Forgiveness - Christ in Me

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21-22).

To forgive is a difficult act because we are fallen and sinful creatures. From the Garden of Eden throughout biblical history the reality is seen repeatedly that humans are selfish, self-centered, and self-promoting beings. That God would demonstrate His love toward us by offering us salvation through Jesus Christ is incomprehensible, even offensive to sinful men. But that is the nature of holy God vs. the nature of sinful men.

“Nothing so characterizes the new nature of Christians as forgiveness, because nothing so characterizes the nature of their Lord” (John MacArthur). When He was being nailed to the cross, the first words from Jesus were, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do (Luke 23:34). His public and private ministry was characterized by forgiving those who opposed Him, criticized Him, and misunderstood Him. Throughout His ministry He taught that His followers would be characterized by love, of which one aspect is to forgive others. Still, it is difficult for some to exercise forgiveness.

Hebrews 11 is often called the Hall of Faith in the Bible. In that chapter there is a list of men and women who, though sinful people, exercised faith in the Lord God and proved Him to be faithful in all He required of them. Throughout Scripture we see men and women who, through love for God and their fellow man, exercised forgiveness toward others who wronged them, some whose acts of hatred were beyond deplorable.

Joseph (Genesis 37 - 50) is a stellar example of the power of forgiveness in the life of one who loved the Lord and his brothers who were intent on killing him. King David is another (1 Samuel 24 - 27) who loved the Lord and, though threatened with death by King Saul, forgave the king and would not raise his hand against him.

It is said that forgiveness is the highest human virtue because it truly reflects the character of God. Not only that, the foundation of forgiveness is love, which is who God is. Therefore, a Christian who does not forgive is a person lacking in godly character and is void of Christ-like love.

“Lord Jesus, as difficult as it can be to forgive those who seriously wrong me for whatever motives they may have, may my response always be to forgive before, or even if the perpetrator never seeks my forgiveness. May my spirit be controlled by Your Holy Spirit that I would seek reconciliation rather than revenge, restoration rather than restitution. To Your honor and glory I ask, Amen.”

Pastor