“Forgiveness: A Many Splendored and Complicated Thing” (2)

To forgive is divine.

That is why forgiveness is such a lovely, many splendored thing.  Forgiveness comes from nowhere but from above, from him who dwells in a light no one can approach.

Whatever is of God is many splendored.  But forgiveness is the thing outshining them all.

In forgiveness is the releasing of the debt we owe for having sinned against the most High majesty of God.

Forgiveness is the imputation of the divine righteousness to the account of sinners.  It is the clearing of our guilty record due to the graceful and perfectly just verdict of the Judge not down in city hall but up in Kingdom Hall.

Forgiveness is for the sake of Jesus and his honor, because his blood shed for sinners was the divine work and revelation of all that Love is and the perfect satisfaction of the justice of God in our place. 

This last is why, just why, forgiveness is so many splendored.  It is an honor to the Lord Jesus.  God made the worlds by and for Jesus that in all things Jesus, Son of God, and God in him, would have the preeminence.  Preeminently, God forgiving sinners through the blood and righteousness and love of the Christ is the splendor of his splendor.

Forgiveness.  In and through Christ Jesus.  God is all about that.  God is in that.  His eternal good pleasure was indeed to create, but then also and especially to give—with a giving called forgiveness.   His promise declared among a fallen people was his promise to forgive them, and through this to reconcile a people to himself.

Forgiveness decreed, forgiveness promised is now forgiveness accomplished on the cross.

Oh the cross!  Oh the atoning work of Jesus our Mediator, the Mediator of the divine forgiveness, our forgiveness.  So perfect his sacrifice in our place, so finished his offering  his payment to appease for his own the wrath of God.

Forgiveness now by a living Lord and Savior delivered for our offenses and risen for our justification.

Forgiveness.  Ordained before us.   Promised to us.  Accomplished for us.  Now applied to us.

For faith is given, and the Spirit of Christ—given to the forgiven, given that we might be forgiven, now personally, now so we know, now so we live out of the forgiveness, that divine truth. 

 No more sins or devils with sins or ghosts of the past can rise up against us to accuse, to condemn. 

No more ground is found

No more charge at large

in heaven, earth, or hell,

for the blood bought ones

whose Redeemer  lives

that they might be

forgiven

and set free

from a thousand prisons

to dwell in the paradise of the presence of God

Bliss of bliss.  Partakers of the splendor of the divine forgiveness and peace.

To err is human.  To forgive divine.

Oh that the forgiven would err no more.