He Forgives

He Forgives
 

In this study, I would like to show that we have a very forgiving, longsuffering, gracious God. Even in the Old Testament, our Lord was in the forgiving business. I want for everyone who reads this, especially for whosoever is overly worried they have done something God won't forgive, to have confidence our Lord above has done what it takes to put their sins away, no matter the volume or severity.

"And the LORD said, 'I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth Me that I have made them.' But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD." (Gen. 6:7 - 8) God was going to destroy all mankind. Noah and his family were spared, however; why? Noah was not sinless, but he was just and upright in comparison with all other men "These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God." (Gen. 6:9), and for this reason, he received grace, and he and his family were spared. Grace is unmerited favor; Noah and his family were the only forgiven family to elude the wrath of God.

God also had recognized man had this sin nature, and needed a way to be forgiven for a multitude of sins of all types. So Leviticus chapters 4 - 6 were created, explaining a path to forgiveness by God for sins and trespasses. This involved animals and priests and blood, and a specific manner in which all were involved to gain forgiveness for someone.

"Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to Thy mercy remember Thou me for Thy goodness' sake, O LORD...For Thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great...Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins...I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD'; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah...Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds...Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish...But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned He His anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath...Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people, Thou hast covered all their sin. Selah...If Thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared." (Psalms 25:7,11,18;32:5;36:5;39:8;78:38;85:2;130:3-4) David explains his understanding of sin and man and God in a number of psalms. He realized our embarrassing sinfulness of our youth was so shameful (mine was!), and that we need mercy on account of them. He also knew to confess all our sinfulness to God, and to go to Him for pardon. David asked God to forgive. Why? Can he hear God tell him that his sins were forgiven? Of course not! Not face-to-face; it's a matter of faith. But also it is written - "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) Just as David had faith in being forgiven in Psa. 32:5, so it is affirmed in the New Testament by the apostle John. David acknowledged that many times God may turn His wrath away, and not destroy us for our sins. Even in David's time, God's grace was available for iniquities! In Psa. 85:2, David dispels the lie some cleave to in false doctrine. There is only one unforgiveable sin today, and that is not accepting Christ Jesus at the last breath. It does NOT say God will not forgive such sins as murder or homosexuality, although one must give up practicing such sins in accepting Jesus as Savior. Finally, David acknowledges that the understanding that we need forgiveness induces fear of the Lord.

Nehemiah also acknowledged that we have a faithful forgiving God even when we are so stiffneckedly foolish in rebellion! "And refused to obey, neither were mindful of Thy wonders that Thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not." (Neh. 9:17)

Moses asked the Lord for a national pardon, because of His people's iniquity, and at a length Moses made a case, because they had made Him angry before, yet God forgave! "And Moses said unto the LORD, 'Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for Thou broughtest up this people in Thy might from among them;) and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that Thou LORD art among this people, that Thou LORD art seen face to face, and that Thy cloud standeth over them, and that Thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night. Now if Thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of Thee will speak, saying, "Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which He sware unto them, therefore He hath slain them in the wilderness." And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as Thou hast spoken, saying, "The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation." Pardon, I beseech Thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of Thy mercy, and as Thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.' And the LORD said, 'I have pardoned according to thy word:'" (Num. 14:13 - 20)

"And hearken Thou to the supplication of Thy servant, and of Thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear Thou in heaven Thy dwelling place: and when Thou hearest, forgive...When Thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against Thee, and shall turn again to Thee, and confess Thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto Thee in this house: Then hear Thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of Thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which Thou gavest unto their fathers. When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against Thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess Thy name, and turn from their sin, when Thou afflictest them: Then hear Thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of Thy servants, and of Thy people Israel, that Thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon Thy land, which Thou hast given to Thy people for an inheritance. If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be; What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all Thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house: Then hear Thou in heaven Thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart Thou knowest; (for Thou, even Thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)" (1 Kings 8:30, 33 - 39). 2 Chron. 6:21, 24 - 27 is similarly worded, but in both passages Solomon asked God also to forgive His people, but in his wisdom Solomon asked the forgiveness based on their repentance. Solomon thought it reasonable to ask forgiveness based on a change of behavior from rebellion to obedience. God answered Solomon according to his appeal - "If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chron. 7:14) King Hezekiah, too, sent out letters about being forgiven for returning to God's ways - "For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto Him...For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD. For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, 'The good LORD pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people." (2 Chron. 30:9, 17 - 20)

Daniel also acknowledged mercies and forgivenesses belong to the Lord; "To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against Him;" (Dan. 9:9), and Micah spoke of it as a unique marvel of God, because He doesn't begrudge forever in anger, but delights in being merciful and removes His people's sins. "Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." (Micah 7:18 - 19)

Isaiah also spoke of God removing sins - "Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back." (Isa. 38:17) - And of blotting them out - "I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember Thy sins." (Isa. 43:25) - And not remembering them - "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee." (Isa. 44:22) - And of redemption.

Jeremiah spoke of God no longer remembering sins - "And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD': for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jer. 31:34) - And forgiving iniquity. "And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against Me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against Me." (Jer. 33:8) Note it is written all iniquities. In all the verses this far, when God forgives, it's total.

"It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin." (Jer. 36:3) Now in Jeremiah's time, Israel is broken away from Judah, and therein is a two-house nation. Here God is offering the entire house of Judah forgiveness on the condition they turn from their sinful ways. Jeremiah also speaks of a future moment where both Israel and Judah are forgiven; the entire Jewish nation!
Jesus forgave in the body before going to the cross - "And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto Him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto Him, 'Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest Thou?' This they said, tempting Him, that they might have to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not. So when they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself, and said unto them, 'He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.' And again He stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up Himself, and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, 'Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?' She said, 'No man, Lord.' And Jesus said unto her, 'Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.'" (John 8:3 - 11) "And, behold, they brought to Him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; 'Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.'" (Matt. 9:2) "When Jesus saw their faith, He said unto the sick of the palsy, 'Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.'" (Mark 2:5) "And when He saw their faith, He said unto him, 'Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.'" (Luke 5:20) I find the forgiving in John 8 of interest because as the scribes and Pharisees accused the adulteress, so the devil accuses us before God. As Jesus defended her, so He will defend us. All His sheep are forgiven! "For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" (1 Tim. 2:5)
Remember the Old Testament directives to repent to be forgiven? "Then Peter said unto them, 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.'" (Acts 2:38) "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;" (Acts 3:19) Well, that hasn't changed, but there's more to it than before; now we see baptism in the name of Christ Jesus!

"Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:10 - 12) Here Peter is connecting forgiveness with salvation, isn't he? But more, there's a three-way equation; Jesus = total forgiveness = salvation (eternal life). From here I want to solidify this equation with more scripture.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." (John 3:16 - 21) - Okay, so Jesus Himself says her belief in Him = eternal life, and disbelief = condemnation. Eternal life = salvation, condemnation = perish (death). "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph. 2:8 - 9) Here again, faith (in Jesus) = grace from God, a gift that cannot be earned.

Now believing, having faith in Jesus is deep, because believing in Him means following His teaching, obeying His directives. Jesus spoke on what should be called something of a reciprocal forgiveness. This equation is represented as you forgiving everyone always = God forgiving YOU always. "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matt. 6:12, 14 - 15) "Then came Peter to Him, and said, 'Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?' Jesus saith unto him, 'I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, "Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all." Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, "Pay me that thou owest." And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, "Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all." And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, "O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?" And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.'" (Matt. 18:21 - 35) "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." (Mark 11:25 - 26)

I have two more points on forgiveness. "And Jesus answering said unto him, 'Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee.' And he saith, 'Master, say on.' 'There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?' Simon answered and said, 'I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most.' And He said unto him, 'Thou hast rightly judged.' And He turned to the woman, and said unto 'Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, Thou gavest me no water for My feet: but she hath washed My feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest Me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss My feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed My feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.' And He said unto her, 'Thy sins are forgiven.'" (Luke 7:40 - 48) I wanted to show here that Jesus makes no mention of purgatory. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" (Heb. 9:27)Paul shows here absent from the body = present with the Lord. "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." (2 Cor. 11:3 - 4).   For anyone to profess a purgatory is to profess an insufficient Jesus, because a purgatory would mean Jesus didn't do it all at the cross, no matter how they try to explain against the position I here present, no matter how they try to show you in their version of the Bible, the purgatory concept is what it is, and our God does nothing insufficiently - Jesus did it all at the cross! So here we've got a multi-faceted look at God's forgiveness. It has another name - grace. Shed blood brought forgiveness; the final blood shed being at the cross. Still another name for forgiveness is mercy, and our Father is faithful to forgive at every contrite confession. The need for forgiveness can be necessary even on a national level, and is achievable. In John 3:16 - 21, Jesus gives us the equation belief on Him = salvation (forgiveness) = eternal life. He also gave us the equation forgiving everyone = God forgiving us. He further gave us that the volume of sins forgiven is commensurate with the depth of love in return. Finally, the gospel of Luke and in Paul's letter to the Hebrews the false concept of purgatory is dispelled. And, there is one Mediator, no mediatrix, Jesus alone is the propitiation for sin. When God forgives, it's total!