by Pastor Doug Cox

My heart along with millions of others was touched when Erika Kirk spoke at her husband Charlie’s memorial service. She talked about how her husband wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life. She said, “On the cross, our Savior said, Father, forgive them, for they not know what they do.” “That man. That young man. I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did… The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the gospel is love and always love. Love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us.” It would do us all good to think about her words often so we too can avoid the trap of hate and bitterness.

A Christian’s life begins when they surrender by faith to Jesus, confessing with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in their heart that God raised Him from the dead. (Romans 10:9) This is the simple and powerful gospel. This gospel provides total forgiveness from God for the confessing sinner. How amazing is that?

Then, once we receive Christ we must start walking with Him by faith. In that walk we often need to give to others what He has given to us. Forgiveness. Sometimes that can be very hard. Sometimes, it can be way harder than it was to receive it. But still it must be done.

Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit penned the following words. “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32 NKJV) Next he says “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” (5:1-2 NKJV)

Can you see it? Part of imitating God involves forgiveness. The blessing is when we do, it becomes “…an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” That means forgiveness is an offering that ascends into the very throne of God in heaven, which doesn’t go unnoticed. Forgiveness is precious and valuable in the eyes of God.

Second, forgiveness is valuable to those who give it. One day Peter went to Jesus asking Him how often he should forgive his brother for sinning against him. Peter thought 7 times would be plenty, but Jesus responded 70 x 7. Do the math. That’s a lot! And what Jesus was saying here is, there isn’t a point where you can stop forgiving.

Then to emphasize His point Jesus told the story of a king who was settling accounts with his servants, one of which owed him a huge amount of money and was unable to pay. Because of that this guy, his family and all his goods were all going to be sold. Hearing that the servant did what we would all do in his situation, he knelt down and asked for his master to have patience with him and promised he would pay it all back. Matthew 18:27 tells us “Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.”

Wow! He forgave him the debt. The guy was free. Then the guy realized people owed him money. He went to one who owed him a small amount but was unable to pay. But instead of giving him time to pay like he was, he took him by the throat and had him thrown in prison. The other servants were shocked when they saw what was happening and went and told their master.

The master then called him on the carpet saying “…You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you? And his master was angry and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.” “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” (Matthew 18:32-35)

I wonder how Peter felt after hearing this story? How do you feel? Obviously, there is much to be said about forgiveness, but seeing these two extremes should encourage us to forgive, even in the most difficult of situations. Forgiveness opens the door for us to bless God. Unforgiveness opens the wrong door to torment.

The amount of forgiveness we need doesn’t matter. We all need it whether its big or little. Without it we are lost to an eternity in hell. So, let’s believe for the grace to “…forgive one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32 NKJV)