ON FORGIVENESS - Read Along with Lewis

Read along as you listen to "On Forgiveness," an essay by C.S. Lewis.
It is best found in the essay collection THE WEIGHT OF GLORY.

Audiobook of (nearly) all of Lewis's essays:

The Weight of Glory (the book where the essay is found):

[johnfrancis]

Lewis said something about humility. He said it's not so much about thinking less of yourself - but rather thinking about yourself less.

[carolhensen]

I sinned, asked for forgiveness, was granted forgiveness, only to make the same mistake again I vow and prayed to God prayed the rosary prayer twice daily, listening to Priests on my you tube channel, great advisors most of them, trusting in God his word, his love for me, his forgiveness..I’m truly grateful…and continue to grow spiritually in God’s goodness

[franciscowalker]

What a coincidence... I just watched the Life of C.S. Lewis last night...an incredible genius and amazing persons to me ...what a gift to the world is he and his so enlightening books!!!

[leenieledejo]

The best way to understand forgiveness is to realize what it is: a gift.
Not a gift that you give to the offender but a gift that God has given to YOU.
The ability to forgive - and even the concept - comes from a loving God!

Anyone who has lived any amount of time in a country with no or little Christian heritage will have noticed whar happens to people when they don't forgive but instead hold grudges and/or plan and take revenge.
It doesn't help them feel better. It makes them feel worse. They add to their own burden.
They actually LOOK weighed down: unforgiving and unforgiven is a terrible combination that sucks the life out of a person.

Our loving Creator God knew this and knows this.
That's why He calls us to forgive.

[judd]

Thank you for posting this video. The clarification of forgiveness and excusing was most helpful.

[mapleridge]

I so needed this explanation in a current situation.

[bronte]

It's very easy to ask for forgiveness. It's being truly sorry that must be felt and expressed. Then, ask forgiveness.

[sarahyip]

Who else but CS Lewis to have figured this out...

[gloriagrant]

The key point : St John 17:17 says Thy word is truth, bottom line, submit to God's word, in which Jesus gave us the truth, from the Father, who promised us the Spirit of truth to help us to hear and then do it. God is perfect in all His ways.
It is written that's what Jesus said to defeat the enemy in his craftiness ( let us not be swayed by the emotional attitude of the matter 😁.Our eternal destination is the ultimate goal. 😊

[pierreschiffer]

First of all: Lewis is not Catholic: keep that clearly in mind. Secondly, forgiveness and reconciliation are two separate artefacts: the first does not necessarily imply the second, as Lewis seems to imply. Third, we are to forgive as God has forgiven us, meaning upon repentance only: forgiveness is not a one-way street. In order to give, another is to accept. God never has and never will forgive(n) anyone who was not repentant and did not ask for it. Look up the video "The disaster of false forgiveness" on the Catholic position: unrepentant sinners cannot be forgiven.

[Bigchurchmusic]

Romans 10:9-10

King James Version

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

[davidhightower]

Lewis's explanation of forgiveness is only partial, not complete even in error! To forgive the sins of others is not a charge to forget the sins rather to love the individual in spite of their sins because Jesus demonstrates this behavior to us by his example of forgiveness! Jesus also counsels us to chastise sin: when he heals us of our sins he tells us to go and sin no more! We are to minister to those close to us in our sphere of influence by setting an example of not only seeking forgiveness of our personal sins likewise to live our lives free of the sins that curse our souls perpetually if unforgiven! Jesus also instructs us to keep his commandments if we love him meaning to refrain from deadly sins.

We must also demonstrate forgiveness of our own souls in failure to keep God's commands to us for if we neglect self forgiveness it becomes difficult to forgive the sins of others or seek God's forgiveness! Self forgiveness does not waive seeking God's forgivess or forgiving the sins of others albeit it is a vital process of learning how to "go and sin no more" if we are to learn how to relinquish sins as counseled by the Lord!

There is no intellectual conceit or judgment in calling out our own sins, the sins of others when done in love! The process of chastisement as demonstrated by Jesus in the Temple with the money changers, with members of the Pharisees Saducees, with the rich young man, other times can be difficult for us when the sins of others mirror our own deadly sins back to us! We are not perfect in flesh as Jesus still we are made in the image of the Father which empowers us to do his will, follow his commands, strive ceaselessly in prayer to be made perfect in death by our devotion, commitment, obedience to the Father while living!

Forgiveness of God for our sins, venial and deadly, forgiveness of sins of others against us, yes forgiveness of ourselves for our own sins are all spiritual keys crucial to existing in the Forever Living Loving Presence of God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit! If we are genuinely remorseful with complete intention in the process of forgiveness God will hear, answer, embellish our prayer with his Living Loving Presence! Amen!