This three-week series, Forgiven: Fully, Freely, Forever, examines forgiveness. Because of Christ’s atoning sacrifice, we have forgiveness of sin and relationship with God. This forgiveness is fully given to all who come to Christ. Because it’s given freely in Christ, Christians can freely forgive others. Also, forgiveness in Christ is not temporary, but forever.
We like things for free. God's forgiveness came at the cost of His Son, but it is freely given to all who follow Christ. We do not earn forgiveness. We receive it as a gift. We are free to forgive others. In Colossians 3:13, Paul wrote, "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Forgiveness is intensely personal. It affects the way we relate to God and interact with others.
Forgiveness, like art, is never finished. It is a daily practice of revision, a constant reconstructing of our understanding of bothe ourselves and those who have hurt us. And, like art, forgiveness requires skill. It's something that must be cultivated - through prayer, through practice, and through patience. Forgiveness doesn't yield instant results, but it does yield enduring peace.