Two Different Relationships with the Christ, Part 2 – Luke 7:36-50

Everyone has a relationship with Jesus Christ one way or another. The question is if it is a saving relationship or not. In last week’s text, the woman who is identified as a sinner demonstrated a heart transformation as she surrendered to Jesus’ lordship. The stark contrast between the transformed woman and Simon the Pharisee was their different relationship with Jesus, which determined their eternity. Self-righteousness prevented Simon from repentance that produced comparing one’s own sin with others, legalism, and hypocrisy. In today’s text, Luke describes four aspects of God’s forgiveness when Jesus turns his attention to the woman.

The nature of forgiveness
Jesus declares the woman’s forgiveness and justification (v 48). Jesus is the Judge. Jesus forgives the woman’s sins personally and directly. God forgives simply from the sinner’s honest repentant heart. The woman approached Jesus with a humble and repentant heart as witnessed prior (v 37-38). God forgives individually and ongoing as the sinner is in a state of sanctification.

The hindrance of forgiveness
Some people often think the sins they have committed cannot be forgiven. Others think they must punish themselves in order to be forgiven of their sins from God. Forgiveness, however, can only occur when there’s an offender and offended. It is the guilt of sinners that deserve God’s wrath towards sin. In order to avoid being hindered from forgiveness, the sinner must take sin seriously by confessing before God and trusting that God is able to forgive.

The assurance of forgiveness
Jesus concludes to the woman that it is her personal faith that has saved her (v 50). Saving faith includes knowing the content of the gospel of Christ, intellectually assenting to the gospel, and committing to Christ resulting in obedience. Every sinner must put their trust in Christ for salvation personally. Therefore, trust leads to practicing faith leading to sanctification.

The gift of forgiveness
When Jesus says, “go in peace”, this implies to go with him (Rom. 5:1). Even though Christians have peace with God, Jesus knows Christians also need the peace of God primarily by the means of prayer. The peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard the Christian’s heart and mind (Phil. 4:6-7).

Which relationship do you have with Jesus Christ? Do you have a saving relationship like the woman or Simon who only stopped at knowledge? Only true conversion by saving faith will lead us into eternity.