When we encounter forgiveness it changes us. We’re transformed by the unique love that washes away our mistakes and trespasses. If you have wronged someone and been forgiven you can easily understand this. After we encounter Christ we live in a new way (Romans 6:4), we become new people (Ephesians 4:24, Colossians 3:10), and we never return to who we use to be. A result of this washing and transformation is the ability and desire to treat others in the way we’ve been treated by God. We are not only obligated (John 13:34) but also inclined by gratefulness and excitement to reciprocate what we have received. As some say, we “pay it forward.”
We love because we’ve been loved and we forgive because we’ve been forgiven (John 13:34, 15:9-17, Ephesians 5:1-2). We understand how powerful forgiveness is because we’ve experienced the transformation from sinner to saint and because of this we have hope that forgiving others will transform them as well for with God salvation can come to any person (Luke 18:18-29). Hope makes sense to us now. When we forgive others we make room for the Spirit to work in someone’s life. To forgive is to live out the gospel of Christ. Forgiveness is a form of scattering seed that God can nourish in the hearts of his wayward children.
True forgiveness and love is evident in our actions and words. Our lives are the proof for our salvation. Our approach and continued treatment of others (especially those who have wronged us) is directly connected to our union or lack of union with God’s Spirit. If we love God we will love the way he does and follow his commands (John 14:15, 1John 23-6). The fact is, we can not withhold love from any person and still be true lovers of God (1John 3:10-24, 4:8).
True forgiveness does not speak words of forgiveness and then abandon the person being forgiven. No, true forgiveness proves itself with a commitment to seeing reconciliation/redemption occur. In as much as we are able, we are to bless those who curse us. We don’t say a prayer, make a phone call and use nice words, and then call it good. If we can, we should invest in the transformation of those who wrong us. We must be sincere and our forgiveness full. Anyone unwilling to see to it that their trespasser is shown love in practical form is also unwilling to truly forgive (Hebrews 10:24, James 2:14-18). When forgiveness has truly come about then the heart only has room for love and no room for bitterness or a record of wrongs (1Corinthians 13:4-7). Forgiveness is not confined solely to our hearts. It is external as much as it is internal.*
Many people who are trying to follow Jesus are committed to forgiving people in their hearts but say they can not or will not treat others who have wronged them in a loving way. This isn’t right according to the witness of the New Testament. However, it is in no way wrong to allow people to experience the consequences of their actions. For instance, we can forgive the man who rapes our daughter, murders our friend, assaults us, or robs our home but that does not mean we keep them out of their own wake. They deserve jail. It can actually help them. We can even love people during their time in jail! We should love people and build them up as they suffer the consequences of their actions. The duty and pleasure of the Christian is forgiveness and transformative love.
Love is always harder when it has to cover sin. This is why Christians have a difficult task; They know the difficulty sin brings to relationships. Sin destroys. That’s the truth. Forgiveness is scandalous because it seeks to mend what the power of sin has ripped apart. It seems almost unnatural to us because we don’t see true forgiveness often. But if we have experienced the transforming love and forgiveness of Christ then we are know that forgiveness and love overcome evil and sin.
Jesus says the law and the prophets hang on the commands to love God completely and love neighbors. He instructs us that if we do not forgive others then we will not be forgiven (Matthew 6:14-15). We forgive because we’ve been forgiven and if we cease to forgive then we cease to be forgiven. We reap what we sow. So we’re left with a decision. Will we take what God has done for us and give it to others when it is hard or will we prefer destruction of ourselves and our neighbor by neglecting forgiveness? My prayer is that we will all be able to say to our Father “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who trespass against us (Matthew 6:12)” and that our actions will follow.
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