TOPIC: FORGIVENESS, GOD'S TOPSTONE

TEXT: LUKE 15:21-24

''And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight.../But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:/And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:/For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.''

What a fleet of comforts an unpardoned man forfeits! He stalls heavenly music and song from playing constantly in his soul; he goes on rags and without shoes; he is far from the father's warm embrace! True and real living starts with forgiveness from God; none is considered as alive, though existing, that has not asked and received pardon from the Lord of the whole earth. A step towards God, is considered by Him as a motion or application for pardon: and God who knows all hearts, grants it before the mouth utters its plea: this we find in the parable of the prodigal son. We dare to say under scriptural illustrations, that God loves to pardon sin; no kind of sin can stiffle the forgiving heart of God. The Lord is not a man that selects what offences to pardon and those to punish. God denies His justness and faithfulness, if He turns a repentant sinner away from His mercy seat. His forgiveness comes not by our tears and works, but by that timely and timeless sacrifice of Christ. He ceases to be faithful and just to Christ,--which can never happen,--if He refuses an application for pardon made in Christ's name. Now, I turn to all who are pardoned, blessed are you, who is as favoured as you? You who have God's pardon, a shepherd is the Lord to you now; in pasture green, He shall make you lie; by water still He shall lead you: for with Him, you are now reconciled! He who has Christ's pardon, has entered amity with his own conscience; conscience and him have locked lips to lips. None is fit to sleep peaceably, save he who has a warrant of pardon under his pillow: it is a great surprise to see a man indebted to God making merriments and snorring all night long! It notes and signifies a brut kind of heart to breathe in God-giving breath in a state of enmity with Him. To all who have God's pardon, look up, the sky now smiles upon you; look around, creatures are set to serve your turns; look with your eye of faith, angels are round about you! Your name is written down in glory, if the warrant of pardon is in your cabinet. Those who are forgiven, look forward to a kingdom that can never be moved! Amen.

The blood of Christ enables us to receive the forgiveness of sin (9:22; Matt. 26:28; Eph. 1:7). Just to realize this much is a most glorious thing. All those who sense the shamefulness of sin and know how hateful sin is realize this. But we praise God that the blood of the Lord Jesus not only solves the problem of sin and death, but it also restores the inheritance we have lost and brings us what we did not have in the past. This blood has done a most wonderful thing: it has enabled us to obtain God. The blood of the Lord Jesus not only redeems from sin so that we will not suffer its consequences but also completely restores what we lost in the garden of Eden and adds new things as well. The Lord Jesus said, "This cup is the new covenant established in My blood" (Luke 22:20). On one hand, the Lord's blood was shed for redemption. It removes on the negative side those things that damage us. On the other hand, His blood was shed for the establishing of the new covenant. It restores on the positive side the inheritance we have lost and also gives us new things. Therefore, the blood of the Lord Jesus is not only for redemption but also for restoration, restoring what we have lost and bringing that which we did not have in the past.

Nee

The beginning steps in one's approach to God must always be an attitude of humility and reverence followed by confession of sin and fault that is heartfelt and thorough. And the Bible tells us that if we confess our sins, God accepts it and forgives us. Technically, we do not have to 'ask' for forgiveness but it one wants to, I think it is a sweet gesture. And it should be kept ever in mind that we can't earn forgiveness. No, but rather it is through the finished work of Christ, His death, burial and resurrection that makes pardon and right standing available. Therefore, in prayers for mercy, do not ever try to explain away one's guilt or list extenuating circumstances that made one more inclined to commit the sin. God does not want to hear that because one is pointing to self for relief and it is worthless.

Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven””if there was anything to forgive””I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. 2 Cor. 2:10,11

"In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Eph. 4:26,27

"lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble" Heb. 12:15 excerpt

Now concerning our forgiving others we see an important truth here. Failure to forgive others will give opportunity to the devil to wreak havoc upon us. While I don't believe a devil's foothold is necessarily referring to outright demon possession, I do think a person who refuses to forgive is giving legal right to the powers of darkness to keep them spiritually blind and have a hardened heart to some extent which prevents them from fully operating in the spirit and being ruled by love.

And so the bait of Satan is to have us be so focused on ourselves and our 'rights' being ignored or violated that we take offense and become bitter. Pursuing that kind of need to be vindicated and shown to be right will not produced any kind of good fruit. Just the opposite.

So meditate on the mercy and suffering of Jesus who said to those murdering Him, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do". If you can see this overwhelming love of Jesus toward sinners, loving them in spite of sin and not because of it obviously, we can let go of our petty (by comparison) grievances toward others and be set free from the need to be 'owed'. Because we are forgiven much, He gives us the ability to forgive as well.

-Daniel