29/08/2025
Forgiven People Forgive
Some people live by the principle of never forgiving those who offend them. They are vengeful and insist that others must pay, no matter how little the offence.
Others are even more hardened. They wrong you, yet turn the tables to make you feel like the guilty one. Both attitudes reveal a heart untouched by the transforming power of God’s Word.
But whenever I think about the harshness of unforgiveness, I am reminded of how God dealt with our offence against Him.
Humanity sinned against God (Romans 3:23), and by justice, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Yet, rather than leaving us condemned, God Himself provided the way of reconciliation.
He forgave and released us from guilt. Forgiveness means He cancelled our debt, pardoned our offence, and restored our fellowship with Him (Isaiah 43:25).
When we believe in Christ, God removes our sins “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12) and promises, “their sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Hebrews 10:17).
Moreover, He atoned for our sins. Atonement means He offered Himself as the sacrifice for our sins so we can be reconciled to Him.
In the Old Testament, animals were sacrificed to cover Israel’s sins (Leviticus 16:30). But these were only temporary shadows (Hebrews 10:1–4).
Jesus, the Lamb of God, fulfilled this once for all: “He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12).
Through His atonement, the barrier of sin that separated us from God has been removed, making peace possible (Romans 5:10–11).
Most importantly, God’s wrath was satisfied. Propitiation means the satisfaction of God’s righteous anger against sin.
John declares:
“He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:2).
Through Christ’s death, God’s wrath against sin has been turned away, and His mercy flows freely to all who believe.
So:
- Propitiation satisfies God’s holiness.
- Atonement removes the barrier of sin.
- Forgiveness restores us personally into fellowship with God.
These perfectly reflect the beauty of salvation.
Imagine if God had waited for us to apologise before forgiving us! None of us could stand before His justice.
Since God has forgiven us so freely, He calls us to forgive others (Ephesians 4:32).
If you are holding on to bitterness, release it.
If a relationship is broken, seek reconciliation as far as it depends on you (Romans 12:18). To cling to unforgiveness is to deny the very grace we have received.
If you have not received Christ, today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). God has already made atonement through His Son.
Come to Jesus today. Lay down your guilt and embrace the gift of salvation. In Him, you will find peace with God, the joy of forgiveness, and the hope of eternal life.
Receive grace to respond accordingly in Jesus name. Amen
