DO WE HAVE A CHANCE?
Peter approached Jesus and asked him the question, "Master if my brother goes on wronging me how often should I forgive him? Would seven times be enough?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21-22.
How much is that, seventy times seven? That is a whopping 490 forgiveness. Can we forgive someone who has hurt our feelings 490 times?
Most of us have difficulty forgiving one painful experience, never mind forgiving someone who has offended us 490 times, especially when he or she has never apologized to us even once. What is the implication when we forgive someone who has offended us? It is telling the other party that he is okay assuming that he doesn’t hurt us again.
How about if he should offend us again next week and ask for forgiveness again? Should we forgive him? Yes, we should. The fact that he humbles himself and asks for forgiveness should tell us that he tries to do the right thing, but he fails, again.
What is Jesus telling us about Himself in this verse? I believe that He wants us to know that He is also willing to forgive us when we ask. When we ask, He is willing to give us a second chance. A second chance for what? A second chance to repent. Another chance to make things right with Him. When we ask, we are asking Him to give us another chance, another chance, and more of the same - another chance.
The Bible tells us that Adam and Eve have never asked God for the forgiveness of their sins. Would things be different today if Adam and Eve had asked God to forgive them? Someone says that nothing will be different because they have to suffer the consequences of violating God’s laws. But, what do you think?
And so, when will God stop forgiving us of our sins if we ask? NEVER! He will never stop forgiving us when we ask. It is we who are telling Him that we don’t want His forgiveness by our refusal, persistent refusal, to repent. When we constantly refuse to repent, like King Pharaoh of ancient Egypt did, there is nothing more that God can do for us.
"Therefore, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy [against] the Spirit will not be forgiven men. "Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the [age] to come.” Matthew 12:31-32
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