The Pastor’s Message

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.