Why is it that so many “Christians” seem to not understand being forgiven by the holy, sovereign sin-hater of the universe? Why is it that as a “Christian” nation, in the sense that 80% of us claim the faith, so very few evidence it in their daily lives?
Is it possible that it’s truly only a small percentage of our people who actually appreciate being forgiven? I’ve been somewhat frightened when hearing “Christians” say, “I’ll never forgive that person for what they did to me!” Truly scary.
Meditation
Acts 26:17-18—“I now send you, to open their eyes . . . that they may receive forgiveness of sins . . .
Oswald Chambers noted, “God’s first sovereign work of grace is summed up in the words, ‘...that they may receive forgiveness of sins…’”
Think about it from this perspective, in Ephesians 4:32, the apostle Paul was inspired to say, “Be kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ Jesus has forgiven you.” (My emphasis.)
For us to forgive another human being for wrongs done against us, we need first to comprehend how it is that God the Father forgives us in Jesus Christ to this existential moment in time. Whether it is a bad attitude, a covetous thought, a lustful desire, gossip, malicious talk . . . to this moment in time, the penalty for sin remains death! God the Father forgives us in the Now, by still accepting God the Son’s death in our place.
If we can wrap our minds around it, we’re told by God, via Paul, that we’re to forgive others, in the exact same way that He forgives us, by means of accepting Christ’s death in the place of that other person. I think it takes God “opening [the eyes of our hearts]” to comprehend that. When we practice it, we find that we appreciate all the more the forgiveness of our sinful nature and all of its creative manifestations.
Application
Try asking God to help you forgive a friend, relative, whomever, by actually realizing that for the sin against you, they deserve death; then by faith accept Christ’s death in their place for their sin. You don’t need to tell them, but it will change your attitude and you’ll be out from under their power over you. You will find that you can truly pray for them without your blood pressure going up.
I believe that we can see forgiveness with newly opened eyes, and out of our reverence for God’s Revelation of Himself, we may more fully appreciate His Forgiveness of us, as we work at truly forgiving others.
