Forgiveness

Mankind seeks to deny and repress his guilt and so deadens his conscience by sin and his guilt haunts him, although, he often denies it. (Romans 1:18) Where should we go for cleansing and power over our sin. There is only one place and person to go to that can deal with the sin problem and that is Jesus. In Jesus Himself is forgiveness because he is the “once for all” sacrifice for sin. (Hebrews 10:10) He can unite us to God. Divine justice is satisfied only in Jesus Christ.

To receive this forgiveness, we must dislike sin and even hate it. Sin does violence to ourselves and others and offends a holy God. What does it mean to repent. It means to be sorry for sin, to want to turn from it and forsake it at the root. We have to die to our love affair with sin. We must be willing to renounce it and place our faith in Jesus Christ to forgive our sin and restore us to a love fellowship with God. We must be changed from the inside out. The Bible calls this being born again and it is a work of God. (John 3:3). Unless you are born again you cannot see God. You cannot experience Him in new life and be forgiven, if you are not born again. We are not saved or restored to relationship with God because of our merit, but in spite of it and because God is a God of love, justice, mercy and grace. He gives us undeserved favor which is what the word grace means.

He also directs us how we are to live as Christians once we are born again. Jesus says within the context of the Lord’s prayer at the end of the Lord’s prayer: “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15).

This is a difficult scripture to understand because as a Christian our position in Christ is one of grace not of works or merit. How do we reconcile this? Isn’t God’s love unconditional? His love is unmerited but it is not unconditional. People do go to hell, even though he offers them forgiveness, abundant life and heaven in and only in Jesus Christ. Justice will be served. We will either serve the full penalty of our sin or Christ will bear it to restore us to spiritual and eternal life.

There are various approaches to interpreting this passage of scripture, but the one that makes the most sense in relation to the whole of Jesus teaching and the Bible is that if you are a Christian, it is assumed you will forgive.

How can one who has been forgiven, in a sense millions of dollars not forgive those who have taken hundreds or thousands from us? In the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18;21-35 Jesus says to the unforgiving servant; “And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also, my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” (verses 33-35).

Jesus spoke about forgiveness often. How can we who have received grace be hypocritical and not forgive. Those who have been transformed will forgive? He has given those in Christ a new heart. (Ezekiel 36:26) New heart people forgive.

He instructs us to forgive from the heart. We to be forgiving of people from our heart, even if they don’t repent. If they repent, a healthy relationship can be restored and reconciliation can occur, but we are to forgive even if they don’t repent. (Luke 17:3-4) We might have to put in some boundaries or be distanced from some people if they do not repent of their sin and even if they do in some extreme cases. These is especially true in horrible acts of sin. However, in smaller issues the Bible tells us; “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).

To not forgive is to come under the bondage of the devil. The Apostle Paul states, “Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs” (2 Corinthians 2:10-11). Satan brings us into bondage when we don’t forgive.

Satan wants to leads us into bitterness and thus spoil or contaminate our spiritual development and thus our fulness of life in Christ. The Bible instructs to; “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice” (Ephesians 4:31) The writer of Hebrews gives us this warning; “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled” (Hebrews 12:15)

As well to get to the root of it all we must at some point give up our anger and resentment and somehow give it or trust the Lord with it. Anger usually is a sign of being hurt which involves rejection, abandonment, injustice, etc. When we do this, we can be healed at the root of the issues. As the Bible says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). Again, as God’s word says, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice” (Ephesians 4:31).

We should give evidence of a transformed life. Jesus thought forgiveness was a good test of it. We should make sure that we are truly born of God’s spirit and have been given a new heart and a new life in Him. The Bible tells us; “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities, you will never fall” (2 Peter 1:10). As God’s word says, “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).

You don’t feel your way into forgiveness you act upon God’s grace. He will give you grace if you look to Him and commit to forgive. When you act with God’s grace our feelings will eventually change and we will be truly free and not enslaved by unforgiveness.

God has set us free in Christ let us not again to entangled by the devil and sin. Let us walk in grace and support and encourage one another by living out the gospel.

When the Catholic Pope John Paul III was shot, he went to jail and forgave the person who shot him. When the Amish family lost their daughters and the violator committed suicide the Amish went to the funeral of the man and offered forgiveness to the family. Not all Christians have this level of maturity and ready to act on the gospel immediately. For some it takes some processing.

When we forgive, we bear the penalty of the wrong done to us. However, ultimately God says in His word, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord” (Romans 12:9). This is who ultimately takes care of justice. In society justice serve to restrain evil, and protect society, otherwise, evil would destroy culture. Again, God says in His word; “Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer” (Romans 13:3-4). Sin has consequences but Jesus takes the penalty for those in Christ. Sin does violence to others. Not all forgive. However, forgiveness sets the person forgiving free and the offender when they repent and are forgiven.

We represent a God who at great cost to Himself offers forgiveness to all people. We should represent Him with honor. God let His own creation nail Him to a cross, torture and spit upon Him. He bore the just penalty of our sin on the cross. Can we not forgive others? What could even come close to God being horribly mistreated by His own creation and put to death, because of their own wickedness? This includes all of mankind. In spite of that Jesus rose from the dead, offers forgiveness and life in Him through His defeat of the devil for humanity, and his resurrected life. He broke the power of sin on the cross for all those who receive Him as Savior and Lord. However, no Christian is perfect but grows into His full inheritance in Christ.

He calls us in love and forgiveness. Do you hear Him? Answer His call