Forgiving Believers

Forgiving Believers

Luke 17:3-4, NLT

So watch yourselves! If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. 4Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.

Setting the Scene

As leaders, the disciples would have had the responsibility to confront others if they were heading in the wrong direction or involved in sin. But this must be done in love, with a concern for the erring person. Jesus’ disciples must be marked by forgiveness. This would have contrasted with the Pharisees and their approach to anyone’s missteps. The Pharisees had no problem with the “rebuke” side of Jesus’ statement. In fact, they seem to have made that a regular part of their daily routine—looking for anyone who wasn’t observing their strict interpretations of and additions to the law. Jesus and the Twelve certainly ran afoul of them several times.

To rebuke does not mean to point out every sin—Jesus also warned against being judgmental (Luke 6:37). Rebuking in love means to bring sin to a person’s attention with the purpose of restoring that person to God and to others. And rebuking must be tied to forgiveness, or it would not help the sinning person. Jesus said, in fact, that the disciples “must forgive.” The use of the number seven means, in effect, “all the time,” just the way that God deals with every person.

Getting Personal

When have you been rebuked? In what ways did the attitude of the confronting person affect your response?

When have you had to confront or correct a fellow Christ-follower for what he or she has done? What can you do to make sure your motives are right in this kind of situation?

“Rebuke” and “forgive”—those two actions have a built-in tension, since they stand at opposite ends of the relational spectrum. But both are by-products of love. If we truly love our brothers and sisters in Christ, we want what’s best for them and will do all we can to keep them on the right path. But we shouldn’t do this in a judgmental way. Our goal should always be correction, and we should be ready to forgive, even if the sin has been against us.

When you think you must rebuke another Christian for a sin, first check your own attitudes and motivations. Realizing how completely Christ has forgiven you should produce a free and generous attitude of forgiveness toward others.

Talking to God

Ask God to give you a spirit of love and humility as you attempt to give or receive correction. Ask him for his grace to help you forgive those who may have deeply offended or hurt you.