Saturday Song: 5 Man Electrical Band, "Absolutely Right"

It sure is hard to apologize, especially when the other person is right. That's what this song is about. The man in the song acted stupidly and came to realize he was in the wrong.

Listen to this Canadian rock band's song here:

Jesus had much to say about forgiveness. After teaching about church discipline Peter asked a question about personal forgiveness. Matthew 18:21 and 22 (BBE) records, "Then Peter came and said to him, 'Lord, what number of times may my brother do wrong against me, and I give him forgiveness? till seven times?' Jesus says to him, 'I say not to you, Till seven times; but, Till seventy times seven.'"

Some occasions require that we make peace with our adversaries in order to prevent harm to ourselves. Jesus warned his hearers, and us as well, in Matthew 5:25 (BBE), "Come to an agreement quickly with him who has a cause against you at law, while you are with him on the way, for fear that he may give you up to the judge and the judge may give you to the police and you may be put into prison."

Jesus also connected forgiveness toward one another with forgiveness from God. We read of this in Mark 11:25 (BBE) where he said, "And whenever you make a prayer, let there be forgiveness in your hearts, if you have anything against anyone; so that you may have forgiveness for your sins from your Father who is in heaven."

We also note from Galatians 6:1 (BBE) that forgiveness and love are inseparable. "Brothers, if a man is taken in any wrongdoing, you who are of the Spirit will put such a one right in a spirit of love; keeping watch on yourself, for fear that you yourself may be tested."

Jesus also warned us about the danger of not forgiving others. Matthew 6:14 and 15 (BBE) says, "For if you let men have forgiveness for their sins, you will have forgiveness from your Father in heaven. But if you do not let men have forgiveness for their sins, you will not have forgiveness from your Father for your sins."

So we know that forgiveness is an act of love and God is pleased when we write off wrongs done to us. That's what forgiveness is.

On Monday, I hope to post on the subject of why we must love those who hate us.

The Flip Wilson Error

Viewers my age will remember Flip Wilson as a black, American comedian who made up a character named Geraldine Jones. Her favourite excuse for any mistake was, "The Devil made me do it." Though it was funny coming from her, this is a serious problem with certain followers of charismatic preachers.

The truth is that we can't be made to sin. James exploded that idea when he wrote in the first chapter of his epistle, verses thirteen to fifteen (BBE), "Let no man say when he is tested, 'I am tested by God;' for it is not possible for God to be tested by evil, and he himself puts no man to such a test: But every man is tested when he is turned out of the right way by the attraction of his desire. Then when its time comes, desire gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is of full growth, gives birth to death."

The Apostle Paul showed how our heavenly Father actually helps us by limiting Satan's temptations. He wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV) that, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

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Some folks also believe that merely being tempted is a sin. That can't be because of what is written in Mark 1:13 (KJV) which says, "And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him."

Jesus likewise understands how we feel when we're tempted. Hebrews 2:18 (KJV) reads, "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted."

And we must also extend the same grace to each other. Galatians 6:1 (KJV) admonishes, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."

This is one of many topics I'll be dealing with in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? So much nonsense has been preached to naive believers but I want to present Christ's siblings with the truth from the Word of God. Like a broken calculator, human opinions don't count.

My next post will be about the idiotic idea some people have about spiritual warfare. Non Christians and demons must be laughing their heads off as such naive and stupid antics by these gullible fools.