. 

A wife humiliates her husband by telling something personal that becomes public. He patiently accepts the shame and later embraces her without making her suffer. That’s love. 

A friend borrows a tool but returns it broken. Without an angry word you quietly replace it at your own expense and still consider him your friend with no hard feelings. That’s love. 

It’s the people at work/school. They don’t understand my religious convictions, so they say things and even pull pranks. I’m the but of their jokes. I just go my way and let it go. It drags me down, but I know that they don’t understand. I don’t hold it against them. That’s love.

Do you think you deserve to be loved?

Deserve means that you are worthy, fit or suitable for receiving a reward. Parents are supposed to love their kids. Husbands and wives are supposed to love each other. Christians are supposed to love one another. 

Are any of us deserving...really deserving?

Love sacrifices.
Love forgives.

A baby is born and the parents are immediately filled with love for that child. It doesn’t make sense. That child has made no contributions to the family, provided nothing of value, deserves nothing. Yes there is affection, strong affection, but there is also sacrificial love and, in the future, undeserved forgiveness.

I can read all the definitions of love, approximate its meaning with illustrations, and even study it as a Bible topic. Yet, the words of Jesus still mystify me. I understand the words, but I don’t think that I can ever completely grasp...

For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son….

Love is so unfair...He sacrificed His Son...for me.
Love is so unfair...He has forgiven...me.
Love is so unfair...He has given life...to me.

A person begins to sound all high and mighty when he says that things are unfair. But do you know what is unfair? 

Love is really unfair!

Mark Stinnett

October 6, 2019

I Am Righteous...Are You?

Today's blog is a companion to the previous one entitled: “I Am Not Righteous...Are You?” They are meant to be considered together.

Jesus was described as “One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin,” (Hebrews 4:15) implying that the rest of us are not without sin. The Apostle Paul was more direct: “There is none righteous, not even one.” (Romans 3:10)

Among other scriptures, these two tell us that humanity can only be described as evil. In fact, God looked at the world during the time of Noah and observed that “every intent of the thoughts of his (mankind’s) heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5) (I'm not saying that things are that bad today, but you get the idea...man tends toward evil.)

After the Garden of Eden, mankind needed a remedy for sin and unrighteousness. Many religious people have come and gone with ideas for a remedy for sin that are not found in God’s word.

• Saying lots of prayers never undid anyone’s sin and made them righteous.
• Punishing oneself never undid or paid for anyone’s sin and made them righteous.
• Doing lots and lots of good never undid or paid for anyone’s sin and made them righteous. 

Good does not cancel out evil.

Jesus actually did lots and lots of good works, but he never sinned. So, there was no sin in His life to make him unrighteous (evil).

I am thinking about the pure water illustration I used in my previous article. There are only two ways to obtain pure water:

1. Start with water that has never been impure.
2. Remove the impurities of tainted water to make the water pure.

Applied morally, Jesus began pure and was never tainted with sin. All other people, on the other hand, have been tainted with sin. The real problem with sin is that man, left on his own, cannot get rid of it. He cannot purify himself. The only thing he can do is pay for his sin, and the payment is quite steep: Death!

However, mankind is not without hope:

He [God] made Him [Christ] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 

--2 Corinthians 5:21

This verse refers to the sinless Christ bearing the sins of mankind on the cross. The Apostle Peter wrote about souls that are purified through obedience to the truth. He explained purification by referring to one’s rebirth “through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1:22-23). The Apostle Paul described how the sacrifice of Jesus sanctified His church, “having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word” (Ephesians 5:26). The Apostle John wrote about the individual:

If we confess our sins, He [God] is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness. 

--1 John 1:7

I know that I cannot become righteous by praying a lot, by worshiping every week, by doing good deeds, or by punishing myself (or being punished) for my sins. Nothing can undo sin. Yet, God has promised to purify anyone who makes a proper faith response to Jesus. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus, you and I can be made clean. And understand this, we are not simply labeled ‘clean’ though tainted with sin. We who are in Christ...ARE TRULY CLEAN. We ARE the righteousness of God through Christ.

Mark Stinnett

Why the First Believers Were Baptized (Part 2)

Jesus instructed His apostles to make disciples baptizing them in the His name. (See last week's blog.) How well did they do in carrying out His instructions?

On the Day of Pentecost following the crucifixion of Jesus an Old Testament prophecy from the book of Joel (chapter 2) was fulfilled. The prophet had foretold the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the commotion gathered quite a crowd. Filled with the Holy Spirit Peter preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to the crowd. When the people realized that they had crucified the Son of God, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the others what they should do.

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”     —Acts 2:38

So, Peter instructed the believers to repent, i.e. change their mind/perception (about Jesus), and to be baptized in the name of Jesus; just as Jesus had instructed in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16).

And how did the people respond?

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.     —Acts 2:41

So, the Apostles instructed the people exactly according to the instruction given by Jesus, and the crowd understood and responded accordingly by being baptized; and the stated reason for baptism: Forgiveness of sins and the receipt of the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Just so you know, some folks have discounted this simple and direct instruction by saying that baptism is not ‘for’ forgiveness, but ‘because of’ forgiveness. Their reasoning is based on a possible rendering of a Greek term found in the verse. However, does that make sense in light of the broader context?

The alternate translation idea assumes that the listeners were saved by belief alone. If so, we should be able to discover the point at which the people believed and were presumably saved.

Their response (v. 37) revealed their belief; they were cut to the heart when Peter showed that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God and that they had crucified Him. However, based on Peter's instruction it does not sound like they were saved just because they believed. After all, Peter told them to repent and a person does not repent because they have been saved, but because they have not been saved.

To deal with this inconsistency concerning repentance, some have chopped up the verse to say that they were to repent because they were not saved; but that they were to be baptized because they were already saved. The Greek text simply does not read, nor does the English text. Read it again yourself and see if this explanation makes sense.

When a person reads this section of scripture without bias it is clear that Peter and the apostles followed Jesus' instruction from the Great Commission. Then in response, the first believers were baptized as instructed so that their sins would be forgiven and so that they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

So, the instruction of Jesus in the Great Commission was that believers were to be baptized into Christ. Then, by example, we see that the teaching of the apostles and the practice of the first believers mirrored the instruction of Jesus.

"I AM": Forgiver

How big is your God?
How big is your sin?

Is your God bigger than your sin...or the other way around?

Is there something in your past, something that you can't seem to shake? Is there something you have done wrong and the memory comes back to haunt you from time to time?

Perhaps you hurt someone in such a way that you cannot forgive yourself. Whenever you think of that person, you remember what you did and the guilt feelings rush back.

Perhaps it is something you did that someone witnessed (or you think they witnessed). When you are around that person, the memory returns. You wonder what they think of you, but you are afraid to bring it up in conversation. You know what you think of yourself. The guilt hangs over you.

Do you have some sort of sin that will just not go away? (Some call it a vice or an addiction.) It is your weakness and you know it. You wish you could shake it, but you cannot. Stubborn 'will power' is not enough. You fall once again and guilt washes in all over again...and then again...and again.

Have you ever gotten angry with God? Not everyone has, but some people shout back at God when things go badly. Some even refuse God or rebel against him. Have you? Have you ever shaken your fist at God and in your heart walked away for a time? Coming back to God is hard, so very hard. You think, "How can He accept me back?" 

Can He; will He?

Did you know that forgiveness is part of the character of God? It is His nature to forgive, and what will he forgive?

Speaking about Himself, God said that He forgives: sin, iniquity, and transgression. These are three different words in the Hebrew Old Testament, each describing a different way in which a person can sin.

Their precise meanings might be illustrated by imagining a person who is walking along the right moral path toward good.

• Sin misses the goal, perhaps by wandering aimlessly, perhaps by distraction. To 'sin' is to fail or come short of the goal. God forgives sin.
• Iniquity distorts the path by bending or twisting the right path and ultimately not achieving the goal. 'Iniquity' includes different ways in which a person rationalizes wrong or renames wrong as if it is right. God forgives iniquity.
• Transgression is an abrupt breaking off of the path. It comes with the conscious intent to leave the path; rebellion. God forgives transgression.

You see, God forgives all kinds of sin regardless of the way in which a person sins. So, there is NO WAY OUT...You cannot possibly think that God cannot forgive your sins. As a result, there is true hope for everybody!

Now, someone reading this is dying to interject: "Don't forget to tell folks that they must repent!"

That is correct, but just calm down; this is not about US. This is about God and His forgiveness. It is about Him and His divine character.

Here's the point. God does not have to 'try' to forgive. Forgiveness is not 'second' nature. He does not have to wrestle with the reality of your sin and how repulsive it is and then make himself forgive by force of will. God forgives because it is his nature to forgive. It is just the way He is.

It is as if God said to Moses, "I AM who I am...I AM a forgiver."

He did.

The Lord God...who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin....--Exodus 34:7

Our God...greater than our sin!!!