I recently saw Mel Gibson's movie The Passion of the Christ and was inspired in many ways from the experience. One thing in particular, though, has been on my mind -- forgiveness. I began to search the scriptures and found two types of forgiveness: our forgiveness towards each other, and God's forgiveness towards us. I also found that the two are very much linked together. In studying these links, I found the answer to two questions: Why? and How?
(Hover mouse over scripture references to read the verse.) |
Why? |
We forgive others... |
God forgives us... |
1. Been Forgiven
There is a parable in Matthew 18 about a ruler who decided to collect his debts. One man who owed him a large amount stood before him and begged for more time, promising to pay when he could. The ruler ended up forgiving his debt. The man turned around and had a another man thrown into prison for not paying a small debt. When the ruler found out, he revoked his forgiveness and threw him into prison until he could pay every penny. Having been shown mercy, we should in turn show mercy.
Luke 6:37
Matthew 6:15
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1. Unable to Save Ourselves
The Bible says there is no one who does right all his life. There are some who do better or worse than others, but to God sin is sin. James 2:10 says if you are guilty of breaking just one command of the law then you are guilty of breaking the whole law. By this standard, we are unable to make ourselves acceptable to God by being good. The only thing that can make us righteous is a perfect blood sacrifice (Jesus). We are all in need of God's forgiveness no matter how good or bad we have been in our lives.
Romans 5:6
Romans 3:23
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2. Bible Says So
Though it doesn't make much sense and sometimes is very hard, God asks us in His word to forgive and keep peace. If we do this, it is a sign of maturity, which means we are becoming more like Him. We are learning to Love each other unconditionally.
Luke 6:27-28
Romans 12:17-18
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2. Unconditional Love
God forgives us because He loves us. We didn't do anything to earn his forgiveness. He didn't even wait for us to ask. He made the way for us while we were still sinning -- while we were still hurting Him. That is the maturity we should seek.
Romans 5:8
John 3:16
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3. Blessings
The Bible tells us that we will be rewarded for having an attitude of forgiveness. We will be called sons of God. I heard it explained once that there is a difference between being a child of God and being called a son of God. Being called a son indicates maturity, which means more blessings. God has so much to bless us with, but He can only bless us according to our level of maturity. You wouldn't give the car keys to an eight year old. You would wait until he or she was mature enough to handle the responsibilities of driving a car. God deals with us the same way.
Luke 6:35
Matthew 5:44-45a
| 3. Unite Us in His Family
Sin broke the relationship between God and man. God is so holy, he cannot be in the presence of sin. But God desires to have that relationship restored. Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death. Since all have sinned, everyone must pay that price. But God sent His son to die in our place. If we confess to God that we have done wrong, ask Him to forgive us and believe that Jesus paid the price for us, we are forgiven and made brand new. Our relationship with God can then be restored, because He no longer sees the sin, He sees the precious blood of Jesus.
Romans 5:1-2
Romans 3:24
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4. Be Victorious
The devil is always trying to stir up trouble. It is his goal to keep us confused and upset, so we can't concentrate on walking with God. The Bible says that we foil his plan when we forgive. If we don't forgive, we give him power over us through our emotions. Joyce Meyer explained unforgiveness as 'taking poison and hoping your enemy dies.' On the other hand, forgiveness brings victory -- not for the person you are forgiving, but in your own life.
Romans 12:20-21
2 Corinthians 2:10B-11
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4. Unbound Us
Before we are forgiven, we are like a criminal in a jail cell doing the bidding of our captor. God's forgiveness unlocks that cell and brings us not only the promise of everlasting life (Heaven) but also joy and peace in this life. We no longer have to be confused by Satan's stirrings, because we have been given a new perspective. We now know that God has everything in His hands. He loves us and is able and willing to take care of our every need.
Romans 6:6-7
1 Corinthians 15:56-57
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How? |
We forgive others... |
God forgives us... |
| 1. Endlessly |
When Peter asked Jesus how many times they should forgive, Jesus told them to forgive every time. First time or 70x7th time - there is no difference in the ill effects of unforgiveness in our lives. God does not want us to carry that burden. He will take care of you, and you will be rewarded openly for your obedience to forgive -- every time.
Matthew 18:21-22
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Paul talked about the condition of man, that sin would increase. Man would become more and more corrupt. But he said that Grace would increase as well. Though we should strive to do the right thing, there is nothing so bad we can do that His Grace cannot cover it. We cannot go so far away from God that He cannot reach us.
Romans 5:20
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| 2. Extensively |
When Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery, no one would have blamed him if he never forgave them. But after all the things he went through as a result of their actions, he welcomed them back into his arms as brothers and took care of their needs.
Genesis 50:17
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When God gave His son for our forgiveness, it was complete. He didn't forgive some of our sin. He forgave all of it. He didn't stop there. He went a step further and made us family with all the benefits of being a child of a king.
Ephesians 1:5-8
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| 3. Expensively |
Forgiveness often costs us something. God does not want us to seek revenge, even when it seems we have the right. He wants us to be willing to sacrifice. Besides not wanting us to carry the burdon of getting even, He has a plan to change hearts and lives. How you treat someone who has hurt you could make the difference in their eternal destination.
Matthew 5:39-40
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God does not ask us to do anything He has not done Himself. He sacrificed His own Son for our forgiveness. Jesus sacrificed His own life. He could have chosen to come down from that cross. He could have shown the world that He was God's son by saving Himself. He chose to put us before His own fleshly needs.
Luke 23:33-34
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4. By His Example
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The Bible tells us over and over that we are to be imitators of Christ. He is our example of how to live. We are to strive to be perfect as He is perfect. Jesus set the ultimate example of forgiveness. It was our sins that caused His suffering, but by that same suffering, we were forgiven.
Ephesians 4:32
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Mel Gibson's movie depicted the suffering of Jesus in a way that gave us an understanding we couldn't have had unless we had been there. His suffering was brutal and beyond anything any of us will ever experience. And it was all for our forgiveness and healing.
Isaiah 53:5
Even though the movie was a graphic depiction of His suffering, the reality was far worse than the movie was allowed or able to show. The Bible said that He was beaten so much that He did not even look human.
Isaiah 52:14
He could not have given any more than He did.
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The story does not end with the suffering and death of Jesus. Before He was buried, the guards made sure He was dead by thrusting a sword into his side. A mixture of blood and water poured out. Then He was wrapped in cloths and placed inside a carved out rock. A large stone was rolled in front of the opening. Men were placed at his grave with strict orders under penalty of death to guard the body.
After Passover the women came with perfumes for the body. When they got there, they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. They entered the tomb and found a man in a white robe. They were afraid, but he told them that Jesus was no longer there. He had risen from the dead!
He stayed for a while and many people saw Him. Then while He was still with them, He ascended to Heaven. He is there now, seated at the right hand of the Father! |
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