Christians are as much weak as human nature in granting forgiveness. But they have in them something that transcends human nature. It follows from being a beneficiary of God’s gracious forgiveness in Christ. Whatever the sins of others may be against us, we have sinned multiple times more against God – multiple times more in frequency, in gravity, and in apathy. But when we come for Fatherly forgiveness, He forgives.
In this season, so it is professed, that Christendom remembers the becoming-man (incarnation) of the Son of God, the issue of forgiveness presses hard on my mind. After all, according to the Scriptures, “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” (Heb. 2:17-18 NKJ).
Two questions press upon my mind that should resonate in every serious believer. The first: Should Christians continue to ask forgiveness from God for their sins? And the second: How readily and radically should Christians forgive those who sin against them and ask for forgiveness?
Prior to answering the question, we must be sure we know what we mean by forgiveness. The Greek word aphiêmi in its literal sense denotes ‘to leave a particular location’ or ‘to dismiss a crowd’ [ Louw-Nida Lexicon ]. But used in the legal sense, its cognate word aphesis pertains to the removal of incurred guilt and its consequent punishment. The contrast is clear in Acts 13:38, 39, “Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13:38 ESV). This is the forgiveness every believer receives upon faith in Christ. What a glorious salvation blessing a believer possesses all because of Christ! “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:7 ESV).
First Question: Should believers still seek forgiveness from God for their sins?
Only extreme perfectionists will dare to claim that they no longer sin – worse than an error, it is smug delusion. Even as an object of Christ’s salvation, Paul still thought of himself at the time of his writing, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – and I am the worst of them all” (1Tim 1:15 NLT). There is in every humble believer a resonant note of the same confession.
I just came from a conference in a far-flung area. It became obvious during the discussion time that the participants, mostly pastors and church leaders, sincerely believed that, while admitting the continuing sins of believers, Christians need no longer ask forgiveness for their sins. One explained that all he would do is to express gratitude to the Lord that whatever sins he committed, they have already been forgiven in Christ – past, present, and future. So there is no place for genuine repentance and contrition, just claiming the forgiveness already possessed.
At the root of this notion is a deeply twisted confusion between justification and sanctification. They are claiming justification reality of God’s judicial forgiveness of all sins for the day-to-day issue of sanctification which must clear one’s fellowship with God as the Father. Justification is about God as the Judge. Sins – past, present, and future – have been settled in His judgment court. But it is not that we ask forgiveness for our daily sins. It is about a disturbed fellowship with the Father. And we are seeking the forgiveness of God as our Father – not as our Judge.
The New Testament makes clear that there is continuing forgiveness that the believer should seek and may experience on a day-to-day basis. That is why in the Lord’s Prayer, following the petition, “Give us this day our daily bread” is the petition, “And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” (Mat 6:12). There is the stern warning of John against self-deception, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” (1 Jn. 1:10 NKJ). Deriving from this reality is the duty, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn. 1:9 NKJ). That there is such an experience of post-conversion experience is unambiguous in the exhortation to the sick, “And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” (Jas. 5:15 NKJ)
Beyond the error of this notion that believers need not ask for forgiveness, it deprives the believer of that posture that cultivates humility and the exuberance of joy in God’s gracious forgiveness.
We have all heard of the Reformer Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses. Perhaps, it is time we memorized the first thesis: Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, in saying, “Repent ye, etc.” intended that the whole life of his believers on earth should be a daily repentance.
Second Question: How readily and radically should Christians forgive?
The difficulty of this question is highlighted by CS Lewis: Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.[1] His reflection on this is worth quoting at length:
Just when Christianity tells me that I must not deny my religion even to save myself from death by torture, I wonder very much what I should do when it came to the point. I am not trying to tell you in this book what I could do – I could do precious little – I am telling you what Christianity is. I did not invent it. And there, right in the middle of it, I find ‘Forgive us our sins as we forgive those that sin against us.’ There is no slightest suggestion that we are offered forgiveness on any other terms. It is made perfectly clear that if we do not forgive, we shall not be forgiven. There are no two ways about it.[2]
Christians are as much weak as human nature in granting forgiveness. But they have in them something that transcends human nature. It follows from being a beneficiary of God’s gracious forgiveness in Christ. Whatever the sins of others may be against us, we have sinned multiple times more against God – multiple times more in frequency, in gravity, and in apathy. But when we come for Fatherly forgiveness, He forgives.
Jesus gave a hard-to-swallow rule on forgiving brethren. “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying,`I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” (Lk. 17:3-4 NKJ). In the face of such requisite readiness to forgive, the apostles could only respond in entreaty, “Lord, increase our faith!”
I know how to be hurt, to be betrayed, how to nurse the pain that demands a satisfaction of double retaliation. But then, I myself fall into sin… How terrible is this? Just when I received a mercy-gift from the Lord, and I sinned! Just when I had been spared, I used the sense of freedom to yet sin again? Am I a hardened sinner? The heart made tender by grace tells me I am not for I find myself crying to my Father for yet another forgiveness only on the basis of Christ. He forgives me yet again.
Then comes my offender with a broken heart asking for my forgiveness. Every fiber of my being cries, “Hang!” Only to be reminded, Someone hanged on the Cross for me – and for him. Moist with tears of compassion, I hear myself say willingly, “I forgive!”
[1] CS Lewis, Mere Christianity, Book 3. 7
[2] ibid
Treasure in Earthen Vessel 