Changes

==174:1. DIVINE FORGIVENESS==

==174:1. DIVINE FORGIVENESS==

174:1.1 For several days Peter and James had been engaged in discussing their differences of opinion about the Master's teaching regarding the forgiveness of sin. They had both agreed to lay the matter before Jesus, and Peter embraced this occasion as a fitting opportunity for securing the Master's counsel. Accordingly, Simon Peter broke in on the conversation dealing with the differences between praise and worship, by asking: " Master, James and I are not in accord regarding your teachings having to do with the forgiveness of sin. James claims you teach that the Father forgives us even before we ask him, and I maintain that repentance and confession must precede the forgiveness. Which of us is right? what do you say? "

174:1.1 For several days [[Peter, the Apostle|Peter]] and [[James, the Apostle|James]] had been [[engaged]] in [[discussing]] their [[differences]] of [[opinion]] about [[the Master]]'s teaching regarding the [[forgiveness]] of [[sin]]. They had both [[agreed]] to lay the matter before [[Jesus]], and [[Peter, the Apostle|Peter]] [[embraced]] this occasion as a fitting [[opportunity]] for securing [[the Master]]'s [[counsel]]. Accordingly, [[Simon Peter]] broke in on the [[conversation]] dealing with the [[differences]] between [[praise]] and [[worship]], by asking: " Master, [[James, the Apostle|James]] and I are not in [[accord]] regarding your teachings having to do with the [[forgiveness]] of [[sin]]. [[James, the Apostle|James]] claims you teach that [[the Father]] [[forgives]] us even before we ask him, and I maintain that repentance and [[confession]] must precede the [[forgiveness]]. Which of us is right? what do you say? "

174:1.2 After a short silence Jesus looked significantly at all four and answered: " My brethren, you err in your opinions because you do not comprehend the nature of those intimate and loving relations between the creature and the Creator, between man and God. You fail to grasp that understanding sympathy which the wise parent entertains for his immature and sometimes erring child. It is indeed doubtful whether intelligent and affectionate parents are ever called upon to forgive an average and normal child. Understanding relationships associated with attitudes of love effectively prevent all those estrangements which later necessitate the readjustment of repentance by the child with forgiveness by the parent.

174:1.2 After a short [[silence]] Jesus looked significantly at all four and answered: " My brethren, you [[err]] in your [[opinions]] because you do not [[comprehend]] the [[nature]] of those [[intimate]] and loving [[relations]] between the [[creature]] and the [[Creator]], between [[man]] and [[God]]. You fail to grasp that [[understanding]] [[sympathy]] which the [[wise]] [[parent]] entertains for his immature and sometimes erring [[child]]. It is indeed [[doubt]]ful whether [[intelligent]] and [[affectionate]] [[parents]] are ever called upon to [[forgive]] an [[average]] and [[normal]] [[child]]. [[Understanding]] [[relationships]] [[associated]] with [[attitudes]] of [[love]] [[effective]]ly prevent all those estrangements which later [[necessitate]] the re[[adjustment]] of [[repentance]] by the [[child]] with [[forgiveness]] by the [[parent]].

174:1.3 " A part of every father lives in the child. The father enjoys priority and superiority of understanding in all matters connected with the child-parent relationship. The parent is able to view the immaturity of the child in the light of the more advanced parental maturity, the riper experience of the older partner. With the earthly child and the heavenly Father, the divine parent possesses infinity and divinity of sympathy and capacity for loving understanding. Divine forgiveness is inevitable; it is inherent and inalienable in God's infinite understanding, in his perfect knowledge of all that concerns the mistaken judgment and erroneous choosing of the child. Divine justice is so eternally fair that it unfailingly embodies understanding mercy.

174:1.3 " A [[part]] of every [[father]] lives in the [[child]]. The [[father]] enjoys priority and superiority of [[understanding]] in all matters [[connected]] with the child-parent [[relationship]]. The [[parent]] is able to view the immaturity of the [[child]] in the [[light]] of the more advanced parental [[maturity]], the riper [[experience]] of the older [[partner]]. With the [[earth]]ly child and the [[heavenly Father]], the [[divine]] [[parent]] possesses [[infinity]] and [[divinity]] of [[sympathy]] and capacity for loving [[understanding]]. [[Divine]] [[forgiveness]] is [[inevitable]]; it is [[inherent]] and inalienable in [[God]]'s [[infinite]] [[understanding]], in his [[perfect]] [[knowledge]] of all that concerns the mistaken [[judgment]] and erroneous [[choosing]] of the child. [[Divine]] [[justice]] is so [[eternally]] [[fair]] that it unfailingly embodies [[understanding]] [[mercy]].

174:1.4 " When a wise man understands the inner impulses of his fellows, he will love them. And when you love your brother, you have already forgiven him. This capacity to understand man's nature and forgive his apparent wrongdoing is Godlike. If you are wise parents, this is the way you will love and understand your children, even forgive them when transient misunderstanding has apparently separated you. The child, being immature and lacking in the fuller understanding of the depth of the child-father relationship, must frequently feel a sense of guilty separation from a father's full approval, but the true father is never conscious of any such separation. Sin is an experience of creature consciousness; it is not a part of God's consciousness.

174:1.4 " When a [[wise]] man [[understands]] the inner [[impulses]] of his fellows, he will [[love]] them. And when you love your [[brother]], you have already [[forgiven]] him. This [[capacity]] to [[understand]] [[man]]'s [[nature]] and [[forgive]] his apparent wrongdoing is Godlike. If you are [[wise]] [[parents]], this is the way you will [[love]] and [[understand]] your [[children]], even [[forgive]] them when [[transient]] misunderstanding has apparently [[separated]] you. The [[child]], being immature and lacking in the fuller [[understanding]] of the depth of the child-[[father]] [[relationship]], must frequently [[feel]] a sense of [[guilty]] [[separation]] from a [[father]]'s full [[approval]], but the true father is never [[conscious]] of any such [[separation]]. [[Sin]] is an [[experience]] of [[creature]] [[consciousness]]; it is not a part of [[God]]'s consciousness.

174:1.5 " Your inability or unwillingness to forgive your fellows is the measure of your immaturity, your failure to attain adult sympathy, understanding, and love. You hold grudges and nurse vengefulness in direct proportion to your ignorance of the inner nature and true longings of your children and your fellow beings. Love is the outworking of the divine and inner urge of life. It is founded on understanding, nurtured by unselfish service, and perfected in wisdom. "

174:1.5 " Your inability or unwillingness to [[forgive]] your fellows is the [[measure]] of your immaturity, your [[failure]] to [[attain]] adult [[sympathy]], [[understanding]], and [[love]]. You hold grudges and nurse [[Revenge|vengefulness]] in direct [[proportion]] to your [[ignorance]] of the [[Inner Life|inner nature]] and true longings of your [[children]] and your fellow [[beings]]. [[Love]] is the outworking of the [[divine]] and inner urge of life. It is founded on [[understanding]], [[nurtured]] by [[unselfish]] [[service]], and [[perfected]] in wisdom. "

==174:2. QUESTIONS BY THE JEWISH RULERS==

==174:2. QUESTIONS BY THE JEWISH RULERS==