What Does “Forgive” Really Mean?

   In your view, what is the meaning of the word, forgive? Why would this be an important question? Because the way you view it affects your walk with God, and influences how you interact with other people. It can make the difference as to whether you have true peace, or misery. You might be surprised of the layers of meaning it holds. By examining those layers, you may find yourself making some personal adjustments.

   Full disclosure, this might get a bit technical, but it’s worth wading through in order to more fully appreciate what it means to forgive.

   In part one, we defined forgiveness (remission), but what does forgive (remit) mean. This is the verb form, and the root word for forgiveness (remission). APHIEMI (863 in Strong’s Concordance) is a compound word, derived from APO (575) and HIEM (to send); to send forth away, let go from oneself, and has been rendered as follows: to cry, forgive, lay aside, leave, let (alone, be, go have), omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, yield up. Let’s go deeper, because there’s more to this word than meets the eye. Hold on to your seat!

   One meaning this word takes on is to dismiss, as found in Matthew 13:36, “Then Jesus sent the multitude away.”

   Then there’s “let not the husband put away his wife,” found in 1 Corinthians 7:11-13 in relation to divorcing an unbeliever who wishes to remain married. Here’s an interesting consideration in light of this usage: to forgive is to divorce the offence from the offender, or sin from the sinner, depending on the perspective. It’s a total separation.

   Matthew 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost (or “gave up the spirit” [expired]).

   APHIEMI also means to let go from one’s power, possession; to let go free, or let escape. Metaphorically, to let go from obligation toward oneself, to remit (a debt, or offence). In relation to sins, in means to remit the penalty of sins. That is to say, pardon or forgive a person, to include their faults. So to forgive or to remit sins means to remove them from someone.

   We’ve all heard the phrase, “forgive and forget.” Basically, forgive and forget could feasibly be used interchangeably, because it means to let go from further notice, care, attendance, or occupancy. It has been used in other ways in relations to persons. For example, to leave or let alone. Matthew 8:15 And He touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. It can also mean forsake or abandon. Similarly, to leave, desert, or quit.

   Take all the above, and think in terms of the way God treats sin in relation to a person who repents, and receives forgiveness of sins. Now, consider in terms of a court of law, if you will. To forgive involves the complete removal of the cause of the offense. Time for some legalese.

   To send away, dismiss, or set free in relation to individuals, expresses the discharge or acquittal of a defendant. It’s a legal determination in which the guilty person is dealt with as if he were innocent, regardless of evidence presented by the accuser.

   This is known as a nonsuit, which is a court stoppage of a suit on the grounds that the plaintiff has failed to make a legal case, or bring sufficient evidence.

   When we were forgiven, all evidence was removed, which means the cause for condemnation and punishment was also removed. In God’s view, “it never happened!”

Two Important Things About Forgiveness

   We already know as believers; we are to forgive others who have wronged us (see Matthew 6:14-15; 18:15-35). When we say we forgive, we gave up all legal rights to ever bring the event up again. We have to see it as if it never happened. In short, you have no grounds to throw it back in their face! If you forgave someone, you don’t mention the incident ever again. “You always do that! Do you remember when . . .” Foul!

   In some cases, it may take a while for the pain involved to heal; however, if you refuse to forgive, you will not heal. Part of forgiveness includes healing.

   Speaking of healing. By releasing someone, you open a door for their healing as well. While this is perhaps a different subject, we don’t always know why people do what they do. How many are acting out of pain, themselves?

   Secondly, Jesus paid the price for your sins. Justice was served. It would dishonor Him to not forgive yourself. If you feel you have to make it right, do it His way. If He leads you to make some sort of restitution in relation to others, so be it. The bottom line, receive the forgiveness, learn whatever lessons might be involved, let it go, and move on! If refuse to forgive yourself and stop beating yourself up, you’ve got some control issues.

   Forgiveness means sin no longer has dominion over you!

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