A Proper View of Forgiveness

Forgiveness Under Paul's “Gospel of the Grace of God”

By Arthur J Licursi

 “We… are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake” (2 Cor. 4:11).

There is much that we all do for our own sake, for the sake of our children, our loved ones or others, but the real test of the believer’s love for the Lord is what he does “for Jesus’ sake.”

Under the dispensation “of Law” that continued even while Jesus was in His earthy ministry (Matt 5:18): our Lord told His disciples that to be forgiven they must FIRST forgive:

“Forgive, and (then) ye shall be forgiven” (Luke 6:37)

“but IF ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (sins)” (Matt. 6:15).

“But now,” is a term used often by Paul in order to introduce and draw significant contrasts between the basis of life under “the gospel of the grace of God”… versus the basis of life under “the Law” of Jesus' time

But Now We Are Discharged From The Law and have terminated all intercourse with it, having died to what once restrained and held us captive. So now we serve not under [obedience to] the old code of written regulations, but [under obedience to the promptings] of the Spirit in newness [of life].” Romans 7:6 (AMP)

Now, under “the dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph 3:2), the Lord through Paul exhorts us to forgive one anotherAS God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you (us) (Eph. 4:32) - "freely."

“And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and FREELY], as God in Christ (already) forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32 (AMP)

“Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [Freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive].” Colossians 3:13 (AMP)

The difference between Jesus’ words spoken to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel ,” to whom Jesus exclusively came and addressed (Matt 15:24), and the words of Paul to “the body of Christ” are tremendous. The motive for forgiving is remarkably different.

1.      Under “the Law,” before the cross: If you would be forgiven, you must FIRST forgive.

Thankfully, Christ’s cross brought theend of the law… to everyone who believes” (Rom 10:4).

2.      So now, under Paul’s “gospel of the grace of God,” we as believers have already been graciously andfreely forgiven “for Christ’s sake. Thus, in the light of being freely forgiven already, we are to be tenderhearted and forgiving toward others (Eph 4:32, above).