Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Psalm 32:1 (NRSV)
If you have not heard Pastor Tim’s sermon from Psalm 32 from Sunday, February 19, 2023, you can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCQdWEyuGKk
Without doubt, the gracious offer of forgiveness is a precious gift from God to the whole of humanity. The psalmist reflects on both the richness afforded one who acknowledges and accepts that gift, as well as the sad state of the one who chooses to ignore and neglects that gift as offered to the one who will comes to God with genuine confession and repentance.
I encourage you to revisit and reflect on what Pastor Tim preached. These thoughts are not meant to be a restatement of what has been said, but an encouragement to think further about what God desires to do in and through us as it pertains to forgiveness.
If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 (NRSV)
As with the psalmist, we must acknowledge and agree with God about our sin. That is the substance of confession. We must step out of denial and justification of our sinful behavior and fall, without reservation, into the grace of God. We do this, understanding that He is faithful and just and will forgive us and cleanse us, restoring a relationship that is beyond our power to help, but within His power and desire to heal.
Happy, indeed!
Now…a few thoughts that have arisen in my mind as I’ve thought and prayed about forgiveness, over the past couple of days.
- Why is it often the case that we count on God being merciful to us when we fail, yet we are anything but merciful to those who fail us?
- I have nine children. Like most, my children will quickly say, “I’m sorry,” when confronted with their unacceptable behavior. I often follow up with, “Now, show me you are truly sorry by changing your behavior.” I believe God empowers and expects changed behavior to follow our confession. I also think it is right to expect the same from others who seek forgiveness for an offense.
- In Matthew 18, responding to Peter’s question concerning forgiving a brother, “How many times must I?”, Jesus teaches His disciples and us that forgiveness is rooted in grace, that is without limit. From our perspective, this appears foolish and impossible. This is certainly a case when there is a definite division between walking according to the flesh and walking according to the Spirit.
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed, it cannot, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
Romans 8:5-9
- Foolish or impossible? Not at all to the one who is filled with the Holy Spirit, submitting to His leadership. Our faith is meant to be demonstrated in how we relate to one another. If we are to love as He first loved us, we are to forgive as He has forgiven (and continues to forgive) us.
I would love to hear your thoughts on how the Lord has challenged, taught, transformed you through His Word on forgiveness. Be sure to leave a comment or question and we will dive deeper, together.