Devotionals

The Purpose of Forgiveness

by Duncan Atkinson
12/11/16
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The Purpose of Forgiveness

‘Land that drinks in the rain (of God’s grace) often falling on it…receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns…is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.’ Heb 6:7-8 NIV

The Old Testament contains many comforting expressions of God’s mercy. Figures such as adulterous King David, despairing Elijah and corrupt Ahab receive gracious second chances. Judges, Psalm 78 and Ezekiel 20 describe how God’s people would turn to sin, followed by judgement, shamefaced return, and repeated deliverance. Hosea even compares Israel to a prostitute; despite lifelong betrayal, God takes her back into relationship (Hosea 1:10 NIV). How could ‘If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself (2 Tim 2:13 NIV)’ be illustrated more strongly, except in the cross?

However, can we carelessly assume that God will ‘forgive us, for it is his profession’? In Exodus, God provided for the Israelites, despite their idolatry, but ‘was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness’. 1 Corinthians 10 NIV tells us ‘these things occurred as examples, to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did’. Those who ‘deliberately keep on sinning’ (Heb 10:26 NIV) or ‘deceive themselves’ so that ‘their religion is worthless’ (James 1:22 NIV) have ‘trampled the son of God underfoot’, so that ‘no sacrifice for sins is left’ (Heb 10 NIV).

Jesus did not sacrifice his life to excuse sin, but to ‘give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them’ (Eze 11:19 NIV). His followers can truly be new creations as they ‘look intently into the perfect law that gives freedom’ (James 1:25 NIV) and ‘love the truth (2 Thess 2:10 NIV)