Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. (Ps. 32:1 ESV)
What does it mean to forgive?
Of course, the act of forgiveness is mandatory. That pesky parable about the unforgiving servant (where the man who had been forgiven a humongous debt turns around and refuses to forgive a petty amount) makes what should already be obvious to us, clear. Forgive. If you understand how much you have been forgiven by God, forgive. If you understand the gospel, forgive.
But what does that forgiveness mean?
In a way, I don’t like this article. And I am not even done with it yet! But it is clear to me that our forgiveness of others needs to be extravagant, bubbly, HUGE, and maybe irrational at times. I ought to be contemplating ways to be even more forgiving instead of evaluating what limits there are to forgiveness.
But on the other hand, what I am about to write does not necessarily contradict the mandate to forgive widely, deeply, fully, and often. In fact, it might actually make forgiveness more gracious.
Recently I was told something profound. Get ready for it.
Drum roll…..
“Just because I forgive you, doesn’t mean I think you’re nice.”
We incorrectly think that forgiveness means we become blind to the causes that led to the forgiveness. When God forgives me, I remain in need of mercy, because my ongoing sins have ongoing effects.
And really, if I am a nice guy, forgiveness isn’t all that necessary.
Being forgiven by God does not turn me into a righteous man. That’s what sanctification does. Eventually.
When I forgive others, I am not, I believe, obligated to think that now, since I have forgiven them… they didn’t need forgiveness. Nor does it mean that those original reasons have stopped existing.
I am forgiven because I am NOT nice.
And when I forgive you… sometimes I can still see that you are still not nice, too.
Grace is big, yes?