The Driving Force Behind Forgiveness

"He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” - Luke 18 vs 9 - 14, ESV

Most of us when looking at this passage can rarely say that we're like the tax collector. We're  more like the Pharisee in many respects. Especially when we think we're 'worshipping' God, we believe that we're  good 'worshippers'. That is the extent of our pride. That's part of having a pharisaical spirit, it allows us to think we're deserving of everything from God and in the process we become slanderers of others. That is a pride-filled spirit.

Jesus says the tax collector wouldn't even look up to heaven but begged God for mercy. And the Pharisee, he thanked God for everything he thought he wasn't. The tax collector knew exactly who he was and asked for forgiveness. There's the difference. One pretended to be something he wasn't and thanked God for it. Don't we do the same all the time? The other came as he was, a sinner and beseeched God's  mercy knowing full well he didn't desrve any of it. Can we honestly come to God the way the tax collector did?

Humility is what should drive us to come before God begging for mercy because we know our true nature and it isn't anything close to what God has revealed in scripture. Simply because even when we do come before God, there are those (are you and I one of those) who come saying they are sinners but with a hint of pride that speaks otherwise. We say we're  sinners just for others to hear us saying that therefore hoping they would think better of us. "Oh, just look at him/her, they're such a good christian", that would just puff up our egos even more, making us think more of ourselves than we ought too. There's only one word to describe that - PRIDE!

 And it's  pride that would prevent us from seeking God through all humility in repentance asking for forgiveness.

And that's simply the point that I want to make today. We need through humility in repentance ask for forgiveness. But how do we get there ?

Humility  is the position of complete surrender, knowing well that we're incapable of doing it all on our own and asking for something we don't deserve - Forgiveness. It's the recognition that we are sinners even to the depths of our being. And I would be the first, like Paul, to say that I'm the worst of all sinners, because I know God has given to me something I did not deserve and sacrificed his only son so that I could freely recieve it.

And humility will always drive us to a place of repentance. Repentance is the understanding that we have sinned against God and we don't deserve his mercy but ask for it because we know that without God, our ruin through sin is eternal. Repentance brings us to that place where we can come before God and say meaningfully that "I'm sorry". Repentance allows us to come before God and make things right with him, provided it is done with a posture of humility. 

Repentance in turn if experienced through humility and the Lord knows that it comes from a heart that truly desires to make things right with him, will bring forgiveness. Forgiveness is God remembering our sins no more.

"For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more." (Heb. 8 vs 12, ESV).

And if God can forget our sins(which we would prefer in fact), why should we remember the sins of others when we have forgiven them. The saying, "I'll forgive you but I won't forget", doesn't work in God's economy. If you know the experience of Forgiveness then allow others to know that too.

"Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times." (Matt. 18 vs 21 - 22, ESV)

Our forgiveness should not be limited to a specific number. Jesus illustrated that our forgiveness should have no limits.

So, family, Humility is required for Repentance and in return Repentance is required for Forgiveness. If one is missing from these three, then there will be consequences no doubt.

Be circumspect when coming before God. Humility must be the driving force behind our relationship with God. Repentance must become a lifestyle. And when we know the Forgiveness of a holy God, we can easily forgive others.

Humility drives Repentance and Repentance will surely bring Forgiveness.

Much Blessings,

Shane

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