These are good reasons to practise forgiveness in our lives, but of course the most important reason is that, as followers of Christ, we are commanded to forgive (Colossians 3:13, 2 Corinthians 2:7).
This article is the sixth in a series considering some “Fashion Fundamentals” in Colossians 3:12-14. Christians are exhorted in the passage to “put on” several attributes and qualities, as you would put on items of clothing. The metaphor of being clothed encourages the reader to be wrapped in, or covered by, the attributes they are reading about. These attributes should not only be all-encompassing, but evident in our lives – in the same way that the clothes we wear are obvious to all.
Forgiveness, then, should be obvious in the Christian’s life, something that marks them as different from the next person. But what is forgiveness? The Cambridge Dictionary defines the verb “to forgive” as “to stop blaming or being angry with someone for something that person has done, or not punish them for something”. “Well, that sounds simple!”, I’m sure no one is thinking. We are more likely to agree with philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche who reflects that, “It is much more agreeable to offend and later ask forgiveness than to be offended and grant forgiveness”. Forgiveness goes deeper than simply responding “it’s okay” to someone’s apology: it’s a decision that results in the genuine act of ceasing all blame, resentment and punishment in response to actual harm or offence caused to us.
If this doesn’t sound enough of a challenge, God is clear that there are no exceptions to this expectation of forgiveness. Our verse in Colossians 3:13 affirms that we are to forgive, “even as Christ forgave you”. Nearing His death, the Lord Jesus hung upon a cross of ultimate pain, suffering and shame. He had been given an utterly unfair trial, treated with derision and contempt, physically abused, and nailed to a wooden cross to die an incomprehensibly painful death. Yet, in the midst of these experiences, and completely contrary to any natural human response, our precious Saviour proclaimed, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
Christ’s sacrificial work upon Calvary’s cross provides full opportunity for any person’s sins, all of their sins, to be forgiven, through faith and trust in Him. If this is the benchmark given, and indeed it is (“even as . . .”), then we have no excuse to cherry-pick the grievances we forgive.
Before His ultimate act on the cross to enable forgiveness, the Lord Jesus spoke about the subject during his time on earth on a number of occasions. During His sermon on the mount, Christ declared, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7). In the same discourse He voiced the well-known and exemplary Lord’s Prayer, including the words, “forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). It’s a given in Scripture, that followers of Christ be forgivers. In fact, when Peter asks how often he should forgive someone who has sinned against him and suggests seven times, the Lord answers “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22). Christ’s expectation of forgiveness far exceeds our human ideas or suggestions: we are to indefinitely forgive, without keeping count or a record.
In a recent Bible study with some women from my local church, we discussed Herodias (Herod Antipas’ illegal wife), who desired, and ultimately achieved, the death of John the Baptist. We looked at how nursing a grudge, and holding fast to unforgiveness, is a poisonous path which ends in catastrophe. During this discussion, a friend helpfully likened Herodias’ actions and attitude to a sourdough starter. Herodias fed her unforgiveness, as one needs to regularly feed sourdough flour and water, and it thus grew exponentially. This grudge she held spread out and disastrously impacted numerous people, including her own husband and daughter.
Sourdough is produced through the process of fermentation, for which some synonyms are, to “ferment”, “bubble” or “seethe”. When we allow unforgiveness to go unchecked, it bubbles and seethes under the surface, and will impact not only ourselves, but others around us and principally our relationship with God.
Forgiveness is the resolution to this cascading bitterness, though we’ve already established that true forgiveness sounds like a difficult thing to do. This statement needs some clarification, then, given the clear expectation that Christians should actively extend forgiveness. Forgiveness is indeed difficult, when viewed through our own narrow lenses, and when attempted in our own strength. Praise the Lord, we are not left to our own devices!
The blessings are innumerable when a person trusts Christ as their Saviour. Not least is a new nature: we are “new creations” (2 Corinthians 5:17), with new desires and the capacity to please God. We are given the Holy Spirit, as a Helper and Comforter, to guide and to teach. We are born into the family of God and therefore put into relationship with other Christians who can help challenge and build us up in our faith. We are not alone then, or without all the tools needed, when we seek to live forgiving and Christ-like lives.
“Forgiveness is pardon in a personal setting. It is taking back into friendship those who went against you, hurt you, and put themselves in the wrong with you. It is compassionate (showing unmerited kindness to the wrongdoer), creative (renewing the spoiled relationship)—and, inevitably, costly. God’s forgiveness is the supreme instance of this, for it is God in love restoring fellowship at the cost of the cross." J.I. Packer
