I construe it as a rather mysterious verse in view of a lot fo things. I do not construe it as something that one ought to be the elast bit comprehensively dogmatic about given a number of puzzling aspects about it vis a vis the whole counsel of the whole of Scripture.
However, FWIW, I have persietently felt that God has quickened to me a couple of things vis a vis this verse . . .
1. He IS looking for Biblical 'excuse' to save people and NOT Biblical 'excuse' to damn them. HIS MERCY DOES triumph over even His justice.
2. ALL AUTHENTIC BELIEVERS--in confessed up, repented up, right-standing with God--have the capaity IN SOME MYSTERIOUS SENSE AND IN SOME CONTEXTS, CONTINGENCIES--to pronounce forgiveness over others which God will pay attention to.
What precisely God will do in each case is clearly up to God and certainly will somehow, on balance, be consistent with the rest of Scripture in whatever way Scripture's Author dictates. HE IS, after all, God, and we are not.
We also know that vis a vis folks who have injured, offended, angered . . . us . . . we are OBLIGATED, ORDERED, COMMANDED BEFORE GOD--TO FORGIVE THEM WHOLESALE
Now, it's quite plausible, that virtually all other FR rel forum FREEPERS need less forgiveness than I do. However, I, personally, need to insure that I forgive EVERYONE IMMEDIATELY, ROUTINELY, THOROUGHLY, as fully from the heart as I'm able and asking God to make it complete in my inner man.
But we can see in that part of The Lord's Prayer . . . a very important priority that God places on our forgiving others IN GENERAL. Add in that HIS MERCY triumphs over His judgment . . . It seems rather Scripturally true to me, that my inner sense from Holy Spirit, that God is looking for Biblical reasons to save people vs damn people is quite plausible, true.
IN ANY CASE, I PRONOUNCE FORGIVENESS for all their sins--past, present, future--OVER OTHERS AS PROMPTED BY HOLY SPIRIT. And, I have utter confidence that God will do whatever REDEMPTIVE whatevers HE WISHES TO DO--based on such a prayer and pronouncement of forgiveness. And, that in eternity, I'll see some surprising results that are likely to shock even me.
As a Protty Pentecostal, I have no great hooks to hang the following on . . . but in keeping with the above, I've often felt prompted to even pray forgiveness over others in a couple of ways and contexts that still somewhat puzzle me or mystify me. Yet, I'm rather reluctant to argue with what has been so consistently confirmed as a remarkably consistent sensing in my spirit by Holy Spirit.
1. When there's been a suicide . . . or other untimely death . . . I will pray such a pronouncement of forgiveness, IF, I feel the slightest release to do so, in my spirit. I ask God to effect whatever redemptive anything He 'legally' can and will via such a prayer. Interestingly, we do know of quite a number of cases of folks dying, being in hell, crying out to Jesus, and being delivered out of hell as they later relate after their 'NDE.' It is PLAUSIBLE to me that such prayers of forgivness might have a part in such situations.
2. When I'm concerned or someone I know is concerned about an ailing loved one etc., I will pray a pronouncement of forgiveness and ask God to present Jesus to the individual forcefully, even, if necessary, at the moment of death. Thankfully, on the latter score, there are a host of annecdotal cases where God has done just that--such that my faith on that score is stronger than with number 1. just above.
CERTAINLY God is God and can do whatever He wishes to do vis a vis reality . . . consistent with His Word and Nature.
GOD HIMSELF HAS CHOSEN, CONDESCENDED, to INVOLVE US in this great drama via prayer. Some folks [e.g. Hagin et al] go so far as to contend that God has placed The Church Universal in charge of this planet and limits His own parameters TO SOME DEGREE, in many cases [some would say all] according to our prayers.
Thankfully, millions of folks praying YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN gives him rather carte blanche anyway.
Regardless, I'm going to go on praying/pronouncing forgiveness over anyone whom Holy Spirit prompts me to pray thusly over. What, if anything, God does with such a prayer is obviously thoroughly up to Him. But I'm not going to miss an opportunity to extend what I need, so routinely, to others who may be even more clueless than I about their own need of such.
Life is complex. Mysteries abound in the spiritual realm as well as others. I certainly would rather err on the side of 'excessive forgiveness' and let God sort out the details than to arrive in eternity and realize I could have been more redemptive than I was in such matters.
Just imho, of course.
Ok, let the bashings and flame assaults begin--if God so instructs you! LOL.
The pronouncement of forgiveness is an interesting angle that I’ve never heard before. Hmm.
When we pray for any other member in the body of Christ, we benefit from the prayer as well.
***1. He IS looking for Biblical ‘excuse’ to save people and NOT Biblical ‘excuse’ to damn them. HIS MERCY DOES triumph over even His justice. ***
Sounds reasonable and true.
***2. ALL AUTHENTIC BELIEVERS—in confessed up, repented up, right-standing with God—have the capaity IN SOME MYSTERIOUS SENSE AND IN SOME CONTEXTS, CONTINGENCIES—to pronounce forgiveness over others which God will pay attention to. ***
Are you saying that I could forgive, e.g. Quix’s sins?
***IN ANY CASE, I PRONOUNCE FORGIVENESS for all their sins—past, present, future***
How can sins be forgiven in the future?
***Regardless, I’m going to go on praying/pronouncing forgiveness over anyone whom Holy Spirit prompts me to pray thusly over. ***
How do the prompts occur?
***Ok, let the bashings and flame assaults begin—if God so instructs you! LOL.***
I just got this email...
1. He IS looking for Biblical 'excuse' to save people and NOT Biblical 'excuse' to damn them. HIS MERCY DOES triumph over even His justice.
Could you clarify the last part a little bit? It's hard for me to conceptualize anything triumphing over God's justice. :) I would say that Christ on the cross fully satisfied God's justice. (But, that's probably what you meant. :) In the way my mind works, "triumphing over justice" would be like getting a guilty client off on a technicality.)
2. ALL AUTHENTIC BELIEVERS--in confessed up, repented up, right-standing with God--have the capacity IN SOME MYSTERIOUS SENSE AND IN SOME CONTEXTS, CONTINGENCIES--to pronounce forgiveness over others which God will pay attention to.
Yes, God commands us to confess our sins to one another, and also to forgive others of their sins against us. Forgiveness should be sought from all applicable entities, which in all cases is God plus the person or people aggrieved.
However, I, personally, need to insure that I forgive EVERYONE IMMEDIATELY, ROUTINELY, THOROUGHLY, as fully from the heart as I'm able and asking God to make it complete in my inner man.
That is a wonderful and Biblical policy. May we all do so as well.
It seems rather Scripturally true to me, that my inner sense from Holy Spirit, that God is looking for Biblical reasons to save people vs damn people is quite plausible, true.
I suppose from my perspective God wouldn't be looking for reasons to do either. It's already done. :) Before even Adam existed He predestined His elect to salvation. (Eph. 1:4-6)
GOD HIMSELF HAS CHOSEN, CONDESCENDED, to INVOLVE US in this great drama via prayer. Some folks [e.g. Hagin et al] go so far as to contend that God has placed The Church Universal in charge of this planet and limits His own parameters TO SOME DEGREE, in many cases [some would say all] according to our prayers.
Yes, certainly God wants us all very involved with others through prayer and fellowship. I'm not sure I could go as far as Mr. Hagin does, though, since the answer to one of Jesus' prayers was a flat out "NO"! :)