Faith and Forgiveness: Part III – Transgression, Trespass and Trust

The need for forgiveness arises from a violation of trust and because men are untrustworthy the need is great. From the very beginning men have violated God’s trust. Adam was first when he disobeyed God and ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge that God had entrusted to him. He chose to trust Eve rather than God and men have continued to betray God throughout history. Men violate their trust in each other as well and their covenants and agreements are breeched without thought simply because it satisfies their lust or their pride for the moment. None of us are immune, “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”.

The cost for these violations is great and there’s nothing we can do to compensate God or anyone else for our misdeeds. Without forgiveness our relationship with Him and with others is permanently severed and we are only fit for destruction. From the first violation death came upon man and God told Noah that He would require our blood and our life. Hebrews 9:22 states that without blood there is no remission of sins. Forgiveness is not something we are due and there’s nothing we can do to earn it. It is nothing less than a gift from the giver of all good things, offered through the blood of His own Son because of His love for, and in order to restore us to Him.

Others who are truly forgiving also offer an unmerited gift of love. The nature of men is to exact vengeance. The rule is, “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” and every transgression will be punished. Through Christ we learn to “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:” and that “if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:” The power to accomplish this is only available through Jesus Christ.