Do you forgive?

 I have a lot of meaningful conversations with my Dad. Today, I received an email from him that had a section about forgiveness. Here is what he said.

Did the paralytic who was let down through the roof ask for forgiveness of his sins? Our pastor says he did but his explanation was in a round about way. There is a growing trend that says you don’t need to ask for forgiveness of your sins, that grace covers it all. What do you think?

I quickly wrote back to my Dad and then, as is the way with writing, I had more to say! So, here is an extended version of my answer.

The ‘paraletic’ refers to the biblical story of Jesus healing a paralysed man recorded in Matthew 9, Mark 2, and Luke 5. The fact that all three synoptic Gospels include this story shows its importance. All three needed this story to explain Jesus and the forgiveness he offers.

When Jesus saw the faith of the man’s friends, who had carried him to Jesus, he declared, "Son, your sins are forgiven." This sparked debate among the religious teachers who questioned Jesus' authority to forgive sins. Jesus then healed the man physically, demonstrating his authority to forgive sins as well as to heal the body.

All human suffering starts with separation from God. Jesus knew this. So, he began with the man’s deepest need - the thing that paralyses all of us - sin. Divine healing starts with Jesus mending the rift between us and God through forgiveness.

Forgiveness for private/personal sin (like the sins of this man, which are not listed) happens within the relationship between the sinner and God. It is not something we can judge from the outside. While all sin is forgiven at the cross, it is a relational experience. It involves recognition, repentance and confession on our part and the promised forgiveness on God's part. It's a love thing!

Forgiveness for sins against other people requires three parties in the healing relationship: the offender, the victim and God. To receive forgiveness, the offender must attempt to reconcile with both the victim and God. While the victim may not offer forgiveness, God is not slow to forgive but is faithful to forgive and cleanse the sinner from all unrighteousness. A victim who knows the love of God personally will also be more likely to forgive those who sin against them.

The idea of forgiveness being a blanket thrown over the fire of sin at the moment of Jesus’ death on the cross does away with the need for relationship, reconciliation and resurrection! It reduces sin to a debt and forgiveness to a transaction. God loves us. He desires a deep abiding relationship with us. He doesn’t just want to forgive us, he wants to heal us and live with us. Such a deep heartfelt relationship — whether it be with a spouse, a child, a coworker or indeed with God — requires the constant interaction of righting wrongs and healing hurts.

Here in Australia, Tic-Tac-Toe has a different name. They call it Naughts-and-Crosses. (O’s and X’s). Divine forgiveness looks like the picture above. It’s a rigged game. There are many naughts but only one cross. Many humans but only one Jesus. By showing up in the middle of our game, he changed everything. Although we were destined to be losers, through his death, he made us winners! Praise God!

Because of Jesus’ forgiveness offered on the cross, those of us who know His heart serve joyfully as ambassadors of God’s love to the world. A love we demonstrate every time we forgive as we have been forgiven.