Forgiveness
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Matthew 6:14-15
Is it possible that our forgiveness is conditional? Jesus seems to be saying that, if we nurture unforgiveness in our hearts, then we will not be forgiven. How can this be? These words seem to make salvation dependent upon what we do, in just the same way that some Christians have claimed that salvation depends upon good works. Are we to believe that we need to perform the good work of forgiveness before we can be forgiven? And what of the person who has accepted the Gospel and known the joy of salvation who subsequently suffers a wrong he finds it impossible to forgive? Is his salvation withdrawn? Are we condemned to struggle, throughout our lives, making sure that we have forgiven each and every person who has offended us in some way, lest we lose our salvation?
In this passage, Jesus is not speaking about justification, the once-and-for-all divine act by which the penalty of our sin is erased. By this act, the separation caused by sin is overcome and we stand before God justified by grace through faith. [1] Ours is a salvation that cannot be lost. Nothing can separate us from God’s love.[2] We are His forever. All those who belong to Jesus Christ have received God’s verdict – we stand acquitted of the penalty of sin through the saving act of God in Christ.[3]
So, why do we need to be forgiven? An illustration may help. A child, an orphan living on his wits, robs an elderly man in the street. But the child is caught and brought before the magistrate. The elderly man has compassion upon the child. He, himself, pays the fine, takes the child under his wing and even adopts him as his own. The relationship is sure and certain. Nothing will persuade the older man to revoke his decision. The child is forgiven, accepted, loved. But he still steals the family silver, until he learns, one day, that he will inherit it. He still lies to get out of trouble. He does a hundred and one things for which he needs to ask forgiveness. The difference is that now he sins not as a scoundrel, but as a son.
As believers, we are secure in our salvation. But we still offend against God’s Law. When we do so, we need to ask for, and to receive, the forgiveness that our Father longs to give.
Heavenly Father,
I admit that I have not learned well the values of Your Kingdom.
I have not believed Your promises.
I have doubted Your salvation.
I have received Your forgiveness, but withheld it from others.
I have much to learn.
Make me more like Jesus.
Amen.
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