- Forgiveness
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- Moshe Ben-Chaim
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- Question: I am studying New Testament Survey in Bible School.
I am doing a research paper and I need to ask. My question is Rabbinic
Theology as regards the doctrine of Forgiveness in contrast to the
Gospel of Christ.
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Mesora: Forgiveness is granted to
a person by God when the person does the following; 1) He recognizes
the error in his actions - that it removes him from a relationship
with God, the Creator. (Knowledge of the true definition of God must
precede all of our acts). 2) He therefore regrets the
performance of the sin, and 3) he resigns himself to never perform
the act again.
- If one regrets doing something, but does not resign himself from
ever committing that act again, it displays an attachment to that sin,
and he is therefore not convinced of the destructive qualities of such
acts. His knowledge of the error is absent, God knows this, and cannot
view the person as a changed individual. Forgiveness only can follow
true, absolute repentance.
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- A friend once suggested why the new month carries the element of
forgiveness: As one looks at the new month as a "starting
period", he can view himself as one who is starting over. If he
repents, and views himself as a "new person", he thereby
divorces himself from the "old him". He does not identify
with the person who sinned last month. This divorce frees him from an
attachment to his old values. God sees this, and does not need to
punish him to correct his flaws since he is no longer attached to his
old ways. God says this in Ezekiel, chapter 18. The Talmud also states
that one who becomes married, or is promoted in position (viz, a
military position) is also forgiven for his sins. The reason is the
same. In all three cases, the individual divorces himself from his
previous self image. This break in self image can free the person from
his old attachments - if he works on himself - using his new status as
a springboard.
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- Forgiveness then means that God sees that a person honestly
understands his error, that he no longer values sinning in a
particular area. In fact, God says his previous sins will no longer be
remembered. Conversely, if one is pure and then sins, God says that
his good will not be remembered.
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- See our related article: New Moon
Blessing
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New reader's follow up question:
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- Reader: What does a new military position (or any other) have
to do with the "old self"? What if before the new position
he had a greater position-then he got this position but hasn't
sinned... why is the new position part of the "new self"?
- Mesora: We are only dealing with
a "promotion" in status, this effects one's self image
positively, a springboard for an entire personality overhaul.
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- Reader: Also, I can see in marriage-one takes on new mitzvot-
so his perfection is enhanced. I don't see how a status change can be
a springboard - that's ties into the ego -a personality change is one
of the most difficult things to change according to Chazal - even a
small change.
- Mesora: Why can't one use an ego
emotion to catapult him towards proper performance?
- The Rabbis teach, "Im lo lihma ba lishma", "although
one does good not for the good, he eventually will come to the good
for the good".
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