Repentance and forgiveness are two peas in a pod. One cannot be sufficient without the other. We repent and receive forgiveness then we turn around and forgive others as we are forgiven again and again. While the first messages of John The Baptist, Jesus, Peter, and Paul were dealing with repentance, the subsequent element of reconciliation dwells on forgiveness.
The ultimate message on forgiveness was preached by Christ Himself, on the cross when he said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). It can be a perplexing scripture that shows that forgiveness can precede repentance. We can forgive even those who haven’t repented yet. Jesus was headed to heaven…after a stop-over in hell to grab the keys…and could not afford to carry the weight of offense. He lifted the weight off Himself…
In this, He reveals the heart and nature of forgiveness in that it takes a deep level of maturity to forgive even when the offender knows not their offense. The key here is also that in forgiving, we clear ourselves of any reproach and unnecessary weights that may hinder our progress. If we should forgive when they’re not repenting, how much more when they do repent. Then it’s so much easier.
Forgiveness is the twin to repentance that clears the path of progress. If all of God’s people learned to forgive one another and were quick to repent for all wrongdoing, we would live in a much deeper level of His presence and the outworking of the Spirit in our lives. Of course, there’s much more to our walk with God but this forgiveness thing stands out as a pillar without which we all become flaky and the whole structure could collapse.
Forgiving does not mean forgetting and repeating the same past errors. We learn and grow from events and situations in our lives and become wiser yet we cannot afford to carry the weight of these events. After all, scripture exhorts us to forget those things which are behind and press forward…(Phil. 3:12-14).
Finally remember, Jesus proclaimed that we must forgive in order to be forgiven (Mat 6:15). Sometimes forgiving those who have abused and maligned us will be tough yet I believe this is when forgiveness counts the most. It is for our own good and for the good of those we’re called to serve.
They know not what they do yet they will do it anyway. Forgiveness is more for you than for them. The weight is lifted…!
Nelson Masinde 