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1inamil
Posts:1
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Posted:09/09/2006 1:40 AM |
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I am troubled and my heart broken. I have a brother in the church that I sinned against. I confessed my sin before God and asked this brother for forgiveness. He assured me that forgiveness was given in abundance. Since that time there has been no relationship. I want to be restored with him at least to a point where we can be cordial and comfortable around each other and worship with pure hearts and minds. For now those things seem impossible. I have attempted to communicate with this person but he refuses. He says he forgave me and that is all he has to do. Is that a true statement? If animosity and contention continue then there is no fellowship, right? And, if there is no fellowship isn't our worship constricted and church unity compromised?
I am not very good with memory verses, but did not Jesus say that if you come to make an offering and recall you are not restored with a brother that you should leave to offering and go am make peace with that brother and then return to make your offering? Does the act of forgiveness meet those criteria? Or, is the lack of fellowship evidence that forgiveness is not sincere?
What am I to do? What is his responsibility?
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gfike
Posts:230
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Posted:09/11/2006 7:39 AM |
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I have lived for almost 20 years with an offense I desired to forgive in a brother who would not receive it willingly. I gave it anyway, but I struggled for about 10 years with the frustration of not being in perfect fellowship with him. One day I just released it to God, realizing I had followed the course Jesus prescribed.
On a reunion with him in the recent past, my heart had healed to the extent that I did not have to press him for an acceptance of my forgiveness. I just treated him as though he were completely forgiven and was content.
Our feelings are unreliable indicators of what God has accomplished in our lives. If we will to live by His truth, feelings will follow - even at a distance. Your friend's feelings will come along as you continue to accept him at his word. If his behavior does not change, your heart will and God will bless your obedience.
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