Welcome to “Forgiveness”:
For the grace of God hath appeared bringing salvation to all men.
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
Someone’s at your door.
Life changes us – but how?
Our forgiveness for others: takes time
Things change — in the world, in our lives, and even in the way we understand God. Over the years, the concepts in this article have carried different names, each one reflecting where I was on the journey. “Thou shalt have no gods before me” came first, born from a desire to take God more seriously. Later came “Forgiven,” when I began to realize that faith doesn’t start with what we do for God, but with what God has already done for us. And then there was a lot of study and reflection on my life as I tried to understand more deeply what that grace meant.
Looking back, those shifts weren’t just website updates. They were markers of growth — reminders that forgiveness isn’t instant, and none of us learn it all at once. We grow into it. We return to it. We rediscover it. And maybe that’s why forgiveness matters so much today: because every one of us is still learning how to live it.
Even the image you see here has been changed. The original was blue, to indicate the sun just dropped below the horizon, God’s sacrifice of HIs own Son was complete – our salvation was securely in place with that ultimate sacrifice.
The next version had the image converted to black and white. There’s a time when we focus on the cost paid for the way we live our lives. Yes, we’re saved. But was it worth it? We feel like we don’t deserve salvation. That it must’ve been for someone who wasn’t as bad as us. Black and white was fitting. Funeral colors for the Son of God.
Now, it’s the black and white image, until it reaches Jesus’ cross. Salvation is complete. For us under the New Covenant, forgiveness is now instant. As followers of Jesus, every sin we committed in the past is forgiven. The sins we’re committing right this moment, as I’m typing and you’re reading, are also forgiven. And so is every sin we’ll ever commit, for the rest of our lives. Instantly forgiven.
Our ability to forgive changes over time – but how?
However, we’re not so quick to forgive. Our forgiveness is slow coming. Often incomplete when it does come. And sometimes, it never does. Even though ours are forgiven instantly.
Jesus even forgave the very people who were killing Him – while He was dying!
The Crucifixion – Luke
23:33-43 pp — Mt 27:33-44; Mk 15:22-32; Jn 19:17-24
Lk 23:26 As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then
“ ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’ 31 For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Lk 23:32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
Lk 23:35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”
Lk 23:36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
Lk 23:38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Lk 23:39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
Lk 23:40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Lk 23:42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’”
Lk 23:43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
And then one of the men hanging with Him was granted salvation. Do you think you could do that? I’d like to think I could, but there’s not a lot of conviction or assurance behind that thought. There’s a huge difference between what we know in our heads as opposed to what’s actually in our hearts. But that’s a topic for another day: “Forgiveness in the heart versus forgiveness in the head”. It’s coming.
Do bad things in life have to make us bad?
Lots of things have happened in the world lately, even most of the time, it seems. Many of them are bad. There’s lots of things that have happened in my life over the years – some bad – but ultimately good. Who knows – maybe the things in the world will turn out for good as well. Hopefully – they will.
But in that previous paragraph – there’s the answer as to why this new take on the topic.
Lots of things happen – to all of us. Lots of those things are bad.
We do lots of things as people. Lots of those things are bad.
Many people look at God as our judge – waiting to catch each and every bad thing we do – and punish us for them.
But what about the text on the picture at the top of this page:
We often forget about the Good News, like grace, forgiveness, and salvation
One of the things we forget about has to do with the image at the top. If you paid close attention to the fine print, you noticed that it’s from the New Testament book – Titus. Yes, Titus. It’s a real book. Not exactly one that likely gets a lot of attention. Even from me. This’ll be only the second time I’ve quoted from it. (oops)
(opening) – Titus
Tit 1:1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— 2 a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, 3 and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,
Tit 1:4 To Titus, my true son in our common faith:
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
Yes – it’s from Paul. Makes it hard to realize it’s not in here more.
For the grace of God hath appeared bringing salvation to all men. Really?
Later in the letter to Titus, Paul wrote to tell him what needs to be taught to followers of Jesus.
What Must Be Taught to Various Groups – Titus
Tit 2:1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
Tit 2:3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
Tit 2:6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
Tit 2:9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Tit 2:15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
Yes – one little sentence in the middle of a bunch of other sentences that we probably don’t want to hear. But then, isn’t that what becoming more holy, more like Christ, all about? It’s about transformation. The parts we like – no problem! But the ones we don’t like? Well, that’s another story. If we remain dead set against changing, we won’t change, no matter how good it could be for us.
The Gospel of Jesus was The Good News. Really.
The Gospel of the Christian Bible is supposed to be about good news. The vast majority of people – I think – would agree that the things above are good. At least until they heard Christianity was involved. Then – many would start to talk about how judgmental Christians are – how they live by laws that say “don’t do this” – “don’t do that” – “don’t do anything” (especially if it’s fun!).
But that feeling isn’t reflective of what Christianity is about. Take a look at this –
The Calling of Matthew – Matthew
9:9-13 pp — Mk 2:14-17; Lk 5:27-32
Mt 9:9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
Mt 9:10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
Mt 9:12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
If you don’t already know – tax collectors were the scum of Jewish society at that time. They were Jews – collecting taxes from Jews – that went to the Roman Governor – and went to Rome to go to Caesar. So – Caesar got what he wanted, which was already a lot. But the governor wanted a piece too, so his percentage got added to what had to be given to Caesar. And then there’s the tax collector. He wasn’t getting paid – so he had to take care of himself. He added even more onto what the people had to give in order to cover Caesar, the Governor, others along the way, and himself! No wonder they were so hated.
And yet – that’s exactly who Jesus was looking for. Jesus saw this tax collector. Remember – Jesus Himself was a Jew. Then He goes over to him – and just says two little words. “Follow me”. And he did. Levi, whose name was changed to Matthew, author of the first Gospel, asked no questions – he just got up, left everything and followed him.
This Jesus – who so many people think is so awful they don’t want to have anything to do with “His” church – a tax collector left everything he had, not even telling the Governor that he worked for – or the other people that worked under him – without a second thought. That doesn’t sound like something one would do for Jesus was as bad as some people think He is.
And it’s not just the tax collector Levi. It happened to others as well.
Jewish leaders went to Jesus in secret to learn from Him. Think Nicodemus, who was the one Jesus was speaking with in the famous John 3:16 verse.
After His death and resurrection, lots and lots of people were willing to die for Him and the promises He made that they would be with Him forever!
Jesus can’t possibly be that bad!
What’s going on here?
How is it that the message of Christianity has gone from one that was so good that people were willing to die for it – to one that is apparently so bad that people will do pretty much anything to avoid it?
Did Jesus change? No!
Did the message change? Apparently.
The Bible even warns about the possibility that this will happen.
In another part of the Bible, the author of Hebrews writes about God’s grace.
The passage is rich, but it can also be difficult for people who are new to the faith or unfamiliar with biblical language. Since we’re talking about the Good News here, I’m including the Good News Translation (GNT) because it expresses the heart of the passage in a clear, accessible way.
However, for consistency — and because many readers use the NIV as their reference point, especially in bilingual or foreign‑language editions — I’m placing the NIV text first. The GNT follows as an additional explanation for anyone who finds its wording more helpful.
Warning Against Refusing God – Hebrews
Heb 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.
…
Good News Translation of Warning Against Refusing God – Hebrews
Heb 12:14 Try to be at peace with everyone, and try to live a holy life, because no one will see the Lord without it. 15 Guard against turning back from the grace of God. Let no one become like a bitter plant that grows up and causes many troubles with its poison. 16 Let no one become immoral or unspiritual like Esau, who for a single meal sold his rights as the elder son. 17 Afterwards, you know, he wanted to receive his father’s blessing; but he was turned away, because he could not find any way to change what he had done, even though in tears he looked for it. 1American Bible Society. (1992). The Holy Bible: The Good News Translation (2nd ed., Heb 12:14–17). American Bible Society.
Is this what’s happening?
Are we turning people away from God – because what we’re saying is like a bitter plant that grows up and causes many troubles with its poison.
If it is true, if that’s what’s happening – and it is – then neither Jesus nor the message has changed. Just the way we deliver the message. Maybe even to the point where there’s no message at all – or that it’s unrecognizable.
Let’s check that out.
Missing Grace: What ever happened to the good news?
Last night I was reading a book by Philip Yancey called Vanishing Grace: What ever happened to the good news?
It starts off with a phrase from the letter just referenced, from the NIV, as we just read it.
See to it that no one misses the grace of God…
I think the issue here is that not everyone is the same. Philip Yancey writes about this in the book –
✏️ “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view . . . until you climb into his skin and walk around in it,” said Atticus Finch, the fictional lawyer in To Kill a Mockingbird. According to the experts, that process is not so simple and actually involves four encounters, not just two.
Imagine that I encounter a Muslim for the very first time. I meet him and he meets me. Lurking like ghosts behind those two encounters , though , are two more: my image of who he is and his image of who I am. I think of terrorists and the Taliban; he thinks of American drone missiles and internet pornography. We both have our vision clouded by preconceptions formed from news stories, Hollywood movies, and all the other stereotypes involved when two races and cultures confront each other.
Something similar happens when I meet an atheist. As soon as I tell him I am a Christian writer and he tells me he is an atheist, the preconceptions kick in. For true dialogue to occur, we must cut through those stereotypes and genuinely consider the other’s point of view. Perhaps this is part of what Jesus meant when he said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
I thought about this process when I came across four common complaints about Christians in a magazine published by Christianity Today:
- You don’t listen to me.
- You judge me.
- Your faith confuses me.
- You talk about what’s wrong instead of making it right.2Yancey, Philip (2014-10-21). Vanishing Grace: What Ever Happened to the Good News? (p. 34). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
Philip Yancey from: Vanishing Grace: What Ever Happened to the Good News
And you know what? Jesus talked to people in different ways too. When He spoke to Jewish leaders that were putting unnecessary burdens on the people, when He spoke to people that “should have known better” – He spoke in one way.
But when He talked to the average person – people like you and me that weren’t perfect and didn’t claim to be perfect and didn’t think we were better than everyone else and didn’t think we had it all together while everyone else was messed up – then He spoke in a different way. Then He never did the four things that people complain about regarding today’s Christians.
And that’s important. Because – no matter what anyone who thinks they’re a Christian might say – following Jesus is a journey, not an instant conversion to a perfect person.
It’s not instant. It is a journey. With ups and down.
Yes – it’s a journey. Jesus said “I am the way and the truth and the life.”
I am the way
Before they were called Christians the followers of Jesus were calling themselves The Way. Those were the people who, after Jesus was resurrected, were willing to die to follow Him, to follow The Way to where He was going, to be in Heaven with Him for eternity.
Their message, the good one, that’s the one we should be giving.
Make no mistake, Jesus also said to repent. But that wasn’t His first message to these average everyday people. No. His first message was to have faith and to be forgiven because of that faith. What came after that, it was different for each person. He doesn’t have a cookie cutter approach. He doesn’t follow the “gray suit” approach to life where everyone looks and acts exactly the same. Far from it.
This same Jesus also said –
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
That line came in the middle of comparing the people to sheep whose caretakers were acting more like thieves who were stealing, killing, and destroying them.
The Shepherd and His Flock – John
Jn 10:1 “I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
Jn 10:7 Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Jn 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
Jn 10:14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
One of the problems today is that we don’t even realize we’re choosing, even electing, the very people Jesus is warning us about. And therefore, we don’t even know the Good News is good news, because we mistakenly think we have it great already.
This is the message the tax collectors and other sinners heard when Jesus spoke.
Hopefully, yes, over time, we start to realize the life that Jesus has in mind for us, then what we want in life will change. But that change does not – and is not expected to – take place before even starting the journey! At least it didn’t when Jesus told the message of good news. And, let’s not forget, it is His message that we’re supposed to be telling – not our own.
Oh, by the way, that forgiveness thing. It’s good for anything we have done. Literally – anything. There’s nothing, no matter what some may say, that won’t be forgiven. Some would say if you’ve done certain things – you can’t be in “the church”. Well, maybe not in their “church”. But in Jesus’ church – sincerely ask for forgiveness from Jesus – and you will be forgiven.
One more thing before you go
One other thing I want to leave you with. This is something I think is one of the greatest things in the Bible – something that Jesus said –
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
That’s something Jesus told to one of the churches in the Book of Revelation. They got the worst message of any of the churches. Check it out below. This was a group that just flat out didn’t care about Jesus, one way or the other. And yet, He still offered them forgiveness.
To the Church in Laodicea – Revelation
Rev 3:14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Rev 3:19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
That’s pretty amazing, Jesus offering to sit down and eat with anyone who’s willing to have some sort of feelings about Him. Consider this – Jesus talked with the Jewish leaders who hated Him and the average person who was just trying to survive. It’s the one’s with no feelings at all that were the issue here. And it makes sense. I can tell you, it was eye opening when I realized my anger at God meant two things, very clearly. First – that I did believe God existed. And second, that I also believed He had control over what was happening to me. Then the obvious conclusion was that it’s far better to learn more about Him than to realize I believed all that and still wanted to fight against Him!
How can I reach that conclusion about those who at least had some feelings about Jesus?
What we have to realize – at that time, eating wasn’t just sitting at a table and eating some food. It was meant to convey a closeness beyond just friends sharing a meal. This is the Son of God – telling each one of us that He’s knocking on our “door” – that He wants to be a special kind of friend with us – and all we have to do is open the door and invite Him in.
How cool is that?
That’s the kind of message that even a tax collector can like.
That’s the good news – the way it’s supposed to be told.
For the grace of God hath appeared bringing salvation to all men.
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
Someone’s at your door.
Opening the Door to What Comes Next
Forgiveness isn’t something we master in a moment. It’s something we grow into as we stay close to the One who forgives us.
The writer of Hebrews warns us about bitterness not because God is angry, but because bitterness slowly poisons the very life Jesus came to give. Grace is the antidote — not the grace we try to manufacture, but the grace we receive.
And that’s the heart of the good news:
Jesus doesn’t stand far off waiting for us to get this right. He stands at the door and knocks.
He knows where we struggle. He knows where we’re wounded. He knows where bitterness has taken root. And He still invites us to open the door so He can sit with us, heal us, and walk with us toward freedom.
This post is only the beginning.
In the next part, we’ll look at how forgiveness grows — not as a command we grit our teeth to obey, but as a life Jesus forms in us over time. There’s more good news ahead.
Footnotes:
- 1American Bible Society. (1992). The Holy Bible: The Good News Translation (2nd ed., Heb 12:14–17). American Bible Society.
- 2Yancey, Philip (2014-10-21). Vanishing Grace: What Ever Happened to the Good News? (p. 34). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
Discover more from Which god can save?
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.