This past week, a wonderful sister taught me something by example. She asked me why I thought her so good, perfect even, in spite of her confessing to me all of her faults. First I pointed out that she was humble in confiding in a brother her faults, and then the light showed brightly. As I spoke, I also listened to myself, sharing with her that I could not see her faults and if I could I still wuold not look at them, study them or use them as something against her because she has named Jesus Christ as her Salvation. This makes her and me family, and we are both a work in progress, with the promise of our perfection from our Father.
After saying this and hearing it, I realized all of us, because we believe we are to forgive and not judge in this age, should regard all whom we encounter as a work in progress or a potential work in progress, and we should never dwell upon anyone's sin, for the Son of Man came to forgive not to condemn. Since we are not to judge to damnation in this age, we, like our Father must look at others as perfect not seeing their sin. If we practice this, it takes a great burden off of many.
Be as is the Father, see the sinner, not the sin. Forgive without looking to see who is the person bein forgiven. Forgive all, and you are wealthy. This may be a bit ambiguous for some, but there is great blessing here.
After saying this and hearing it, I realized all of us, because we believe we are to forgive and not judge in this age, should regard all whom we encounter as a work in progress or a potential work in progress, and we should never dwell upon anyone's sin, for the Son of Man came to forgive not to condemn. Since we are not to judge to damnation in this age, we, like our Father must look at others as perfect not seeing their sin. If we practice this, it takes a great burden off of many.
Be as is the Father, see the sinner, not the sin. Forgive without looking to see who is the person bein forgiven. Forgive all, and you are wealthy. This may be a bit ambiguous for some, but there is great blessing here.