I'm Sorry

Luke 24:46-47, “Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

Have you ever said “I’m sorry” to someone to end the argument? Has someone ever said it to you and you knew they did not mean it, but you accept it anyway? Then later the topic is brought up again, usually with greater vigor. Maybe you said you were sorry and you truly meant it. Maybe someone said it to you and they truly meant it. Is that a real forgiveness?

In my nearly ten years of marriage I have said “I’m sorry” thousands of times and quite a few times it was just to stop the conversation or because I thought I was suppose to say it. Many times I truly meant it, but never admitted any sin, though I might have said why I was sorry. But there is a big difference when we say “I sinned,” rather then “I am sorry.”

The Bible, from what I have read, nowhere tells us to apologize by saying “I am sorry.” The Bible holds the offender and the offended much more accountable then that. We are told in Scripture that we should go to our brother or sister we have wronged and ask for forgiveness first by repenting. Meaning, telling them you sinned against them and you are turning from that sin, which is what repenting literally means. Then ask them for forgiveness.

If someone you know has sinned against you then seek them out and let them know they have sinned against you in a loving manner. As believers we are called to hold each other accountable. Isn’t this being judgmental? Yep. We all judge, as it is impossible to get away from logically. To even say that you are not judgmental is a judgmental statement about yourself. You just declared how you are – nonjudgmental. If you are judging in love and through the Word of God then your judgment should be a blessing as it is trying to reconcile a relationship that has been hurt and not just casting stones at someone.

Forgiveness means not to give someone what they deserve, as Christ did for us on the cross. He kept us from being in our sins if we repent and call on Him as Savior and Lord. He remembers them no more, as we are cleansed by His blood. When we forgive someone then we are to remember no more what they did to us. How can we hold onto sin if Jesus does not? This means that we should not bring it up again in any future arguments, as it is forgiven – not remembered. This holds much more power then “I am sorry.”

The next time you seek forgiveness from someone, ask for it by first telling them how you sinned against them and then ask them to forgive you. The next time you forgive someone, remember it no more and do not bring it up ever again in the future. How would you like it if Christ kept throwing your sin in your face every time He was upset with you? People always ask, “What would Jesus do?” He forgives if you repent sincerely, and we should do the same, as we want Christ and others to do the same for us.

Mark 11:25-26, “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”