Forgiveness is Necessary but it’s Bad News for those Who Offend the Children of Christ.

Luke 17:1-4

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.

“Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!” Luke 17:1 Whatever happens through the day, one thing is certain, somebody is going to do something offensive to somebody else. They are going to make it difficult to live for Jesus and to embrace the Holy Spirit. Jesus says it is bad for those who make it difficult for others.

“It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” Luke 17:2 Little ones not only include children, but also those who are very new in their life with Jesus. It is extremely bad for those who are offensive and cause the little ones to stumble. The thing that has power over physiology is constantly offensive to the little ones as they form thoughts, emotions, feelings, and behaviors against the Spirit of Christ. They insist that people live by the mark of the beast.

“Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.” Luke 17:3 When we live for Jesus Christ, the bond to the mark of the beast is broken. But some people sin against us by acting in ways that cause us to break the bond with the Holy Spirit and to behave in alignment with the mark of the beast. In the Spirit of Christ, in the Gospel of peace, we are supposed to let them know that what they are doing is offensive. If they did not intend to do what they did, forgive them. If he doesn’t repent, then what fellowship does darkness have with light? What fellowship does unrighteousness have with righteousness? We are not to be joined with their fellowship.

“And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” Luke 17:4 Holding grudges is definitely something that we do not want to do, and the attitude of forgiveness prevents the heart from becoming hardened. I know personally how people mock the attitude of forgiveness, and are offensive on purpose, then they ask, “Do you forgive me?” Those are the people whom Jesus says it would be better for them if a boulder were hung around the neck and they were thrown into the sea. I also have known people who sincerely have a difficult time living for Jesus. They are routinely manipulated by the thing that has power over physiology and are truly sorry when something slips through their tongue or in what they do. At the same time, they are not one of those who live by the mark of the beast. Forgive them.

I have one neighbor who is very offensive in her speech against God, but when she wants to say “Hi!”, I will talk to her. When she begins to become unbearably offensive, I excuse myself from her presence. That same process will happen time and time again. Also, the agency that schedules transportations to my medical appointments are offensive in many ways. Once, they lost my appointment date for an immunization shot so the driver did not show up. Once they showed up but picked up a neighbor and drove away. I had to call the office to get the driver to come back and pick me up. The drivers are routinely offensive to my life in Jesus Christ as I am a captive audience for the whole twenty-minute ride. For those who live by the mark of the beast, they are very dependable. Anyway, forgiveness is essential, and grudges greatly complicate the issue. I receive text message from family members whom I have closed my doors to when it comes to visitations. When they do text, I witness for Jesus, and they do not continue in the conversation thread. It is only because of Jesus that I forgive them enough to maintain a thread of conversation with them.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11