The Father-Centered Prayer, Part 6 (As the Father Forgives Us) – Luke 11:4

Only Christians have experienced a forgiveness that is deeper than the Pacific Ocean. Our God is forgiving and as we understand and experience forgiveness more closely then we confirm His greatness and we are ready to forgive others. If we do not practice forgiveness then it shows that we are not forgiven. We are born in sin and have committed countless sins. We desperately need forgiveness and we have it. By our forgiveness from God, we forgive others.

In a way, forgiveness is related to discipleship. God’s will is for discipleship. Jesus discipled the apostles. The apostles discipled others. As we are discipled, we then disciple others. As God forgives us, we are also called to forgive others. This is a transfer of the role of forgiver onto us. We apply God’s forgiveness to those around us.

It must be pointed out that forgiving others is not a condition for God’s forgiveness to us. God is the source of forgiveness. However, forgiveness is hard. Even in our church, we’ve had people hold grudges for over 10 years. Many people never forgive in some cases no matter how much time has passed. Forgiveness is not easy.

Forgiveness is not a condition but an aspiration. It is a desire to be like our Father (Psalm 42:1). We aspire to mirror the kindness and grace of God. So when others apologize we are ready to forgive. Love is a close cousin of forgiveness, meaning to love someone, we must forgive them. We love our neighbor as ourselves and one way we show love is through forgiveness (Luke 10:27).

So why do people fail to forgive? This is because forgiveness is only possible by those who are forgiven by God. You cannot consider yourself as a small sinner needing only a little forgiveness, or else you will fail to forgive others. How can we be like Stephen who prayed for the forgiveness of his murderers? He knew who he was, how he used to be like his persecutors, and how he was also forgiven by God. We are all sinners, just like the worst, deserving God’s judgment and death. It was our sins that nailed Jesus to the cross. We still sin every day. Praise the Lord for His continual forgiveness, so we can continually forgive others.

‘For We ourselves’. For is a continuation of God’s forgiveness. ‘We ourselves’ means the Christians, the children of God, the church, the forgiven.

In reality and practice, it is hard to forgive and forget as God does. We try to forgive but when things happen again the old feelings come up again. In order to practice forgiveness we must know what forgiveness is and is not.

• Forgiveness without God’s aid is impossible. Forgiveness is supernatural. It cannot be accomplished through human effort or means. Without Christ we cannot forgive (John 15:5). How can we forgive our enemies? We need a close relationship with Jesus to have the power to do so.
• Forgiveness is not reconciliation. People mistake that in order to forgive there has to be a restoration of the relationship, that things go back to as they once were. But if that is the standard, then many people say they are not ready and as a result delay pursuing forgiveness. However, forgiveness is the root and reconciliation is the flower. Put another way, forgiveness is one-sided while reconciliation is mutual. A Christian forgives whether the other party has repented or not, changed or not, and will reconcile or not.
• Forgiveness is not a feeling but an act of will. Hebrews says without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Witness the cross where Jesus cried out to His Father, and in order to forgive us, God remained silent. Instead of acting emotionally in that moment, God acted according to His will.
• Forgiving is costly but unforgiving is also costly. Can we afford to not forgive?
• Forgiveness is not condoning wrongdoing. Grandparents are often less strict and less punishing of their grandchildren. That is not forgiveness. Instead, forgiveness is speaking truth in love. We must speak out about what is right and wrong.
• Forgiveness does not overlook the guilt of the offender. Instead, it transfers the guilt onto the hook of God. This is why we have church discipline (Mt 18:17). The goal of the church court is not punishment but to point out sin and have them repent so that they might be forgiven. (Romans 12:19)
• Forgiveness is not being weak-willed. Society can see forgiveness as weakness and cowardice which can be taken advantage of. However, Christians are gentle on the outside but we are strong on the inside. (1 Samuel 17:45)
• Forgiveness is not fairness. Man’s fairness is subjective and imperfect (Matthew 7:3). True fairness is before God and we should not pursue it because it does not end favorably for us (Matthew 18:28,32). Forgiveness is unfair because our own sin against God was so immense but erased. Therefore, remember how much of your sin was forgiven before pursuing fairness. Remember how Jesus treats us, not with fairness but with forgiveness.

What is forgiveness?

• Forgiveness is letting go of revenge even if we have the right.
• Forgiveness is the cancellation of the debt of sin. It is a complete sending away.
• Forgiveness is beneficial to both the offender and the offended. It is a blessing for all involved. God’s forgiveness is fresh and new every morning so we can continue to forgive others.
• Forgiveness is letting go of resentments and rights. When offended, bitterness is the first thing to rise in our hearts. If we let bitterness remain it will result in greater sin. Cain allowed bitterness in his heart and murdered his brother. Also if we claim the right over our offender then we take the place of the judge. Only God is the judge. We must let bitterness and judgments go.

Peter had betrayed Jesus by denying him three times. Yet Jesus looked at Peter with love and compassion. (Luke 22:61) Jesus’ look was not a scowl but of compassion. He forgave Peter at that moment. Because of Jesus’ forgiveness, Peter wept and repented. We have also sinned against Jesus. Like Peter, we have also been forgiven. God’s forgiveness is humongous. There is no end to His forgiveness towards us. Therefore, we also forgive others.