Forgiving Oneself
A correspondent wrote to ask me a question and said, as so many do, that it was a question which could not be asked of his own pastor.
Whenever I see that statement in a letter, I am tempted to think that the correspondent does not want the personal humiliation of making some sin or difficulty known to his pastor. The flesh often does not want to meet and talk year after year with a pastor who knows the innermost secrets of the soul. There is, of course, the possibility that the pastor is not faithful to the Word of God, and that therefore his counsel is not trusted. In this case it is perfectly legitimate to write to someone else, and it is in this sense that the correspondent has been answered.
The letter contained this paragraph: "I wish I could ask you how to forgive oneself? I believe that God has forgiven me but that does not give peace, although I believe all of the Bible, that it is the Word of God. One has to simply believe, accept, and surrender. I have done this and wonder why I cannot have peace of mind."
There is no information whatever as to the matter involved, but for the sake of a definite answer we shall say that it is some sin, a grievous one, which has touched the heart of this writer. The Biblical steps have been followed, the sin has been confessed and forsaken. On the authority of I John 1:9 we know that God has forgiven, cleansed, and restored to fellowship. On the grounds of Romans 5:1 we know that justification brings peace with God. Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6, 7 that a life of prayer and trust brings the peace of God. We must conclude therefore, that the writer of the letter is not living a life of prayer and trust.
What is peace? When we know that we have been born again we know that God can never again hold us liable for our sins. The burden of sin is thus dissipated. We can sing, "My sin, 0 the bliss of this glorious thought; my sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul."
When we have confessed sin, we must take the attitude of St. Paul, "forgetting those things which are behind, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil.
3:13, 14).
When we know that we have been justified, when we know that we have surrendered everything to the Lord, when we believe His Word about what He has done with our sin, when we are feeding upon the Word of God, when we are obeying Him and forgetting the things which are behind, peace must follow. When it does not, we have every right to ask God to rebuke Satan, who is seeking to destroy our peace by casting doubt upon God's Word about it all.
Now as to forgiving oneself, that simply is not to be done. Self is to be dealt with by crucifixion, not forgiveness. We must realize that the sin came out of a carnal mind which is enmity against God. We must realize that we can never deal with it ourselves, never seek to forgive it. Yielding it to a death by crucifixion is the only way the problem can be handled.
1. What does it mean for humanity that we have peace with God, is it a feeling? An attitude? A Status?
2. Is it just enough to know we have peace? Is it just enough to believe we have peace?
3. Where does our assurance in Christ come from concerning our peace and forgiveness with God?
