This Article: (3 Pages)
- 1. Sin and Forgiveness
- 2. Forgiveness in Action
- 3. New Testament and Forgiveness
2) Forgiveness in Action
Hezekiah, who had been dying, had prayed earnestly to Yahweh and recovered from his illness. He made mention of his sins, saying, “ but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.” In love Yahweh forgave his sins.
O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live. Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.
For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.(Isaiah 38:16-19)
Micah prophesies that despite the nation of Israel's iniquities, Yahweh's purpose will be achieved in the earth and a remnant of the nation will be saved and their iniquities pardoned.
The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf. They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee.
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.(Micah 7: 18-19)
The nation of Israel had been taken into captivity and upon returning to their own land Ezra prays to Yahweh acknowledging the sins of his people and giving thanks for the opportunity that the people have to be enlightened and turn again to their God, through his mercy and forgiveness.
And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God, And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.
Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. (Ezra 9: 5-8)
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This article was born as it was found that the Greek word from which we have philanthropy, philanthropos, only occurs once in the Bible, with the noun form philanthrōpia occurring only twice. Even more intriguing we found that much is said about 'philadelphia' the Greek word for brotherly love.
This article is written in thanks to Yahweh for help given in modern medicine, and for a measure of healing. The writer, unknown to herself, had heart failure. It seemed like pneumonia, as one of the symptoms is retention of water in the lungs and elsewhere, and then the feet began weeping the fluid through open sores. We trusted and prayed for help. Medical help was given from of all things, results from a test not done correctly. She has been helped much. We thank Yahweh. Also it is soon Thanksgiving in the USA.
The New Testament advises us that many of the events recorded in the Old Testament teach us great principles that we must heed.
This phrase is taken from 1 John 3. It is a promise to the faithful, the 'sons of God', who are those who await the Messiah's return to the earth.
