Becoming Like Jesus: Forgiveness and Christ

APPLICATION ARTICLE | Tim McPherson | Marion, Indiana

Jesus’ words:
Jesus words from the cross in Luke 23:34, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” cry out the mission and heart of our Savior. Barnes commentary stated that this was a fulfillment of Isaiah 53:12 in that, “He made intercession for the transgressors.” I love that expression “He made intercession.” In other words, Christ was offering forgiveness through his intercession. I want the same spirit as my Lord and Savior. Can I intercede in offering forgiveness like my Savior? I am not perfect like Christ, but I can be of His likeness in that I want to offer forgiveness to all. I want others to be forgiven. I don’t believe it is just a coincidence or inadvertent that Christ’s disciple, the first Christian martyr, Stephen, uttered these exact words when the crowd gnashed at him with their teeth and were stoning him. Act 7:60 (NKJV) “Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Instead of anger or a heart that would seek their wrath, he offered forgiveness.

Jesus’ Spirit:
Truly then forgiveness is an attribute of Christ. Forgiveness is godliness. Forgiveness is most definitely a fruit of the Spirit. Although not specifically mentioned, we see forgiveness through the actions of love, longsuffering, and kindness.

Gal 5:22 (NKJV) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.” How can we effectively have the fruit of the Spirit without forgiveness? It is a part of the divine nature. 2Pe 1:7 “…to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.” How can we effectively have brotherly love without forgiveness?

Jesus’ Love:
Think about God and Christ and their love for us. God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son. Would this not be the greater love, “…as I have loved you”? (John 13:34). Based on His love, we have sacrificial forgiveness: an olive branch extended for all to be forgiven in Christ. That love must be exhibited in all Christians. 1Ti 1:14 (NKJV) “and the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” My aim is to follow in that love. Ephesians 4:32 states, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Then let us read the discussion of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:

1Co 13:4 “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up…”

1Co 13:5 “…does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil.”

1Co 13:6 “…does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth.”

1Co 13:7 “…bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Who can say, “I love God or live in love” without the spirit of forgiveness? It is all tied up in the definition of love: suffers long, is kind and is not puffed up. Who am I not to forgive? To be unforgiving is a display of rudeness, and to be unforgiving is also a display of seeking our own. To be unforgiving is allowing oneself to be provoked and think evil. Unforgiving rejoices in the “trapping” of iniquity, not the release from iniquity. Sometimes I wonder if the unforgiving heart rejoices or relishes in the bondage or iniquity of the other person.

Remember the words of John, a disciple of love:

1Jn 3:17 (NKJV) “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” Isn’t this a perfect picture of someone needing forgiveness but “shuts up his heart”? John states, “How does the love of God abide in him?” Good question. It doesn’t.

Jesus Forgives Much:
I’m mindful of our love for Christ and why we love Him so much. As the Bible states, we love Him because He first loved us. He has forgiven us so much!

Luke 7:47 (NKJV) “Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

Luke 7:48 (NKJV) “Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Luke 7:49 (NKJV) “And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, Who is this who even forgives sins?”

Implied is the understanding that we all have many sins to be forgiven. We have truly done many things contrary to the law of God. But Jesus forgives them all. Can you imagine the mindset of some people today that think this person has done so many things against me that I will not forgive? But this woman knew how much Jesus was willing to forgive, and she showed her appreciation. She washed his feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. Oh, the joy of forgiveness for her, but also it brings joy to the forgiver! I’m not going to write much about the joy of forgiving others because I want us to realize that even if there was no joy in forgiveness I would still forgive. The spirit of forgiveness is an act of God and is done with the spirit of love. God forgives because it is right, just, and good. It is an act of love and mercy. It is to be a selfless act. But I will state that it is also good for the soul of the one forgiving. Think about those who live in malice, bitterness, and are all wrought up and stirred up because of something they will not forgive. Note this quote: “Holding a grudge doesn’t make you strong, it makes you bitter. Forgiving doesn’t make you weak, it sets you free.” Someone stated, “It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive.” Again, I believe in forgiveness more as a gift to others and not so much to bless myself. Here is another good quote: “Let your hands be so busy catching blessings that there’s no room to hold on to grudges.”

Now, back to Jesus’ statement on the cross in Luke 23:34: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

Jesus Awareness and Wisdom:
Ignorance can play a large part of offending someone or being offended.

Jesus took the high road and sought their forgiveness, as it was based on ignorance. Call it immaturity, lacking wisdom, stupidity, foolishness, or whatever. I think it would be good to give someone the benefit of the doubt that “they did so in ignorance” and not outright maliciousness, but through an act based on immaturity. This could also include spiritual immaturity, and we should offer forgiveness. 1 Cor 2:8 state “…which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” Jesus understood that we all make mistakes, regrettable mistakes, and our misjudgments are due to ignorance. Don’t we all make mistakes of ignorance? Our lack of wisdom, judgement, and maturity displays itself and we need forgiveness, not the harsh treatment of an unforgiving individual. Like those who would have picked up stones to cast at the woman caught in adultery, Jesus said, “He that is without sin cast the first stone.” Forgiveness should be given by the “golden rule” (Matt.7:12).

Who has not offended someone inadvertently or unintentionally? I once remember a member of the church who came to me and accused me of laughing at him. I would never do such a thing and as absurd as it sounded, I did not argue back. (In his mind, I had laughed at him.) I calmly and gently explained that I would never laugh at or mock him, but if he thought I had done this, then I apologized. I sought his forgiveness. He could not but forgive me. In his mind I had offended him, and to bring peace and happiness, I was not defensive back to him but drawn to say, “Forgive me if you think I did that. It was not intended, my dear and loved brother.” That’s the spirit. However, often high mindedness and sensitivities get in the way of the right spirit. To this I say, STOP. Stop being caught up in your own “account holding” or your own “he/she offended me” and offer the spirit of forgiveness! Humility is needed, not self-defensiveness. Remember, our own request for forgiveness is based on whether we will forgive others. Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Let us end this article with two beautiful verses.

Psa 86:5 (NKJV) “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.”

Psa 130:4 (NKJV) “But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.”

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April 2024 | GROW magazine