Do I Really Have to Forgive…Again?
By Ruth Ann Stites
Back in Week 6 we looked at Jesus’ teachings on being forgiving people. If his words were not enough to wrap our heads around, here are a few other Scriptures addressing the topic of forgiveness:
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace (Eph. 1:7)
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Eph. 4:32)
Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Col. 3:13)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
Obviously, our source of forgiveness is Jesus and His sacrifice, but he expects more of His followers than just accepting the freedom of his forgiveness. He expects us to follow his example by being tender and kind to other Believers when they are offensive. That is a pretty big order.
The Apostle Peter had a question about forgiving someone close to him who repeatedly offends him in Matthew 18:21-22, “Then Peter came and said to Him, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.’” Like most of us, Peter was looking for some easy-to-follow calculation to make the task of living with others less than the Lord intended it to be, a dynamic relationship like the one we are striving to create for ourselves with him.
Living in relationship with others is often difficult, but, since Jesus is bringing sons and daughters into the Father’s family rather than just creating a hierarchy of followers, he expects more from us than virtuously counting up offenses until we reach the “cut off” point of 8 or even 491 where we can bring judgment rather than forgiveness to bear. He wants our relationship with fellow Believers to be one of forgiveness and restoration not one of blame and division.
As we all know from experience and example, that is not an easy task or even achievable for human beings all the time. Possibly it will help us to distinguish one important thing it’s not asking us to do. Being forgiving is not overlooking sin. The New Testament has plenty to say about confronting sin individually or as the church (Matt. 18:15-17; Rom. 16:17-18; 1 Cor. 5:11). But even in confronting sin, the spirit of forgiveness should play a part as Paul says, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:1-2).
So, the Cross Disciple is instructed to forgive and keep on forgiving even when it is hard, even when you have to let someone go their own way. It’s always good to remember that building a Godly relationship is more important than being justified in one’s right to be offended.
(Photo credit: RA Stites, Crystal Lake, near Decatur, AR)
