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Fully
Forgiven
Scriptures: Matthew 18.23-35; 5.23-24; 6.12, 14-15
How can we
speak of someone being "fully forgiven?" Aren't we either forgiven or
not? Then, how can we speak of being "fully forgiven?" A
person
is fully forgiven when the person experiences God's forgiveness so
profoundly that the person extends forgiveness to another person.
Jesus'
teaching on forgiveness is clear. The good news of His teaching is that
forgiveness is possible for all persons. When Jesus cried from
the
cross, "Father forgive them" (Luke 23.34), He was fully engaged in
the very activity that was at the same time the answer to His prayer on our
behalf. The only unpardonable sin is the unwillingness to receive
forgiveness from our Savior. The Apostle Paul knew God's power
of
forgiveness first hand. "It is a trustworthy statement, deserving
full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among
whom I am foremost of
all" (1 Timothy
1:15).
How do we experience God's forgiveness? The first letter of
John gives us a magnificent promise, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and
righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
Jesus does
not leave us in a state of being forgiven by God, but unwilling to extend our
forgiveness to other people. Again, His clear teaching is that to be
"fully forgiven" is to have experience enough of God's forgiveness that we,
also, extend forgiveness to other people.
Why does Jesus place this
requirement on us? Why does He require us to forgive people who have
created so much pain and injustice in our lives? Before we attempt to
answer this difficult question, we must recognize that the foundation of God's
work with us is His heart of love and justice. Every request God makes of
us is contained in the heart of a loving and just heavenly Father.
Then,
why must I forgive? Because forgiveness is God's way that He releases us
from the pain of the harm that has been brought upon us. When we can
release someone from our desire for revenge, we can be free. The Greek
word that is translated, "forgive," also means, "to leave something
alone." When we forgive someone, we leave the person alone and allow God
to be the judge over the situation. If revenge or punishment is to occur,
God is the best one to oversee the punishment not us. As we "leave it
alone," we are set free from the injury that has been inflicted upon
us.
Unforgiveness blocks our sense of communion with God. The
converse is also true. Forgiveness opens the pathway to the sense of
God's presence. The Scriptures listed above make this point quite well. In
addition, Jesus tells us (Matthew 5.44-45) that we most resemble the Heavenly
Father, when we grant forgiveness to those who have caused us pain.
How
can someone who has been painfully injured forgive another? Please
know, God never minimizes our pain and suffering when He commands us to
forgive. Neither should we. The pain is real, but we don't have to
be controlled by the person who injured. Daily help from our Lord is the
only way we can "leave something alone" and in God's hands, and not be
controlled by remembrances of the one who injured
us.
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