Being Christian in Relationships

KEY VERSE: “Even as Christ forgave you, even so do ye.” —Colossians 3:13

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Colossians 3:5-21

THERE is perhaps no other quality of character more Godlike than that of forgiveness. The entire plan of salvation for mankind has been designed around his great desire to forgive men their trespasses. The statement made when God’s plan will have accomplished his purpose is this: “I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”—Jer. 31:34

Jesus came into the world as the living expression of God’s desire to forgive. Redemption required a sacrifice which God himself provided. Jesus, the sacrifice, offered himself willingly in complete heart harmony with his Father. Can such offers of forgiveness ever be fully understood or appreciated? Jesus on one occasion instructed Peter that he should be willing to forgive seventy times seven. This must be understood as a reflection of Jesus’ own attitude toward erring ones, and also that of his Heavenly Father.

In a related parable, Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.” (Matt. 18:23-35) We need not suppose that every detail of the parable that follows was intended by Jesus to represent some truth with respect to the kingdom class. The principal lesson is that the Lord is desirous that every member of the little flock to whom it is his good pleasure to give the kingdom will possess the same disposition of mercy as that which he himself exercises. Mercy is one of the aspects of true holiness, and we are admonished to be holy as God is holy.

While the parable pertains particularly to the kingdom class now being developed, we may take a broader view of the Lord’s mercy than that which is seen in his dealing with his servants of the present age. Divine justice called for the condemnation of the human race to death because of sin, but the love of God provided a way of escape from this condemnation. Thus we read that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”—John 3:16

It was this love of God expressed through Christ, which constrained us to present ourselves in consecration to do his will. (II Cor. 5:14,15) Thus we become his ‘servants’, as designated in the parable, and our appreciation of divine mercy and love should, from the beginning of our service, influence us also to be merciful.

In reckoning with his servants, one is brought before the king who owes him a huge debt. The situation for this servant is hopeless unless the king exercises mercy toward him. The servant does not ask a cancellation of the debt, but merely for the exercise of patience by the king, promising that in time he would make full payment. The king was “moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.”

The servant to whom so much had been forgiven refused to show mercy toward a fellow-servant who owed him but a small debt. His fellow-servants, and the king also, were displeased with this ungrateful attitude, and the unforgiving servant was properly punished. This basic lesson of the parable is clearly set forth in the Master’s teachings. He taught his disciples to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Then he emphasized the importance of this, saying, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matt. 6:12,14,15) There is no limit to the number of times we should forgive those who trespass against us; for there is no limit to the times we need the Heavenly Father’s and our Lord Jesus’ forgiveness.

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