GRACE BIBLE CHURCH

FORGIVENESS

by Paul E.Toms

Forgiveness is at the heart of the Gospel. Over and over again the Bible speaks of the need for "repentance and the ensuing forgiveness." There are scores of illustrations that reveal the need of people forgiving other people. We will come to that in a moment, but first we need to come to Biblical teaching and how we are instructed as to the need and cost of forgiveness. Any good Biblical dictionary will outline the basis of this experience. You can find that a number of different words are used to convey the idea of forgiveness. Such words are translated as: "to take away guilt"; "to cover"; "to put away." The most common word used in the New Testament signifies to "send away", or "letting go." These are the activities of a loving God, in response to the repentance and call for salvation by people. Sin has ruined our relationship with God, but He has promised forgiveness on the basis of His Son's sacrifice.

We have sinned against God and fallen far short of his glory. The Old Testament illustrates the condition of mankind. We turned again and again from God to our own way. God is merciful and made provision for our restoration. He introduced the Mosaic system with all of its complicated and involved activities, all pointing to the day when a loving and merciful God would send His own Son to die for our redemption. The Bible says, "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." (Heb. 9:22)

That great and moving story that we all know, called the Prodigal Son, shows us a picture of our Heavenly Father who lovingly gathers in the repentant son who had sinned. Jesus spoke at the Last Supper and told His disciples, "this is my blood which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."(Matt. 26:28) In Luke 1:77 we read,"…to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins." Again, "All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."(Acs 10:43)

Now, all the above is theological and instructive. We can be forgiven of our sins, and for this we thank our Lord forever. It means we can live in His presence in all eternity. But what about now? People feel the need for forgiveness. Ernest Hemingway wrote a story about a father and his teenage son. The relationship between them was very strained, and the son ran away from home. His father began a journey in search of that rebellious son. Finally in Madrid, Spain, in a last desperate attempt to find the boy, the father put an ad in the local newspaper.The ad read, "Dear Paco, meet me in front of the newspaper office at noon. All is forgiven, I love you. Your father."

The next day in front of the newspaper office, eight hundred Pacos showed up. They were all seeking forgiveness. They were all seeking the love of their father. (George Munzing, "Living a Life of Integrity" Preaching Today, Tape No. 32.)

Perhaps you know this story, it's appeared in a number of forms, of the released prisoner on his way home, riding on the bus. He had deeply offended his parents and thought they would never forgive him. He wrote to them and told them he would be on the bus and if they could forgive him and let him come home, please put a yellow ribbon around the tree in the front yard. As they got closer to his home, he could not bring himself to look out the window and he asked fellow passengers if they could see a yellow ribbon. They all looked and shouted, "We don't see one yellow ribbon, we see a whole tree full of them." He was home and he was forgiven.

God forgives us, we need to forgive each other.