THE MIRACLE OF FORGIVENESS

So easily do the words slip off our tongues, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” Forgive? Really? Is this astonishing thing called forgiveness actually even possible?

Considering the nature of our sin, and what it means to God, forgiveness is, in fact, truly astonishing. God created us to reflect Him to the rest of creation: we’re made in His image and likeness, Genesis tell us. But we, each and all, decided instead that WE were the reason for living. We put ourselves at the center, just as the very word sin indicates: s – I – n. When “I” am in the center, it’s sin.

Thus, sin seeks to usurp the place and authority of God, to kick Him off His rightful throne, and make us the center of our own little universe. Though He created us for Himself, we said to Him, “No, I don’t want to live for You; therefore, You are dismissed. I choose me, not You. I and my fellow humans, we are the measure of all things.”

In view of God’s holiness and the nature of our overt rebellion against Him, let us never grow presumptuous about forgiveness, never treat the miracle of forgiveness lightly. Forgiveness is miraculous because it is the offended party, God, Who has taken the initiative to remove the offense that separates us, and has done so at His own expense.

Indeed, forgiveness is a whole long series of miracles.

Forgiveness is a miracle established for us by Christ’s incarnation, when He stepped out of eternity into time, out of heaven into earth, out of spirit into flesh.

Forgiveness is a miracle developed for us by Christ’s thirty-three years of holy living, during which He obeyed the law and fulfilled all righteousness on our behalf.

Forgiveness is a miracle finished for us by Christ’s substitutionary death, in which He took God’s righteous wrath upon our sin, and lifted the penalty of our transgressions from us.

Forgiveness is a miracle imparted to us by Christ’s victorious resurrection, as He came out of the tomb to come into our lives and live His life through us.

For the forgiven, this miracle means release: freedom from sin and guilt. The penalty of sin is removed. God declares us not guilty!

Forgiveness also means restoration: we regain our created status. God brings the forgiven into the covenant of grace and restores them to His family.

Perhaps most wonderfully, forgiveness means reconciliation: God draws us to Himself and makes us His own. He wants to be personally known by us, so He woos our hearts and calls us into a relationship of steadfast love.

What the old song says is available: “And He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own.” How long has it been since you heard the Lord tell you that you are His own? That’s what the miracle of forgiveness can do for you.

And how do you access these miracles? By being better or trying harder? No, simply by confessing your sins to Him. God’s Word declares, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). It’s gloriously, amazingly miraculous.