Forgiveness in the Current
Public Discourse
The public discourse about Newt Gingrich’s personal
life has fostered a level of discussion about forgiveness and
reconciliation. Newt claims to have experienced them both. After his
victory in SC, it appears that many (excepting his second wife
Marianne) have granted Newt the same forgiveness.
Just what is forgiveness? The Greek word is
aphesis. It signifies “a release from imprisonment or bondage; a
pardon, a letting go.” Forgiveness is a release from liability. It
is setting the offender free as if he or she had never committed the
offense. ALL sin is against God. SOME sins involve both God and men.
Thus EVERY sin must be dealt with on a Divine level. And where those
offenses include flesh and blood, we are obligated to seek the
forgiveness of the one(s) we have offended before we petition God
for the same.
In Psalm 51, David is seen pouring out his heart to
God for the sins of adultery and murder. He sinned against Uriah the
Hittite and his wife Bathsheba. But in the BIG scheme of things, it
was his God that he had ultimately offended with his actions.
Therefore he cried: “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and
done this evil in thy sight” (51:4). The word ‘only’ calls attention
to the magnitude of David’s transgression Godward in relation to
their manward impact. Do you think David ever asked Bathsheba’s
forgiveness for abusing his power as king to induce her to break her
marriage vows? Did he ever ask her forgiveness for the subsequent
death of their son? I like to think he did. But getting this matter
settled in the Court of Heaven was the BIG deal! So it is with us!
There are four vital truths about forgiveness we must
remember. First, it took the very blood of God Incarnate, the Lord
Jesus, to atone for our sins. The scripture says: “And without
shedding of blood there is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). The other
side of that coin is found in the next chapter: “Now where the
remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin” (10:18).
Jesus shed his precious blood ONE time for ALL time. Forgiveness is
a free gift. But it cost God everything.
Secondly, there is NO forgiveness apart from faith in
Jesus Christ. When we believe, God imparts spiritual life. Life and
forgiveness ALWAYS come together. One is impossible without the
other! There are many who warm to the idea that God will ultimately
forgive their sins because of his love. But they resist the idea of
having their lives governed by the One who bestows everlasting life.
It is one thing to profess forgiveness, but quite another to possess
it. Possession ALWAYS changes the life. Profession alone seldom
changes anything!
Thirdly, the capacity of God to forgive sins
committed against Him is infinitely greater than our ability to
forgive those who have offended us. When God forgives, he forgets!
When we forgive, we almost always remember. But remembering has its
practical value. Hear Moses’ admonition to Israel: “Remember what
Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of
Egypt” (Deuteronomy 25:17). Now, there is no record that the
Amalekites ever received forgiveness for their sins against God’s
people. But if they had, the admonition to remember would still have
been applicable. It is possible to release one from liability and
still have the wisdom to remember the offense so as NOT to give the
offender a second opportunity to commit it. If you borrow $20 from
me and fail to repay it, I will forgive you the debt and release you
from liability, but will likely NEVER loan you another $20.
Forgiveness does NOT necessarily imply a restoration of trust!
Lastly, there is just one thing more desirable than
forgiveness, and that is deliverance. The perfect scenario is for
one to have the FIRST divine act forgiveness for a particular sin to
be the LAST time he or she has to deal with it. But the reality is
we all are prone to be REPEAT offenders. The forgiven man is
blessed; but the delivered man is blessed indeed.
In some cases, forgiveness and deliverance are
immediate, and the perfect scenario comes to pass. But in so many
others, deliverance is a hard fought battle that must go through any
number of iterations of forgiveness before the flag of conquest is
firmly and finally planted in the ground of one’s life! In Matthew
18:22-23, we find an exchange between Peter and Jesus regarding the
extent to which forgiveness should be proffered to an offender.
Peter inquired: “Seven times?” Jesus responded: “Seventy times
seven.” So, the math signifies 490 acts of forgiveness but the
meaning suggests a capacity for forgiveness that is not subject to
depletion. Now, can the God of grace that sets such an expectation
for the Redeemed do any less as the Redeemer?
Is Newt a possessor, or
just a professor? Only God and Newt know for sure. But the most
important outcome of this public discussion is for us to ask
ourselves the same question! Are we in possession of the forgiveness
and life that can ONLY come through faith in Jesus Christ? Or are we
simply going through the motions? There is NO greater concern in
this life than that one!
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