Forgive One Another
Colossians 3:12-13; Philemon 8-22
In his book, “Christless Christianity,” Michael Horton writes, “Real sins are forgiven by a God who is intimately involved in our everyday lives.” He goes on to explain that forgiveness is required because sin really exists. The Oxford English dictionary defines forgiveness as “to grant free pardon and to give up all claim on account of an offense or debt.” Forgiveness, then, involves dealing with actual offenses and extending to offenders something that they do not necessarily deserve. Forgiveness is not easy, but it is a command of Christ for all Christians to honor and obey.
Christ is the example: One of the greatest tools in learning to forgive others is remembering that you, too, are a forgiven person. Were it not for Christ’s willingness to pardon your sins through his death on the cross, you would be bound for hell, eternally separated from his loving-kindness. In Colossians 3:13, Paul puts it this way: “As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” To deny from others what Christ has freely extended to us is to not live the life that Christ has called us to live. We are to be imitators of Christ (Ephesians 5:1), and part of that imitation is forgiveness.
Love is the motive: In writing to Philemon, Paul urges him to forgive his runaway slave, Onesimus, on the basis of love. Paul makes it clear that he could call in a favor from Philemon and could even “command” him to “do what is required” (Philemon 8). Instead, Paul asks for Philemon to act in love toward his runaway slave. When we forgive, we do it on the basis of love – not only for the one who has wronged us, but ultimately love for God, who has forgiven us and commanded us to forgive. We forgive others as evidence of our love for the One who has forgiven us for our sin.
Restoration is the goal: When men forgive, they often shake hands as a symbol of their restoration with one another. Forgiveness is not merely about words, but about restoring relationships. The forgiveness that Paul asked from Philemon included restoration; he asked that Philemon “receive him as you would receive me. If he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, charge that to my account” (17-18). As you seek to practice forgiveness in your own life, do so with the aim of restoring broken relationships for the glory of God; after all, his forgiveness brings restoration and eternal life.
Thompson– Lessons by Craig Thompson, pastor of Malvern Hill Church, Camden. Thompson earned his B.A from Presbyterian College and is pursuing a Ph.D. from Southern Seminary, where he also earned his M.Div.