Luke 23:34
King James Version
v.34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
New Living Translation
v.34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
Would you consider hatred to be more dominant than forgiveness? Can we do anything to change the situation? Not on our own. It is our nature to hate, and we never want to let go of this attitude. Forgiving is one of the many things hard to do.
Only in Christ can we find forgiveness and salvation (Acts 4:12). Only when He forgives can we restore our relationship. He launched forgiveness, and we have to obey. Forgiveness contains love and the things that God has promised us.
Matthew 9:5-6
King James Version
v.5 For whether is easier, to say, [Thy] sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
v.6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
New Living Translation
v.5 Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk?’
v.6 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
As Christians, why is forgiveness foremost? Undoubtedly, we all have our answers, and for sure, all these will sum up to forgiveness. Why? Because this is what Christianity is all about. God became a man to FORGIVE US! Forgiving is not through words only, but through the Word becoming flesh. God completed our salvation through forgiveness in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Word. Forgiveness is where we find the true meaning of peace and healing in a troubled world. The sad thing is that forgiveness is the last thing, and sometimes we refuse to do it.
Luke 23:43
King James Version
v.43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
New Living Translation
v.43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Today, you will be with me in paradise.
Have we ever given so many thoughts about why Jesus has spoken forgiveness first while dying on the cross? These words explicitly unravel the mystery of the impenetrable meaning of forgiveness. Forgiving does not have to take a longer time to do. Again, for some of us, forgiving is the most unreasonable thing to do and sometimes impossible. Forgiveness has to be done instantly, with no regret or hatred left, and we should not feel uncomfortable about it.
We have complicated humility. It is for sure. For most of us, the longer we hold on to our pride, the more impossible it is to know Jesus Christ.
It is the same reason we cherish hatred so much that we also become a casualty of repressive, unholy acts. It is what the other guy on the other side of Jesus has in mind. Unlike the other guy, who knew humility after death, there was nowhere to go, so he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.
Matthew 18:27
King James Version
v.27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
New Living Translation
v.27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.
When one forgives, hatred leaves.
Perhaps it is easier said than done, one may say, and I guess no one will disagree with this. It is almost unthinkable to forgive because we are blind to the spiritual essence of this act, which is holiness in the sight of our God. God does not hate the sinners. God hates what the sinners do. The cross was substantially unbearable for our Lord and Savior because of only one thing. It is about sin. It was the vessel of sin which our Lord Jesus had to bear and execute. The wood might be bearable, but what is inconceivable is the sin of the world, and He is the only one who can break the barrier separating us from our Father in heaven through the cross.
Sanctification is a procedure. It will always demand time for various essential spiritual experiences to reach a state of righteousness for us. Difficulties, unacceptable conditions, to name some, name it, we will have it. These are inevitable circumstances that will train us to become and define what a Christian is, exposing us to the truth of what God never wanted us to be in a state of damnation and bringing us where He desired us to be.
Colossians 3:13
King James Version
v.13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye.
New Living Translation
v.13 Make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Forgive our sins as we forgive those who sinned against us.
We are in a vicious cycle of sinning. The moment we sin, the Holy Spirit will take our attention, and the surest way to get back to God is through forgiveness. Jesus was very clear about this. First, we ask for forgiveness for our Father in heaven, then for those who sinned against us, restoring our relationship to our God. Restoration is the thing Jesus wants us not to lose. Our spiritual bond to our God should be our primary concern.
Luke 23:44-46
King James Version
v.44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
v.45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
v.46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
New Living Translation
v.44 By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock.
v.45 The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle.
v.46 Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.
Then He gave up.
The beginning of forgiveness is Christmas, and the cross is the ending. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and this is the only way to get back to the Father. Forgiveness is within God. It exists even in the beginning of this world, and there is no way that God will not forgive a repenting heart. It is impossible to live and continue with our lives without knowing the true meaning of forgiveness. The cross is useless if hatred remains in our hearts. Forgiveness is the only remedy to an unforgiving spirit.
When He gave up His spirit, along with it is our unforgiving spirit. Yes, it might be unacceptable at first, but God’s promises never fail. Forgiveness provides us with God’s blessings. God’s blessings will continue to shower us as we learn the value of forgiveness.
I John 1:8-10
King James Version
v.8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
v.9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
v.10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
New Living Translation
v.8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.
v.9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
v.10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.
He is faithful and just and forgives our sins.
Another year has passed, and another is on its way. How many of us are still harboring hatred? How many of us are still having difficulties forgiving? It’s finished. These are the healing words from Jesus. God is faithful to forgive our sins. When we trust Him, things change for the best for us, and it all will start if we forgive each other. If it seems complicated and with difficulties for us to do this, then we go back to square 1, and that is to look at what Jesus did for us on Calvary. Forgiveness is only possible because of God, who has taken on the form of a human to endure physical pain and humiliation, restoring our spiritual relationship with our Father.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for giving us your Son. Forgiveness would not have been possible for us. We humbly come unto thy throne of grace, and we pray to take away hatred in us and have a forgiving heart and continue to live, enjoying your blessings.
We pray in the mighty name of your Son Jesus, our Lord, and Savior. Amen.
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