Have you ever done anything that you think is unforgivable? Most of us have. When we truly understand the perfection of God and the standard He expects from us, we can be overwhelmed by how guilty and unforgivable we are.
Jesus spoke a lot about how we should behave. Matthew records Him speaking about God’s love and how we are to live life. “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).
Be sure to read the previous verses to see the full meaning. The first time we read of God requiring perfection is when God chose to make a covenant with Abram, promising he would have a son, and establish the Jewish nation.
“And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect” (Genesis 17:1).
God changed his name to Abraham and gave him the land we now call Israel. God’s promises always come to pass, and the nation of Israel was established in the land God gave to Abraham. Was Abraham always perfect? No. Has the Nation of Israel always been perfect? No. Yet we see God’s love and forgiveness when we study the history of Israel. God gave the Law to teach about God’s perfect standard and for the protection of His chosen people.
The Law of Moses was the standard. If a person was raised in a Jewish household, it was habit to eat in a kosher manner and live daily life in a way that pleased God. Were they able to live perfectly? No more than we can live perfectly today. The Jewish Law was a “works” related way of life. In other words, they had to do things in order to be right in God’s eyes. When they failed, they had to make an animal sacrifice to atone for their sin.
“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22).
God doesn’t want anybody to die in sin, and always has provided a way to be forgiven. The Old Covenant (before the cross) required animal sacrifices; the New Covenant (after the cross) requires forgiveness only through the blood of Jesus. No matter what sin I commit, if I repent…truly repent…His blood takes my sin away. Then, it’s important that I don’t continue in that sin. Jesus healed a paralyzed man and told him to not sin anymore.
“Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee” (John 5:14).
What sin had this man committed? Whatever it was, the truth of Jesus’ words is for all of us. “…sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee” (John 5:14b).
We must turn from our sin; whether or not we can see sin’s effect on us, it comes between us and God. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
Jesus is always willing to forgive us when we truly repent.
We must remember that when Jesus walked this earth, He came first to the Jewish people to offer the Gospel to them. Therefore, the lessons we read in the Gospels have a very Jewish message, but the truth is for all.
Jesus told a parable about forgiveness that is very special and speaks to all of us. A man who seems to be wealthy has two sons. “And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living” (Luke 15:12).
This request affected both sons. Inheritance was usually done after death, but the younger son wanted his share immediately. That meant the older son would also get his share. Did this mean that now the older son had all the responsibility of ownership of herds and paying servants? All of this while baby brother went off and had fun. I can understand why the older brother wasn’t happy when his brother returned, but I’m jumping ahead.
The young brother soon left and went off to a far country. I’m sure the country he journeyed to had a very small Jewish population, and therefore he was living a life that didn’t honor God’s Law. Too often, this happens in a Christian family. One or more of the children may rebel and run off to find a better life, living in a sinful manner. Sin never brings a satisfactory life.
The young son found out that a life of sin isn’t as great as he thought. He wasted all of his money. Then a famine came along and he was in need of food. He had no friends to help him, so he found employment from a man who sent him to feed the swine. Since the audience hearing this parable was Jewish, they must have been astonished. Swine are very unclean animals and something to be avoided.
“And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him” (Luke 15:16).
That just added to the horror. Eating food meant for swine was unthinkable.
How long did it take until the young man realized what a wonderful father he had and how even his servants were blessed by him?
“And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!” (Luke 15:17).
The young man had made his own trouble and was reaping the evils of the sin he had sown, but he finally realized things hadn’t been so bad living under his father’s rules. The young son decided to humbly return to his father, admit his wrong, and ask to be forgiven and hired as a servant. Yes, he repented and turned from his sin. So, off he went.
“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).
This father was overjoyed to have his son back. The son had changed his mind about his sin, but now it was time for him to confess to his father.
“And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son” (Luke 15:21).
Instead of condemning him, the father called for the best robe to be put on his son, a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet, as well as for a calf to be slaughtered. It was to be a joyous party!
“For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry” (Luke 15:24).
Sin had separated father and son, but the son was still his father’s son. The father in the parable is a picture of God; the younger son is a picture of every sinner saved by grace. What about the older son? Was he happy to have his brother back? Not hardly.
“Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant” (Luke 15:25-26).
He was told of his brother’s return and the party that was going on. The older son became very angry and refused to join in the celebration. So, the father went out to talk to him.
“And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and ye thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf” (Luke 15:29-30).
Oh my, big brother was in a snit. It’s interesting that he seemed to know what his younger brother had been doing, yet he didn’t try to bring him home. Had he sent spies to watch him? Was the older brother jealous of the younger brother for having chosen to sin rather than honor his father? It makes me think of how Christians treat each other. We live in our pious self-righteousness, and when a member of our Christian family chooses to sin, we look down on them. When that sinner repents and turns from the sin, do we condemn that person, or are we joyous?
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
That is a comfort. We have the assurance of forgiveness, but first, we, like the prodigal son, must recognize we have sinned, confess that sin, and ask to be forgiven.
“And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found” (Luke 15:31-32).
I’m so thankful that God forgives my sin. He will forgive yours too. The older son had missed his own blessings while focusing on his brother’s sin.
Don’t be fearful of the reaction of fellow Christians and their condemning attitudes. Sadly, this happens too often among believers. We forget our own sinful acts, but look down on a humble, broken sinner who comes humbly to God.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18).
All sin can be forgiven. Even the sin of condemning those whom you feel don’t live up to your own righteousness.
If you’re asking if God can forgive you, the answer is yes. There is no sin bigger than God’s love. Repent, turn from sin, and turn to God. He loves you. He’s watching for you to come back to Him.
God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
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All original Scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.
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“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Psalm 122:6