Grace and Forgiveness

This is one of those religious blogs, I thought would preface that so if you don't want to hear our religious meanderings then you probably won't want to read this one. Although if you want to hear what we have to say then please read everything and tell us what you think.

I am going to talk about Christian grace and forgiveness.

Jesus has many things to say about grace, mercy, and forgiveness. In Matthew 5:8 He says, "Blessed be the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." Common sense states that if you are known as a merciful person then you are more likely to be shown mercy. If you are not a nice person and ruthless and merciful then there is a much less chance of somebody throwing you a bone when you need help.

Jesus also brings up the same principle about forgiveness in the prayer he uses as an example for a prayer. Matthew 6:12 says "Forgive us our trespasses as forgive those who trespass against us." This time, Jesus is talking about the interaction between us and God on the subject of forgiveness.

Forgiveness from Christ is so absolute it should overflow from and extend to others. In Matthew 18, Jesus tells a parable about a man who owes a large amount of money and is forgiven the debt, afterwards the man who was forgiven the large debt shakes down a man who owes him a small debt and demands he pay it. The man who forgave the large debt hears this and throws the first man in prison until the debt is repayed.

The point being is that the man who owed the large debt did not understand forgiveness so forgiveness was not shown to him. We should be aware of the grace and forgiveness offered to us.

Grace and gratitude have the same root word and it is no surprise. What other way should a person respond to grace that gratefully? Grace, by definition, is not something to be expected because it is not something deserved or earned.

The funny thing about being filled with Christ's love for us is this: His love for us like His grace, does a greater good shared with others. If we are filled with His love, then love should flow from us to others. Also just as Christ's love and grace is for everyone, so also should we extend our love and grace to others.

Paul understood this and included it in his famous "love chapter" in 1 Corinthians. 1 Cor 13:4-5.

This chapter also state if we do great things, but we have no love, or hold a grudge, or are unkind, or act in any unloving way; than everything we do is ultimately for nothing. How can we be good examples to the world when we are consumed by greed, hate, or even jealousy?

In summary, because we are saved, we are called to love others, show grace to others, forgive those who have wronged us, and show mercy to whoever needs it.

-Daniel