Forgiveness is this world’s equivalent of Heaven’s justice. ²It translates the world of sin into a simple world, where justice can be reflected from beyond the gate behind which total lack of limits lies. ³Nothing in boundless love could need forgiveness. ⁴And what is charity within the world gives way to simple justice past the gate that opens into Heaven. ⁵No one forgives unless he has believed in sin, and still believes that he has much to be forgiven. ⁶Forgiveness thus becomes the means by which he learns he has done nothing to forgive. ⁷Forgiveness always rests upon the one who offers it, until he sees himself as needing it no more. ⁸And thus is he returned to his real function of creating [extending Love], which his forgiveness offers him again.
…what has been forgiven must join [in oneness], for nothing stands between to keep them separate and apart. ⁵The sinless must perceive that they are one, for nothing stands between to push the other off. ⁶And in the space that sin left vacant do they join as one, in gladness recognizing what is part of them has not been kept apart and separate.
This tiny spot of sin that stands between you and your brother still is holding back the happy opening of Heaven’s gate. ²How little is the hindrance that withholds the wealth of Heaven from you. ³And how great will be the joy in Heaven when you join the mighty chorus to the Love of God! (A Course in Miracles, T-26.IV.1:1-8;2:4-6;6. See also ACIM Text Made Simple.)
Our true Self, God’s Son, remains as he was created. Nothing has happened to change God’s Son who remains forever united with his Creator. This Self does not need to be forgiven nor to forgive. He still remains as Love created Him, wholly innocent and wholly loved.
But we believe we are another self made by the denial of God’s gift of Love. The split caused by this denial we believe is a sin. It is perceived as an attack on God. The illusion that separation from God is real is the foundation for all perception of harm and loss; it is the foundation of guilt. This little self-identity needs to forgive this mistaken thought. Because we believe we are a separate self, forgiveness is the means by which we let go of the false belief in being alone and loveless, weak and subject to harm and loss. This is not what we are as God’s Son, but our belief makes it seem real.
Today we call upon the Holy Spirit to help us heal the false beliefs upon which all fear and guilt depend. With His help we will learn that, in truth, we have done nothing that had any effect that would justify guilt and fear. Because there has been no effect, we will learn there is nothing to forgive. We remain as God created us.
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