Forgiveness: The Core of the Gospel
Forgiveness is difficult. Many of us struggle with it, holding grudges and having imaginary conversations with people who have wronged us. But as followers of Jesus, forgiveness is core to our existence – it’s the very heart of the gospel message.
Why is forgiveness so hard?
When we fail to let go of things we hold onto, it creates something within our hearts that is incredibly difficult to live with. It prevents the peace and presence of Jesus from fully residing in us.
Think about it – if you hold onto a grudge for years, it can poison everything. You might meet someone with the same name as the person who wronged you and immediately feel anger rising. You might begin to hate things associated with the offense. This toxic pattern spreads to other areas of life.
Forgiveness begins within the community of believers but must spill over into the world so others can see God’s goodness through our lives.
What does the Bible say about forgiveness?
In Colossians, Paul writes: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another. If any of you has a grievance against someone, forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
The key phrase here is “forgive as the Lord forgave you.” This isn’t about pretending the offense didn’t matter or didn’t hurt. It’s about following the example Christ set for us.
How did Christ forgive us?
Paul explains in Colossians 2 that when we were dead in our sins, God made us alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins, “having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us, he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”
God didn’t just reduce our debt – He canceled it completely. He carried it to the cross. And we, as followers of Jesus, are called to do the same.
How many times should we forgive?
Peter once asked Jesus, “How many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Jesus then told a parable about a servant who was forgiven an enormous debt by his master – equivalent to millions of dollars in today’s currency, an amount impossible to repay in several lifetimes. Yet when that same servant found someone who owed him a trivial amount (about 100 days’ wages), he refused to show mercy.
The point is clear: if you’re still counting how many times you’ve forgiven someone, you’re not really forgiving them. You’re just postponing revenge.
What forgiveness is NOT
Forgiveness is not:
- Saying it didn’t hurt
- Saying it didn’t matter
- Saying what happened was okay or right
- Saying there are no consequences
What forgiveness IS
Forgiveness is:
- Not holding the offense over someone’s head
- Choosing not to seek revenge
- Deciding not to respond in kind
It’s not about willpower. It’s an invitation to a different world, to a kingdom that will not fail or end. The same God who raised Jesus from the dead will give you strength to forgive.
The cost of forgiveness
Forgiveness is costly. It cost God His Son. It cost Jesus His life. And it will cost you:
- The right to get even
- The right to see things made right in your eyes
- The right to hold a grudge
Unforgiveness might seem like a defense mechanism – a way to protect ourselves, to keep others at bay. But in reality, unforgiveness imprisons us. It doesn’t protect us; it holds us in place.
A powerful example of forgiveness
Corrie ten Boom, who survived a Nazi concentration camp where her sister died, once encountered a former SS guard who had been one of her jailers. When he approached her after a church service, extending his hand in greeting, she couldn’t bring herself to forgive him.
She prayed, “Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give your forgiveness.” As she took his hand, something remarkable happened: “From my shoulder, along my arm, and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him. While into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me.”
She discovered that “it is not our forgiveness anymore than our goodness that the world’s healing hinges, but on His. And when He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.”
Life Application
Take a moment to think about someone in your life you’ve struggled to forgive. What would it look like for you to cancel that debt? Perhaps write it down, tear it up, and throw it away. Or simply pray: “God, I’ve struggled so much to forgive. Please give me your forgiveness so that I can forgive as you forgave me.”
Ask yourself these questions:
- What grudges am I holding that are actually imprisoning me rather than protecting me?
- How might my life change if I truly forgave as Christ forgave me?
- What is one step I can take this week toward forgiving someone who has hurt me?
Remember, forgiveness isn’t a one-time event but a process. It may not happen quickly, and you might have to choose forgiveness repeatedly. But it is the way of Jesus – and the path to freedom for your own heart.