Our Constitution of the United States of America!
Forgiveness and unforgiveness; both are freely given!
It may seem to be a misconstrued controversy between two opposing edicts concerning sin. Yet each one in its own understandable premise will say a lot depending on which comes from God or the devil. There is no doubt that God always forgives us as the truth of the Incarnation of his Son proves.
There is one adversary against God and his promise to be forgiving. It is the devil who quickly reminds us that God will not forgive us, especially when we repeat the same sin over and over. He will assure us that God’s patience can only forgive sins once our allowance runs out. It’s as though a child’s weekly allowance can end if he spends it too freely without being frugal, so God will treat our continued failure in the same manner.
What does the writer of Psalm 103 say regarding God's Divine goodness: “Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger, abounding in kindness. God does not always rebuke, nurses no lasting anger, has not dealt with us as our sins merit, nor requited us as our deeds deserve.. As the heavens tower over the earth, so God towers over the faithful. As far as the east is from the west, so far have our sins been removed from us.” (Ps 103: 8 -12).
As Jesus was walking along the shore of the Jordan river, John the Baptist said; “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” John continued saying; “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, “On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the holy Spirit.” Now I have seen and testifies that he is the Son of God.” (Jn 1: 29, 32 - 34).
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” “And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.” (Jn 3: 16 -21).
Forgiveness is the prime benefit that God gives to all mankind through the Incarnation of his Son Jesus Christ. This is the very reason that Christ stepped away from his place in heaven and took on humanity as the forgiveness of God and completed his mission by dying on the Cross at Calvary. When he said; “It is finished” (Jn 19: 30), Satan knew all his whispering in our ears each time we sinned that God does forgive our continued sinning and lost his battle with God.
Unforgiveness is freely found if we choose not to believe in Christ and turn away from eternal forgiveness. This is absolute Truth. God’s number one priority is to bring forgiveness to his children and desires that all people will seek his mercy and become one with the Holy Trinity in heaven.
Ralph B. Hathaway