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This is the 2nd of 3 posts on forgiveness.  You can read the first post which introduced the topic here.  This is the most important post of the three and offers, I think, some unique thoughts on forgiveness and considers it in ways not normally considered.  Give it a read and let me know what you think.

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The Nature of Forgiveness

Forgiveness, when properly understood from Jesus’ parable, exists on two dimensions.  First and foremost we must be concerned about our forgiveness in relation to our heavenly Father.  When each person sins he offends the holiness of God (Isaiah 59:1-2).  Man’s problem is sin (Rom. 3:23, 6:23).  Of course, Christ came to pay the price for our sin, so that we could be forgiven (Rom. 3:24-26).  Often we refer to this forgiveness as existing on the vertical plane and each person must soberly consider their relationship with God (Phil. 2:12).  The second dimension of forgiveness is what Jesus is requiring of Christians in Matthew 6 and 18 that we just studied.  It is the willingness to forgive others.  This is often referred to as the horizontal plane of forgiveness.  If we are going to realize the good that God intended for us to enjoy through forgiveness it is realized on both planes.  Jesus masterfully connects the two levels together in the parable of the unforgiving servant.  The world, and even Christians, tend to disconnect the two.  Typically we desire God’s forgiveness, but we resist and even rationalize our failure to forgive others.  Yet, Jesus is saying that we cannot have one without the other.  There is a failure to understand the nature of true forgiveness from God when we refuse to extend a similar grace to others.

Obligations of Forgiveness 

          Having emphasized that forgiveness exists on two planes, let’s go a little deeper and talk about our obligations to forgive and the benefits that it brings.  Some have argued based on Luke 17:3-4 that forgiveness of a brother is not necessary unless he “repents.”  Some may have even used this text to rationalize bitterness, hatred, and malicious behaviors.  This type of interpretation goes against the overall message of Jesus regarding forgiveness.  It seems that part of the problem is our culture’s understanding of the term forgiveness, as we typically connect our forgiveness with our feelings; emotions such as anger, bitterness, and resentment. Forgiveness from the teachings of Jesus is a decision of the will, like agape love, to release the offending person from paying the debt they owe.  This is done out of compassion and pity (Mat. 18:27).  This forgiveness involves a decision of the heart to not extract vengeance on the offending person (Rom. 12:14-21).  Forgiveness is a choice that must be made consciously and settled within the heart of the person.  Thus forgiveness as a choice of the will, as God calls us to, is not a removal of hurt feelings and emotions.  Forgiveness is certainly not forgetting or acting like nothing has happened.  It is a determination to do all that one can in their heart and mind to release the offending person of owed debt (Col. 3:13).  We will likely still have to deal with our feelings of hurt and anger but that is a separate issue.  The feelings must be processed and dealt with over time.  Paul teaches us to deal with these emotions and not allow them to rule our lives (Eph. 4:30-32, Col. 3:8-10).

         An illustration of this understanding of forgiveness would be a married couple who has experienced the storm of an affair.  In this situation the husband has committed the infidelity, but he is committed to the marriage.  The wife desires to see the marriage survive.  She communicates to him her forgiveness.  She makes a decision of the will to release him of his debt out of her love and compassion.  But she still has many strong feelings which she must process over time.  She is likely going to deal with feelings such as anger, bitterness, doubt, and insecurity for sometime to come.  She probably will not go on as if it did not happen.  There will need to be a higher level of accountability so that trust can be restored over time.  She forgave him of the past, but feelings still must be processed through prayer, conversations, and reflection.  They must recognize the new reality of the relationship.

        Thus, ultimately forgiveness is an individual experience. God models forgiveness for us.  Look at the cross of Christ, where God put himself in position to forgive us and made it possible for all men to find forgiveness.  He does not withhold forgiveness because of anger and bitterness, but the issue has long been settled in His heart;  He is willing to forgive.  So it must be in the heart of a Christian.  We must put down the tremendous weights we try to carry and release the bitterness and hatred before it costs us our own soul, irrespective of what the other person does.  We must cancel the debt. Forgiveness is a decision of the will to release the indebted offender so that a reconciliation is possible.  God is described as making it possible for our reconciliation by choosing to forgive “while we were yet sinners” (Rom. 5:8).  When we choose to forgive we make reconciliation possible, though just like with God and sinful humanity, it does not always take place.

         We began this chapter by sharing the story of Louis Zamperini who was suffering with rage and hatred over the immense torture and mistreatment he endured while in Japan.  Louie learned about forgiveness through the story of Jesus Christ.  He realized that God had blessed him throughout his incredible journey.  He went home and poured the liquor out and threw out other sinful items that were a part of his demise.  He laid down, slept, and for the first time in five years “the Bird” did not come in his dreams.  He awoke, went to a park and read his Bible and experienced a sense of peace for the first time.  One year later, he returned to Japan and went to the P.O.W. camp where he had stayed, which was now a prison for war criminals.  He saw many of his former captors, some of which were under a death sentence for their crimes.  But one was not there; “the Bird” had evaded arrest.  His family and the authorities believed he had committed suicide.  When hearing the news, Louie felt a sense of compassion for him.  “At that moment, something shifted sweetly inside him.  It was forgiveness, beautiful and effortless and complete.  For Louie Zamperini the war was over” (Unbroken  p. 379).   Then as the other former tormentors were paraded before him, he extended his hand and offered a radiant smile across his face.  Louie had peace.  However there is more to the story, “the Bird,” whose real name was Matsuhiro Watanabe, had actually lived and would go on to a successful insurance career.  Louie penned a letter to him, and through the help of CBS who had interviewed Matsuhiro Watanabe, Louie was going to meet him and offer his forgiveness personally.  But it was not to be as Matsuhiro refused the meeting.  Louie, however did send the letter, but never received a reply.

TO BE CONTINUED . . . in the next post we will discuss the benefits of forgiveness.