What Christ did for us through the cross is beyond words to express (Isaiah 53:4–5). And in forgiving us, He did something that we have a difficult time doing for others, including ourselves. One of the greatest difficulties we face is loving ourselves. Yet loving ourselves is based on this same principle of forgiveness. Whoever has been forgiven much, loves much (Luke 7:47). So if we do not love ourselves, it is because we have not forgiven ourselves.
Yeshua (Jesus) was God’s vehicle of forgiveness (Ephesians 1:7). One of the deepest truths about the cross is that while Yeshua was hanging there being insulted and having all the sins of the world laid upon Him, He said, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34).[1] Christ paid the price to redeem us, but the greatest expression of His love was the forgiveness that He ministered. We know how impossible it is for us to let go of offenses and really forgive. Yet Christ uttered those words of forgiveness on the cross—not in His divinity but in His humanity. Yeshua was willing to forgive and forget, and His plea to the Father was, “You forgive them too.”
Christ came as God’s love and forgiveness and what a phenomenal job He did. You see it when He forgave the paralytic man (Luke 5:18–20). You see it when He forgave the woman who washed His feet with her tears. Yeshua just said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven” (see Luke 7:36–50). And in that moment, all the consequences of her sins were rolled away.
Likewise, we can experience this same deep forgiveness. Come into the Lord’s presence in a way that His forgiveness is real to you. Let it be a present reality in your life. We have no capacity in ourselves to forgive. But when you experience the Father’s forgiveness, you will know how to give it to others. If God’s forgiveness touches you to the depth of your being, then you will be able to forgive yourself. Just crawl into the Father’s heart and let Him forgive you. Open your heart and honestly receive it.
One of the greatest ways we are going to experience God’s forgiveness is from one another. Yeshua had the authority to forgive sins, and He says to us, “If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them” (John 20:23). It starts with you just opening your heart. You may receive forgiveness from your neighbor, your spouse, your friend, or you may receive it during worship as God’s Spirit moves among His people. But it must be a personal experience until you are overwhelmed with the understanding that you are forgiven. Let the Lord touch you with that awareness. I want to stand in His presence and hear Him say to me, “I forgive you. And when I forgive you, it is complete.” Hear God speak these words to your heart as you take down your walls to Him.
What a force is in this forgiveness! It is powerful enough to turn away the wrath of God (Romans 5:9). Forgiveness literally has the power to break everything that is coming against you: every impasse, every failure, every problem, and every shortcoming within you. God’s forgiveness is stronger than judgment, and it is powerful enough to touch your heart. Forgive and you will be forgiven (Luke 6:37). We determine that this ministry of forgiveness comes through our lips and through our hearts, in the name of the Lord.
[1] All Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995).
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