At the end of Luke’s gospel, Jesus explains to his disciples that it is written in the Scriptures that, “The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations” (Luke 24:46). That’s the same message that John the Baptist preached as he prepared people for Jesus’ ministry before it even began, “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 3:3).
These twin ideas stand as bookends to Jesus’ ministry. Repentance and forgiveness were central elements in Jesus’ message and ministry and they lie at the heart of Christian experience. Forgiveness is unquestionably called for from all Christians. Jesus warns his followers, “If you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:15). The same command is expressed in positive terms in Luke 6:37, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Forgiveness from God is not an automatic right that we have inherited as part of creation. Forgiveness flows from the sovereign will of God and the Christian community is a reflection of God. It’s a community of forgiven people who forgive. Those who refuse to forgive exclude themselves from this community.