Author: NBibens

People often think faith is nothing more than mental agreement to some idea. But biblical, saving faith is much more. James 2:26 bluntly says, “…faith without works is dead.” And so, throughout Scripture, we see that faith is not merely a mindset, but genuine faith is active faith. One of the best demonstrations of this is Hebrews 11. That chapter highlights several Old Testament examples of faith. Over and over again, it talks about faith—but in every example given, the Hebrew writer talks about what those people did. I want to consider those examples in a brief series on what faith does.

First, genuine faith worships God. Hebrews 11:4 says, “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts.” Faith that is not obediently worshipful towards God is more akin to Cain’s mindset than righteous Abel’s. If we are people of faith, we should be worshipful people.

This week, we’ve studied how God forgives. While the how is important, why God forgives is perhaps the greatest lesson we need to learn.

For many people, forgiveness helps them get over hurts they’ve suffered. Others view forgiveness primarily, if not solely, as being pardoned from consequences and punishment. These are aspects of forgiveness, but they are not the whole picture.

God forgives us to heal what is broken, primarily the relationship between us and Him. God forgives so that we can be reconciled to Him. God’s forgiveness is relational in nature. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5 that through Christ, God has not counted our trespasses against us but has reconciled us to Himself. How thankful we should be that when God forgives, He does not just let go of anger. He does not just forego vengeance. No, when God forgives, He goes much further than that, and he restores and reconciles us so we can be with Him again.

What a wondrous blessing it is to be forgiven by God! This week, we’ve been discussing how God forgives and noted that He proactively pursues forgiveness, is abundantly merciful, and that God’s forgiveness is others-focused, not self-focused. Today, we need to consider an essential aspect of God’s forgiveness—as freely, mercifully, and proactively as offered, God’s forgiveness is not granted unconditionally. God doesn’t “just forgive.” God requires our repentance.

In Luke 13:3, Jesus says, “… unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” In 1 John 1:9 John writes, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Other Scriptures teach this concept also—there are conditions we must meet to be forgiven. God’s mercy and forgiveness are freely extended, but we must accept God’s offer, acknowledge our sins, and repent. As gracious and merciful as God is, Scripture never teaches that He forgives unconditionally.

This week, we are considering how God forgives us. We’ve already seen God proactively pursues forgiveness and forgives abundantly and mercifully. Today, I want to notice a fundamental way we sometimes try to forgive, which differs from how God forgives.

See, many ideas of forgiveness revolve around self-healing. Forgiveness is considered a way of letting go of hurt, bitterness, and anger so that we can live a happier and healthier life. Most people view forgiveness as something that helps them—their forgiveness is inward-focused.

But God’s forgiveness is outward. God does not forgive so that He will feel better. God does not forgive for His own benefit. No, when God forgives, we, the sinners, are blessed. God’s example teaches us that forgiveness is, amazingly, sinner-focused, not self-focused. How thankful we should be that God does not forgive in a way that focuses solely on Himself but instead practices a forgiveness that pardons, heals, and helps us, even though we are the guilty party.

Yesterday, we began a series on How God Forgives, and we noted that even though God is always the innocent party, He has taken the first step toward forgiving us. He proactively pursues forgiveness. Today, let’s consider another trait of how the Lord forgives. As we reflect on Scripture and our own lives, we are struck by the sheer abundance of God’s mercy. It’s a mercy that surpasses our understanding and cannot be adequately expressed in words.

God is a God of justice and judgment, but He is also a God of mercy. Sin angers God, but God offers mercy instead of immediately dispensing judgment. And God is not meager in His mercy and forgiveness. His willingness to pardon is greater than we can imagine. Psalm 103:10 says, “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.” How thankful we should be that God has given us mercy instead of what we deserved.

Christians are not just forgiven people—we must also be forgiving people. But how do we forgive others? Ephesians 4:32 calls us to a high model of forgiveness. That passage says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” People have different ideas about what forgiveness is and how we forgive. But our best option is to consider how God forgives and do our best to follow that example.

Today, let’s consider the wondrous truth that God proactively pursues forgiveness. God is perfect and sinless, so when our relationship with God is broken because of sin, we are entirely at fault. And yet, God has not waited for us to make things right—He has acted first. Romans 5:8 says, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” What a picture of true love. Even when wronged, God loved us enough to take the first step towards our forgiveness.

Do you ever suffer from loneliness? There are few feelings as crushing and defeating as loneliness. We all long for companionship; when we lack it, we suffer. Whether we face loneliness because of loss, betrayal, or other reasons, few trials will be as severe as loneliness. But for the child of God, we can find solace in the promise of our Lord’s presence. When we belong to the Lord, then He is with us. Even if everyone else deserts us and betrays us, the Lord is always with His children.

In John 16:32, Jesus predicted all His disciples would forsake Him when He was arrested. But He still had a comfort. He says there, “Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.” What a wondrous hope. And it can be your hope and comfort if you will follow the Lord.

As his life drew to a close, King David gave this commission to Solomon: “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.” Solomon had a great task before Him—building the Lord’s Temple. But he could accomplish the task by God’s grace.

A greater King also gave a great commission. Before His ascension, Jesus declared, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” We also are tasked with building the Lord’s house. Not a physical building, but the church—the body of disciples converted to the Kingship of Jesus!

Do you despise the Lord? Surely not. Even if we aren’t quite what we ought to be, we don’t despise the Lord, do we?

In Number 14, the Israelites listened to a bad report from some spies who had gone through Canaan, and the people determined they could not take control of the Promised Land. Even though God promised to be with them, they rebelled. They determined it would be better to return to Egypt than to try conquering Canaan. When God spoke with Moses, He said, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?” When the people refused to believe God and obey Him, the Lord didn’t take that as a minor slight. He claimed the people despised Him.

We are no better if we persist in doubt, rebellion, or both. When we refuse to trust God and obey Him, we reveal that we, like ancient Israel, actually despise the Lord.

Sometime during the final week of Jesus’ life, Mary used a very costly fragrance and humbly anointed the Lord’s head and His feet, even wiping the Lord’s feet with her hair. Some disciples scoffed at the act and complained that the ointment could have been sold and given to the poor. But Jesus rebuked them in turn, and defended the actions of Mary. He even proclaimed, “Truly I tell you: wherever this gospel is proclaimed throughout the world, what she has done will be told as her memorial.”[1] And so it has happened—for 2,000 years, Mary’s worshipful demeanor has been her legacy.

Most of us won’t get statues or plaques or buildings named after us. But what will you do that will be worth remembering? What will be your memorial? Consider this: the best memorial we could hope for is the same as Mary’s. If our legacy is one of serving Jesus, it will be a lasting and significant memorial, far greater than any physical monument.

[1] REB