by Kathy M. Galovic

Created on: February 26, 2008

Forgiveness: Help Me Understand

In his writing, An Essay on Criticism, Alexander Pope wrote the often-quoted phrase, "To err is human; to forgive, divine."
Have you ever had someone hurt you (physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually), misuse you or abuse you? Most everyone can answer, "Yes," to at least one (if not all) of the forgoing scenarios.

Have you forgiven them for their wrongful acts against you? Better might be to ask this question... How many of us really know what the act of forgiveness is?

Although my knowledge about forgiveness is anchored in Biblical studies, to answer that question, we'll provide both secular and spiritual definitions to the words "Forgive" and "Forgiveness." I only ask that you bear with me.

On the secular front, the American Psychological Association states that, "Forgiveness is the mental, emotional and/or spiritual process of ceasing to feel resentment or anger against another person for a perceived offense, difference or mistake or ceasing to demand punishment or restitution."

Dictionary.com gives six definitions for the word Forgive; but in the end, they boil down to four primary thoughts: 1) pardon, 2) remit or remission, 3) cessation of resentment, and 4) cancellation of indebtedness.

Miriam Webster defines Forgive in two ways: 1) to give up resentment of or claim to requital for - forgive an insult, and 2) to cease to feel resentment against (an offender).

On the spiritual side, the Bible defines Forgiving as an act of pardon, not only by God, but also by man. The word Forgive (contained in the word Forgiveness) is used 108 times through 95 different verses throughout the Bible, including the Old and New Testaments.

John 20:21-23 - 21Jesus said [to His disciples], "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." NIV

In the Book of Isaiah 43:25, God tells Jacob (as He tells all men, who look to Him in faith and belief), "I have wiped out your transgressions (sins, mistakes, ill-wills whatever bad things we as people do or say) for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins." NSA

Let me repeat that
Isaiah 43:25 - God said, "I have blotted out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins."

"... for my own sake..." Why would God say such a thing? The reason is quite simple. To be unforgiving absolutely and

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