What Is Forgiveness

[wolfjingles]

my question for you is how do you know what you are forgiven and what does it mean to be forgiven. i mean i know we can forgive each other but how does the lord forgive us.. i mean how does the whole attonement thing work???

[Guest Member_Deleted]

Originally posted by wolfjingles@Sep 8 2005, 05:57 PM

my question for you is how do you know what you are forgiven and what does it mean to be forgiven. i mean i know we can forgive each other but how does the lord forgive us.. i mean how does the whole attonement thing work???

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It is all done with the power of love. God's love.

[StrawberryFields]

Forgiveness is a process. You need to identify the problem, make restitution if possible, and depending what it is you may need to confess your sins to your bishop.

Sometimes forgiving ourselves is the hardest thing to do but without that then forgiveness is not complete. The Lord forgives us when we make the effort necessary to seek forgiveness and complete the process.

[Ray]

I know I am forgiven when I no longer feel guilt for what I have done that I knew to be wrong, and to be forgiven means to be saved from what would have happened to me if I had never been forgiven.

Or in other words, to be forgiven is to be saved, and I believe that through the Atonement of Christ I may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel (see Articles of Faith, #3)

[Traveler]

Originally posted by wolfjingles@Sep 8 2005, 04:57 PM

my question for you is how do you know what you are forgiven and what does it mean to be forgiven. i mean i know we can forgive each other but how does the lord forgive us.. i mean how does the whole attonement thing work???

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Forgiveness comes by covenant with G-d. The covenant is represented in the ordinance of baptism. Once the covenant is established there is a trial or test after which the Holy Ghost makes known, by divine power, that the covenant is complete (or perfect).

The covenant is made possible by the atonement of Jesus the Christ. In the atonement, Jesus who is without corruption, gives him self and sacrifices his divinity to quench the debt of sin which is death.

You will know you are forgiven when you have completed enough of your personal trial to realize that you have forgiven those that have the greatest trespass against you. It is not magic nor is it a mind game - it is the joy of being free of the anger that comes from those that offend you. It does not come in a great single event but like the steps taken in a great journey. And lastly it comes when you realize that it is not about you and you being forgiven - it is really about everybody else and their forgiveness.

The Traveler

[Guest Member_Deleted]

Originally posted by Traveler+Sep 13 2005, 09:18 PM-->

<!--QuoteBegin-wolfjingles@Sep 8 2005, 04:57 PM

my question for you is how do you know what you are forgiven and what does it mean to be forgiven. i mean i know we can forgive each other but how does the lord forgive us.. i mean how does the whole attonement thing work???

←

Forgiveness comes by covenant with G-d. The covenant is represented in the ordinance of baptism. Once the covenant is established there is a trial or test after which the Holy Ghost makes known, by divine power, that the covenant is complete (or perfect).

The covenant is made possible by the atonement of Jesus the Christ. In the atonement, Jesus who is without corruption, gives him self and sacrifices his divinity to quench the debt of sin which is death.

You will know you are forgiven when you have completed enough of your personal trial to realize that you have forgiven those that have the greatest trespass against you. It is not magic nor is it a mind game - it is the joy of being free of the anger that comes from those that offend you. It does not come in a great single event but like the steps taken in a great journey. And lastly it comes when you realize that it is not about you and you being forgiven - it is really about everybody else and their forgiveness.

The Traveler

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Those are all good answers. I came up with another one once upon a time.

I believe that part of the process of forgiving others is repenting yourself.

If you are injured and you feel anger/hate towards anyone, you are in need of repentence.

I don't see repentence in the sense most do. Most believe it is whipping yourself with guilt until you are a bloody pulp and it is like giving up your freedom to do whatever.

I see repentence as a key to unlocking burdens and letting them go. I see it as a process of resting from sin... because sin truly is work. I mean you are working your mind and heart trying so hard to justify it, then hide it, then subconsciously you are struggling against your conscience which is telling you what you have done is wrong... it is a lot of work.

Once you decide you don't want to work so hard, and that releasing it and unlocking your door letting them all out in the open ... giving it out to God... then you have repented.

Once you do this, you are empty. You are empty of guilt, fear of discovery, justification, fighting yourself basically. You are now ready to fill that empty space... and what does Christ tell you to do? Moroni 7:48... pray to be filled with HIS LOVE... charity.

Once you are filled with this charity.... you are not only forgiven, but you have been given love that empowers you to forgive others totally and love them.

That is forgiveness that isn't a struggle to forgive others, but rather a process of loving yourself enough to let go and let God.

[Ray]

That was beautiful, Please, and every bit true. Thank you very much. :)

[wolfjingles]

ok so we have to learn to love ourselves and forgive our selves but is there a point when g-d stops forgiving us for the things we are doing. I mean does he not get tired of the problems like every one else.

i guess i am trying to understand how someone can forgive so many times when his children constantly test him

isn't there a point were he just gives up

and how does the saviour feel about this he is whatching his brothers and sister make mistakes over and over again so what happens with that does he ever feel like it was all done in vain or is not a thing worth caring about any more.

does he ever feel that the world is all coming back on him

[Guest Member_Deleted]

Originally posted by wolfjingles@Sep 14 2005, 07:31 PM

ok so we have to learn to love ourselves and forgive our selves but is there a point when g-d stops forgiving us for the things we are doing. I mean does he not get tired of the problems like every one else.

i guess i am trying to understand how someone can forgive so many times when his children constantly test him

isn't there a point were he just gives up

and how does the saviour feel about this he is whatching his brothers and sister make mistakes over and over again so what happens with that does he ever feel like it was all done in vain or is not a thing worth caring about any more.

does he ever feel that the world is all coming back on him

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If people rebel against Him knowing full well what they are doing... He will give up on them because they have basically given up on themselves as far as working towards coming to God.

2 Ne. 26: 11

11 For the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man. And when the Spirit ceaseth to strive with man then cometh speedy destruction, and this grieveth my soul.

There is a scripture in Gen. 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

[Guest Zarahemla]

President Lee was asked this by a person who came into his office one day. He told the story in general conference in 1973, I believe. I think he quotes Mosiah 5:2 regarding the "mighty change in us, or in our hearts that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually." Then he says what someone in this thread has already mentioned. That when we have a clear conscience regarding the matter we can be assured that the Lord has forgiven us. Check your meetinghouse library and find out if they have the 1973 General Conference tapes and listen to President Lee's talks. You'll be able to hear the complete answer to your question.

[Guest john146truth]

Jesus left heaven with one key purpose in mind: he would come to earth to pay the ransom demand of Satan for our soul. He would pay that price with humiliation, rejection, being mocked and beaten. But that is why He came. Not only did he know how desperately we needed to be saved, He also knew how important it was that we have a Savior! He came and lived and died as both. Because he paid our ransom he can also plead our case to the Father as our advocate. Because he paid the price to redeem and ransom us, we can not only trust what he says but also know that He hears us and cares for us when we struggle. Jesus is both our ransom and mediator, sacrifice and High Priest, Savior and Friend.

God is Holy and Righteous and mighty whose holiness we can neither comprehend or approach -- I am so thankful for Jesus. and for God's plan to send Jesus to redeem me and atone for my sins. I am thankful for Christ's faithfulness for his courage and compassion as he died for me while being mocked, spat upon, and belittled.

I want my life to honor HIS sacrifice. While I know I can never be worthy of such a great gift, I want my mistakes, sins, and shortcomings to be because I passionately honor Him, not because I grew lackadaisical in my discipleship. I am thankful for His saving me. In the name of Jesus, my mediator who paid my ransom price on the Cross.

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28

[Lindy]

Originally posted by wolfjingles@Sep 14 2005, 06:31 PM

ok so we have to learn to love ourselves and forgive our selves but is there a point when g-d stops forgiving us for the things we are doing. I mean does he not get tired of the problems like every one else.

i guess i am trying to understand how someone can forgive so many times when his children constantly test him

isn't there a point were he just gives up

and how does the saviour feel about this he is whatching his brothers and sister make mistakes over and over again so what happens with that does he ever feel like it was all done in vain or is not a thing worth caring about any more.

does he ever feel that the world is all coming back on him

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Wolfjingles~

It's called unconditional love.... a love that is always there...no matter what.

It's a great thing to have, to feel and to share.