i
Organ of Ihe Norf h Carolina Conference.
RALEIGH, N. C. SEPTEMBER 12. 1918
Forgiveness.
We must admit that Jesus taught plainly
that if we do not forgive men we cannot ex
pect that God will forgive us, but perhaps
we have not thought our way to a clear un
derstanding of His point of view. The pic
ture of God standing upon His dignity and
refusing to forgive men who would not for
give their fellows is not the correct one.
There is a fundamental and necessary rea
son for His taking that attitude, and He
could not possibly on moral grounds take
any other. Just as is the case with any
earthly parent, God's forgiveness could
not become effective to any erring son ex
cept that son had come into a proper filial
attitude to Himself. Forgiveness is not
something that can be thrown at us, and
it can have no existence apart from our
right attitude toward the one whom we have
wronged. But the filial attitude toward
God involves the brotherly attitude toward
all who call Him Father. And, therefore, the
great head of the family has no way of for
giving that son who has not granted for
giveness to his brother. --Christian Guardian.
NTMIWIi 32.