If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9)
One of the many things which so moves me about the teaching of Christ is the promise of forgiveness. Watching the response of those who have stood at the bar of human justice waiting for a verdict to be announced, proves just how powerful the concept of forgiveness is. If your life hangs in the balance (and you have any kind of regard for it), the announcement “Not Guilty” is overwhelming. We have seen it many times on our television sets. The jubilation, the joy of acquittal (whether deserved or not)! But if human forgiveness is so precious, how much more precious is the forgiveness of the Lord!
Of course, unless you believe and feel that you are guilty in the sight of God, such a promise holds very little meaning. Apparently, many in our society do not have a sense of guiltiness in their lives regarding sin. To them, there is no such thing as sin, mainly because they do not believe in an objective standard of right and wrong. Perhaps they do not even believe in God. And if they do not believe in an objective, metaphysical standard of right and wrong, then they will also see no value in forgiving one another. In fact, such an action as forgiveness might even be perceived as weakness. How tragic and how meaningless such a life must be, to never feel the rapture of redemption.
But for those of us who painfully realize our own faults and transgressions against the Divine Will, who hurt and despair over offending the righteousness and holiness of God, the knowledge that the Lord in His mercy and grace has forgiven us and will continue to forgive us as long as we walk in the light and confess our sins, is too wonderful to fully describe (I John 1:7-9). It is truly amazing to know that He left the glories of heaven to die on the cruel and thankless cross so that we might be able to hear from Heaven’s Bar of Justice those precious words “Forgiven.”
Incredibly, the Bible tells us when we are forgiven by God that all our prior sins and transgression are forgiven (Col. 2:13), completely wiped clean from His Book of Remembrance. They will never be brought up against us again! Never! We know this forgiveness comes at a very high price, indeed, the price of unthinkable humiliation and the shedding of Holy and Innocent Blood (Phil. 2:5-8; Acts 20:28; Col. 1:14) through the riches of His grace (Eph. 1:7). The knowledge of this great forgiveness should bring even greater joy (Mark 9:2).
Because He has forgiven us so much, not because we deserve it, but for Christ’s name sake (Eph. 4:32; I John 2:12), we should love greatly, as well (Luke 7:47). We also know that humility, repentance and obedience precede forgiveness (II Chron. 7:14; Acts 8:22). When Jesus spoke from the cross and said “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34), this could not be accomplished until there was repentance on the part of those about whom He spoke. His prayer was answered on the day of Pentecost when three thousand were pricked in their heart by the words spoken by Peter and repented and were baptized (Acts 2:38). What a day of rejoicing that must have been when so many enjoyed so great a salvation!
It follows that because we have been forgiven, we should be able to forgive others also (Col. 3:13). The simple law of Christ is, Forgive and ye shall be forgiven (Luke 6:36). We should forgive whenever there is forgiveness sought, as many times as it takes (Luke 17:3; Matt. 18:21,22). If we are not willing to forgive others, then surely we cannot expect the Lord to forgive us (Mark 11:25). So let us preach the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ to the world that they too might know the joys of salvation and let us practice forgiveness in our own lives!
I am so grateful to God to know confidently that He forgives me when I sin. He forgives me often. I hope and pray and strive so that one day I might hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
Eric L. Padgett