God’s Unmerited Favor (February 17, 2023)

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

One of the most difficult commands that Christians must keep is to forgive people who have wronged and hurt us deeply. Yet forgiveness, the surrender or release of our human animosity toward those that have trespassed against us, is absolutely essential in order to maintain healthy personal relationships with God and each other. As Jesus prayed for the forgiveness of those who crucified Him, even as He suffered the punishment for their sins, we must pardon those who have sinned against us. If we expect God to forgive our transgressions toward Him and humanity, we must freely forgive. Our salvation is founded on our forgiveness by a God of grace.

I heard the amazing true story of a young woman who’d been violently raped and beaten beyond recognition before managing to jump from the burning apartment that her assailant had set ablaze. Miraculously, this victim recovered following years of treatment and rehabilitation, and, thanks to forensic science, the young man who’d committed these heinous crimes was ultimately convicted of attempted murder and other charges years later. Incredibly, after his sentencing, this courageous female victim left not one dry eye in the courtroom when she appeared to forgive the criminal who’d abused her to the brink of death.

This remarkable young lady chose to forgive her aggressor rather than harbor revenge in her heart, freeing her from the malignancy of anger and allowing love to mercifully conquer her hatred. Forgiveness liberates us from the bonds of bitterness and allows us to live joyful, victorious lives that portray the unconditional love that prompted Christ to die sacrificially for us. Without God’s unmerited favor of forgiveness by grace through faith in Christ, we could not have received His gift of salvation and His promise of everlasting life. Undeservedly, we’ve been forgiven by a merciful God and we must love and forgive others despite their unworthiness!

“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”  (Ephesians 4:31-32)