Authority to ForgiveSpeaker: Dr. Paul Dhinakaran Gist: The Lord forgives those who realise their sins. He has authority to forgive our sins and He also has the desire to forgive us. We also need to forgive others, and this is demanded of us by God. The Bible says that the Lord Jesus Christ has authority to forgive our sins and He also has the desire to forgive us. We also need to forgive others, and this is demanded of us by God.
If you read the Bible, Jesus reiterates, "If you forgive others' sins, then your sins shall be forgiven" (Mathew 6:14; 18:35, Mark11:25; Luke 6:37). When do we get the attitude to forgive others?
I would like to quote an incident. There was an officer in a company. He caught hold of a clerk red-handed while misappropriating some funds. The officer said to the clerk, "Come and see me in my room!" The clerk was terrified, he did not know what reason to give and escape punishment. With tears, he went to the officer's room. The officer asked, "Did you steal?" The clerk remained silent with tears of guilt in his eyes. The officer said, "Do not worry. I was in a similar position as you are today. My higher officer took pity on me and pardoned me; from that day I started working sincerely. That is why I have been exalted to this position today. I will forgive you. Go and sin no more."
My dear friend, the Lord forgives those who realise their sins. In the stoy of the prodigal son, we see that the father is willing to forgive him and accept him even before the son fell on his father's neck and said, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son" (Luke 15:21).
When Jesus sat down to eat with a Pharisee, a woman who lived in sin came and washed His feet wtih her tears and wiped them with her hair. She did that in front of many who were gathered there, unmindful of them. Above all, she poured the costly oil at His feet. She humbled herself by her deed, and her action meant, "Lord, I am a sinner". Jesus' disciples said, "Oh! she is a sinner." But Jesus said, "No leave her alone, she loved Me very much. She abhorred the love of the world, status and glory. She humbled herself at My feet. Therefore her sins which are many, are forgiven." Her sins were truly forgiven and her life changed.
That is the heart of our Lord Jesus. When you humble yourself and return to Him without being ashamed as to what others might say, and confess, "Lord You gave Your life for me. You shed Your blood for me. I love You. I do not want the world or its sin", then He would say, "My child, you loved me very much. Your sins that are many are forgiven you."
My son Sam and daughter Sharon find joy in my presence. One day when we were busy in our work, my son hit my daughter and she screamed at the top of her voice. I got furious and spanked him. He started crying. I hardened my heart and said, "Cry! How dare you hit that darling child!" Then I continued with my work. After sometime he came to me whimpering and said, "Sorry daddy, I will not beat Sharon again." Those words broke my heart. I hugged him and kissed him. Only then he felt comforted.
1 John 1:9 says, that if we go to the Lord and confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive and forget our sins. When we love Him, He cleanses us from all our sins with the blood that He shed on the cross. The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses us from all sin. So do not worry. There is someone who is able to remove our sins. He says, "I am He who blots out your transgressions; and I will not remember your sins" (Isaiah 43:25; Micah 7:19). We shall be transformed into His image, being filled with Him. He shall make us into a new creation.
Prayer:
Gracious And Forgiving God,
I do not minimise my sin or argue against its enormity, but I bring it now to You for Your forgivness. I repent and receive the pardon You so graciously offer me in Christ. Accept me as Your child and make me righteous once again. Give me a forgiving heart so that I can forgive everyone who has wronged against me. In the name of my Lord Jesus, who shed His precious blood to blot away my sins, I pray.
Amen. |