Saving Nineveh: Forgiven is the closest to perfection we can get

Mat 18:35

So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Forgiveness and reconciliation is a purging and painful reality of taking responsibility and being willing to accept the consequence of words thoughts deeds and emotions.
being forgiven does not happen till one is caught in a lie or their past is discovered to be less than perfect or till there is a confession.

The release and relief that come from forgiving is empowering to anyone willing or wanting to not remain...the victim.

And, though it is politically incorrect to even care about the victimizer... God loves them too.

(God Hates Sin but He loved Sinners so much he gave his life for them)

They need Jesus. And forgiveness and restoration to the status of child of God. They are or were someones son, daughter, nephew, uncle, sister or mother or father.

Eze 33:11

Say unto them, [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Jhn 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

As Fathers day approaches I am so aware of the riffs between children and their fathers.

If I... as a Father, have done one thing right, it is... teaching my children how to forgive those who have hurt them. Really... you learn forgiveness from children; if you want to be good at it.

Parents learn to forgive children for breaking their rules, their sunglasses, writing on the walls, bringing home strays, stealing their sisters clothes and...well, you get the point. Not calling on fathers day, Not calling their grand parents enough, not doing their college paperwork... sorry, I digress.
back to forgiveness.

We also learn by watching: how children can just shake hands; or hug and make up. Then..., go back to playing like nothing ever happened. Like nothing ever happened. As if they never sinned.

We are skilled at forgiving ourselves as if we never sin. Otherwise, we would not judge others so harshly. " We":..." forgive us our trespasses 'cause we are not as bad as those who trespass against us...." LOL... HUH??!

NOT.

My four Biological daughters love each other... and many times through growing up they have hurt each other... but, they always come back to loving each other.

They are sisters: You think that is enough? No. I know sisters who do not speak and refuse to love and forgive.

They go to church: Do you think that is enough? No. I know church goers who have not spoken, will not speak, and leave their church to avoid forgiving; or even communicating via eye contact. (Yet they say they love God whom they have not seen.)
No forgiveness there.

My Daughters are God's daughters and it is their RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HEAVENLY FATHER that has taught them how to Forgive. I taught them to love God more than anything. Or anyone ...even me and their mother (who now rests in peace. She awaiting the return of Jesus: to awaken her to her great rewards; she earned in this life; through the lives she touched and the abusers she forgave.

Cancer was a brutal enemy she finally tired of fighting; and God allowed her to fall into his rest; and she now await his return to pay her according as she did in this life . She blessed me to be stronger than my words can portray here and our daughters will do great things with the gift of forgiveness. It is the love of God that allows us to truly forgive...
because forgiveness is powerful and painful... its rewards are Eternal.

Everyone who desires heaven needs forgiveness but to qualify as a child of God the evidence is... giving forgiveness to others.
And...: To the degree you forgive that is the degree to which you are FORGIVEN.

Mar 11:26

But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Saved/FORGIVEN: everyone wants salvation but they do not want to obey God. Love and obedience go together.

If we do not forgive..., God delivers us to tormentors.

Mat 18:34

And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

UnForgiveness opens the door to the tormentors of life.

Mat 18:3

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

When we are truly converted in Christ there is the childlike quality of being able to forgive and seemingly forget .

I say seemingly forget because it is more accurately said we must "CHOOSE NOT TO KNOW"

Mic 7:18

Who [is] a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth [in] mercy.

Mic 7:19

He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Mat 5:9