The Scope of Forgiveness
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.”
Luke 7:40–43
Marghanita Laski was a prominent author and critic in England during the last century. In addition to her artistic skills, she was noted for her opposition to religion. A leading voice for atheism, Laski promoted the lack of man’s need for religion. Yet not long before her death, she is reported to have told a guest, “What I envy most about you Christians is your forgiveness; I have nobody to forgive me.”
The great gift of God’s forgiveness by grace through faith covers all of our sins. Some of us were saved at a very young age before we had experienced the worst that the world had to offer. Others spent years in bondage, suffering deep consequences for their sin before finding freedom in Christ. But, in truth, both a child saved early and an adult saved late were both hopelessly lost, without any way to save themselves. They were equally destined to an eternity apart from God in Hell until Jesus intervened.
The concept of forgiveness is one we sometimes want to avoid giving too much attention to precisely because it strikes at the very heart of our pride. It makes us feel better to think that God did not have to forgive us of as much as He forgives others. But if we allow that pride, it undermines our gratitude for God’s forgiveness and keeps us from loving Him as we should.
Luke 7:40–43
Marghanita Laski was a prominent author and critic in England during the last century. In addition to her artistic skills, she was noted for her opposition to religion. A leading voice for atheism, Laski promoted the lack of man’s need for religion. Yet not long before her death, she is reported to have told a guest, “What I envy most about you Christians is your forgiveness; I have nobody to forgive me.”
The great gift of God’s forgiveness by grace through faith covers all of our sins. Some of us were saved at a very young age before we had experienced the worst that the world had to offer. Others spent years in bondage, suffering deep consequences for their sin before finding freedom in Christ. But, in truth, both a child saved early and an adult saved late were both hopelessly lost, without any way to save themselves. They were equally destined to an eternity apart from God in Hell until Jesus intervened.
The concept of forgiveness is one we sometimes want to avoid giving too much attention to precisely because it strikes at the very heart of our pride. It makes us feel better to think that God did not have to forgive us of as much as He forgives others. But if we allow that pride, it undermines our gratitude for God’s forgiveness and keeps us from loving Him as we should.
Today’s Growth Principle:
The best way to keep our love for God fervent is to keep our appreciation for His forgiveness of our sins.
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