OUR SINS FORGIVEN
To forgive is defined by the dictionary as to ‘grant pardon for or remission of an offense, to give up all claims on or remit a debt or obligation, to cancel all liability.’ This definition covers many areas of life beyond the financial. For the disciple of Jesus, what comes to mind first is the fact that through the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross ALL our sins have been forgiven!
Colossians 1:14 “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
“Paul, then, is asserting in shorthand form that in Christ, the true Israel, the true King, the one whom God loves, God’s people are rescued from the dark power that has enslaved them and are brought into all the blessings of membership in the new covenant. Chief among these blessings is the fact that sin has been dealt with. God’s people are to thank him that they are indeed his people, qualified for inheritance (v. 12), delivered from sin’s grim tyranny (v. 13), and redeemed through his Son (v. 14). This statement (and its further application in vv. 21–23) must have considerably clarified for the young Christians in Colosse exactly what it was that had happened to them in their conversion, and why it had been necessary.”The price was paid, the debt canceled from all sin past, present, and future! This is good news!
Freedom from sin consciousness is part of forgiveness ( Heb.10:1-4).
“The deduction made from the repetition of the offerings is their inadequacy. If perfection had been achieved the offerings would have stopped, which they did not under the old system. What the offerings did was to offer cleansing for sins committed since the last offering, but they could do nothing about sin, the root cause. All worshippers under the old system knew they had not been finally cleansed (kekatharismenous). Again the emphasis here falls on once, in contrast, to continually in verse 1. It is the finality of Christ’s atoning work for the perfection of his people which is in mind by way of contrast. Consciousness (syneidēsin) of sin is brought about by the constant reminder of man’s need in the repeated sacrifices, the exact opposite of the effect of Christ’s offering, which leads to the blotting out of sin (cf. 9:26).
This function of the Levitical offerings as a reminder of sin year after year vividly demonstrated their inadequacy to effect a permanent removal of sin and its consequences. Every offering that was made testified to the inadequacy of the previous offering and reminded the worshipper that another similar offering must follow. The sense of responsibility for sin was thus kept alive. The same word is found in the institution of the last supper in describing it as a memorial to the death of Christ, a reminder of the complete release from sin through that death. The superiority of this Christian reminder over the Levitical sacrifices is vivid. The latter sacrifices, which were ordained by God, were thus intended to prepare the way for that perfect offering which could effectively deal with the consequences of sin on a permanent basis.” Oh, that we would live continually in the freedom provided by His forgiveness!
FORGIVEN, WE MUST FORGIVE
Col.3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” To forgive others for their offenses toward us is to follow in the steps of Jesus (1 Pet.2:21). It allows us to treat others the way He has treated or loved us. As we do this, we are participating positively in the law of reciprocity (sowing & reaping). Which is a law, like gravity, that affects positively or negatively every person on the earth. (Read Gal.6:7-10). Another new covenant law is found in Romans 8:2 which says, “ because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” The forgiveness from God through Christ is total by virtue of His grace shown to us at the Cross. “In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” Eph.1:7 NKJV. God is not petty, meaning, He did not forgive us on the Cross and then later withdraw that forgiveness because of present disobedience.
If a disciple of Jesus does not forgive those who offend him, he is sowing to the flesh which eventually will bring forth a harvest of “torturers” (NKJV Matt.18:21-35). The context is natural business dealings and does not indicate that God is brutal to His disciples. The torturers are humans who retaliate against us because of what they believe we deserve, and while God is not the doer of it, He permits it to get our focus back on Him because we have not obeyed His Word and Spirit,
Jesus from the Cross showed us how to respond to those who offend us, when He said, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do.”
However, often we are prone to handling them like this:
- Nurse it.
- Re-hearse it.
- Curse it.
When we should be forgiving it! Because Jesus has forgiven us totally of all our sins, offenses, malice, gossip, hatred, false accusations, etc. and He considers us righteous by imputing and imparting His righteousness to us!