thoughts on forgiveness
Last week's sermon by Pastor Michael reminded me once again of the wonder of God's grace. The depth of his love. The utter holiness of his justice.
To summarize the sermon, it was from 1 Peter 2:18, and Pastor Michael spoke of how we should respond when we are mistreated/offended by others. He didn't clarify whether the offender was Christian or not, but I guess it doesn't change how we should respond. According to Pastor Michael, there are two parts in such a situation: how I should respond, and how God will respond. First, I should be gracious to the offender, as in show kindness and care. Second, I should be conciliatory, that is, seek reconciliation. On God's part, he will execute clear justice on my behalf. This is based on Jesus' response when he was unjustly persecuted, humiliated, and executed. Jesus not only forgave his offenders, he asked the Father to forgive them, and literally died for their sins to open the way to Salvation. The central truth: when someone mistreats me, my job is to be gracious and conciliatory. God's job is to execute justice on my behalf.
I couldn't help but recognize the severity of God's justice. It is unshakable. It is holy, so much so that human beings would burn in his presence. The justice of God is what we pray for in this corrupt, miserable world. Yet it is the justice of God that will also damn us, for no one is righteous in the presence of the most Holy One. At the same time, the love of God found a Way for us to be reconciled to God. It's as if I was completely lost and God sent me a taxi, paid in full by Jesus' blood. All I have to do is admit that I'm lost, trust the cab driver, and get in. In the end, the world will be categorized in two groups. Those who continue to be lost, and those who were taken home by the cab.
In the context of forgiveness, there are two possible scenarios. The offender who wronged me ignored the cab and continues to walk around lost, or the offender has gotten in the cab and found the way home. It occurred to me while listening to the sermon that perhaps some Christians refuse to forgive their offender because they know how gracious God is and are certain that the offender will get off 'scot-free', since they got in the cab. But at the same time, it is inconceivable to me that I would not forgive someone that God forgave. This offender sinned not only against me, but against God even more. Yet God forgave this offense, at the cost of His Only Begotten Son. How can I not forgive my offender while looking up on the cross, the crucified Christ, who cried to His Father to forgive his transgressors, including my offender? The other scenario would be that my offender ignored the cab and is forever condemned for the pits of hell. I cannot rejoice in this. I cannot be glad of this. I desire for Jesus' sacrifice not to have been in vain. I want my offender to get in the cab.
How deep is your love, O God, that you would bring salvation to this wretched sinner by the blood of the most Holy One? How severe is your justice, O God, that it required the blood of your only begotten Son to satisfy? I kneel at your feet, my Lord, humbled by your grace, broken by your kindness.
To summarize the sermon, it was from 1 Peter 2:18, and Pastor Michael spoke of how we should respond when we are mistreated/offended by others. He didn't clarify whether the offender was Christian or not, but I guess it doesn't change how we should respond. According to Pastor Michael, there are two parts in such a situation: how I should respond, and how God will respond. First, I should be gracious to the offender, as in show kindness and care. Second, I should be conciliatory, that is, seek reconciliation. On God's part, he will execute clear justice on my behalf. This is based on Jesus' response when he was unjustly persecuted, humiliated, and executed. Jesus not only forgave his offenders, he asked the Father to forgive them, and literally died for their sins to open the way to Salvation. The central truth: when someone mistreats me, my job is to be gracious and conciliatory. God's job is to execute justice on my behalf.
I couldn't help but recognize the severity of God's justice. It is unshakable. It is holy, so much so that human beings would burn in his presence. The justice of God is what we pray for in this corrupt, miserable world. Yet it is the justice of God that will also damn us, for no one is righteous in the presence of the most Holy One. At the same time, the love of God found a Way for us to be reconciled to God. It's as if I was completely lost and God sent me a taxi, paid in full by Jesus' blood. All I have to do is admit that I'm lost, trust the cab driver, and get in. In the end, the world will be categorized in two groups. Those who continue to be lost, and those who were taken home by the cab.
In the context of forgiveness, there are two possible scenarios. The offender who wronged me ignored the cab and continues to walk around lost, or the offender has gotten in the cab and found the way home. It occurred to me while listening to the sermon that perhaps some Christians refuse to forgive their offender because they know how gracious God is and are certain that the offender will get off 'scot-free', since they got in the cab. But at the same time, it is inconceivable to me that I would not forgive someone that God forgave. This offender sinned not only against me, but against God even more. Yet God forgave this offense, at the cost of His Only Begotten Son. How can I not forgive my offender while looking up on the cross, the crucified Christ, who cried to His Father to forgive his transgressors, including my offender? The other scenario would be that my offender ignored the cab and is forever condemned for the pits of hell. I cannot rejoice in this. I cannot be glad of this. I desire for Jesus' sacrifice not to have been in vain. I want my offender to get in the cab.
How deep is your love, O God, that you would bring salvation to this wretched sinner by the blood of the most Holy One? How severe is your justice, O God, that it required the blood of your only begotten Son to satisfy? I kneel at your feet, my Lord, humbled by your grace, broken by your kindness.
posted by Debora at
3:34 AM
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