How to become someone else

[David A. Wikle]

JOHN 20:23; Whose so ever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose so ever sins ye retain, they are retained.

MEANING: (We don’t have the power/authority to forgive someone of their sins that is Jesus’ job; it is talking about people’s sins against us, not God.) When someone sins against you and you forgive them, then they are forgiven; but if you do not forgive them the sin is retained in you. The sin is retained in you and at some later date you will become the person that you would not forgive.


EXAMPLE: If your Dad was a drunkard and messed up your family you might be mad at him and not forgive him. After the pasting of time then you will become what you would not forgive, the drunkard. This is the way that some sins get passed from generation to generation to generation. Forgiveness breaks this from happening again. When you choose to forgive; you release the other person as well as yourself. Sad to say, I have never seen a person who has made the flip into the person that they would not forgive ever change. It seems that they are legally bound to fulfill that which they sowed and the fruit of it cannot be changed.

Dave

 

[nhzname]

David, I’m not sure if I understand this correctly …

According to Webster’s Dictionary, REMIT means: To forgive; to pardon; to remove

And RETAIN means:To continue to hold; to keep in possession; not to lose, part with, or dismiss; continued in your keeping or use or memory …

In John 20:23 (paraphrased), Christ Himself says that whatever we choose to do shall be done, ie: forgive or not forgive. I am assuming that He IS giving us the authority to do so. Actually, He very clearly says it, no matter what version of Scripture you may be reading …for example:

• If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained." NASB
• If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." Holdman
• If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” NIV
• If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained." KJV
• If you forgive anyone's sins, they will be forgiven. But if you don't forgive their sins, they will not be forgiven." CEV

I read this scripture as Jesus telling me that whatever sins I forgive or not forgive toward ANOTHER will be on THEM… not that I’m going to pick it up myself. As far as the generational thing goes, without Christ breaking the bondage, the sins our parents carry will be passed on. If I stand in Christ now, I can trust that the bondage of sin has been broken, and this will not pass down to my children, especially if they, too, are saved.

Also, am I to believe that you are saying that whatever sins I do not forgive toward another, I myself, shall take on the very sinful characteristics of that person? Let’s go outside the alcoholic family, where heredity can play a big part in what path you may follow outside of Christ, okay ...

If I get mad at a girlfriend because she is coming on to my boyfriend, and every other guy that she lays eyes on, and I don’t forgive her, I guess that I will become the same type of girl?? Is that what you’re saying? If buddy cuts me off on the highway and creates an accident that involves 2 other cars by my braking to avoid hitting him, I’ll become a reckless driver if I don’t forgive him his recklessness?? This seems a bit out of context to me when comparing it to this scripture.

Wanna clarify? Thanx.

 

[David A. Wikle]

In our church, there was a man who said when he was a child his father left them for another woman. He would not forgive his father and kept saying "I would never do this to my children".

But when his children got to teenagers, he left his family (he became his father, that which he would not forgive)

At that time, the Lord brought me to this verse and showed me what I gave in my post.

Pastor Dave

 

[woman.at.the.well]

You know David . . .there is a lot of truth behind that statement (your 1st one). I would agree with what you said.

 

[IKTCA]

Sister Woman-At-The-Well:

Since Brother David shared his precious learning with us, if you consider us as your brothers, share with us what the Lord taught you on "if you forgive, it will be forgiven..."

Thank you.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

David, I do agree that when we don't forgive (although Jesus does encourage us to ask Him for justice in the parable of the persistent widow) that it will lead to our own sin. I'm just wondering if the context of the verse might imply that a certain power was actually given to certain parties.