God’s forgiveness: My rebirth.

Let’s talk about how God’s forgiveness changes our evil hearts. How does that even make sense??? How can forgiving someone who has hurt me possibly change them into loving me even more??? In Jesus’ upside down kingdom, it makes all the sense in the world.

Have you ever deeply loved someone, yet they somehow hurt you? Maybe you were the one that hurt them. This event shatters the relationship, never to be the same again. We’ve all experienced this in our lives. It’s all too common. It’s the cancer of the world: broken relationships.

But here’s something that happens less often: Forgiveness. I have hurt you, destroyed your trust in me, and tainted your perception of me. Realizing my mistake, I admit my fault, apologize and ask for your forgiveness. Yet instead of choosing revenge (or the more typical response from our generation: to cut me off) you decide to forgive me. Something changes in that relationship.

The one who committed the offense now finds a new appreciation for the relationship. I begin to be more gentle, trying my best not to sever the relationship again. I become more conscious of my actions, trying not to hurt you again. Having tasted being so close to losing you, I never want to go back there. Because you forgave me.

This only works when I acknowledge my fault. I cannot genuinely ask for forgiveness if I truly do not see the wrong in my actions. Empty apologies defeat the purpose. Healing can only start when the offender truly comes to terms with the reality of their actions, without blaming something or someone else. Only then, can an apology and forgiveness heal a broken relationship.

God's kingdom works in this way. The cornerstone of our Christian faith. As we truly acknowledge how we have hurt, disappointed, dishonored and broken our relationship with our creator, we realize why we so desparately need God's forgiveness. And because of Christ’s selfless sacrifice, he forgives us.

This is why “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6

This is why “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” - John 3:16

Let us continue to be blatantly honest with ourselves. Acknowledging our sins daily.

May we ask for our Fathers forgiveness, genuinely.

Let us remember Christ’s sacrifice, given out of unconditional love.

Finally, may we accept His forgiveness and move forward in our renewed relationship with him.

We are born again. Born into a new covenant relationship with our Father.