For What it’s Worth…

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.

Repentance, the other half of the message in the bookends of Jesus’ ministry, is the turning away from anything that gets in the way of whole-hearted allegiance to God. It’s both a turning from sin and a turning to God. Anything that distracts us from God or threatens to usurp God from his rightful place in our lives needs to be repented of. For some people it might even be “unforgiveness” of which they need to repent. If, as Jesus’ words state, failing to forgive places one outside the community of forgiven people, then an unforgiving heart must be confessed and then renewed by God’s Spirit.

For other people I have met though, it’s the receiving of forgiveness that proves problematic. Perhaps it’s because receiving a free gift from God runs against our grain – we’re not used to un-earned blessings! For the same reason some people are reluctant to accept something that costs them nothing, yet obviously cost God dearly.

Others have their “hands full” and just can’t accept the gift that’s being offered. God in his grace offers forgiveness and Christ has paid the price so that forgiveness can be provided, but some people are too busy holding onto things; status, busyness, pride, even past hurts, and they’re not ready or not able to accept. What a tragedy that some would miss forgiveness because they’re too caught up in the experiences of this world.

Jesus’ ministry starts and ends with a call for repentance and an offer of forgiveness. Both are necessary if those we know are to take their place in the community of God’s people.