A thief may steal something from
another man and do so without any qualm of conscience. But even a thief, without exception,
will be angry if someone else steals something from him. This
illustrates quite clearly that he knows it is wrong to steal,
even though in his corrupt and selfish nature he can excuse
his own wrongdoing. Paul states that even the Gentiles,
who were not given the law written in tablets of stone, nonetheless
have the principle of the law ingrained in them. For when the
Gentiles which have not the law do by nature the things contained
in the law, these having not the law are a law unto themselves,
which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their
conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile
accusing or else excusing one another. This is demonstrated
quite clearly by the fact that every man in the flesh believes
in an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Even young children
manifest this very principle when they are struck by another
child or a favorite toy is taken from them. True forgiveness is
not just an action taken now and then, but is rather a state
of mind produced by the Spirit of God, causing the children
of God to have regard towards the mercy of God, which has been
demonstrated towards them. The fruit of the Spirit in the
child of God causes him to delight in forgiveness. The legalistic
mind of the flesh is that which demands satisfaction, or at least
a credible apology before granting its own version of forgiveness.
It is this legalistic mindset which holds the notion that one
should not grant forgiveness unless he sees fruits of repentance
in the offending party. The fruit of the spirit produces
a mind which is not concerned with apologies, but rather is
impossible to offend. That man who is led by the Spirit
of God hopes to be found with the same mind which was in Christ
Jesus as he prayed for his tormentors. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive
them, for they know not what they do. No one apologized to
him nor asked for forgiveness. He prayed in this fashion because
that was his nature, as a perfect man who had the Spirit without
measure. Long-suffering, forbearance,
patience, tenderness, and kindness are necessary parts of forgiveness.
And where you find one, you will find the other. It is the evident
work of the spirit when these attitudes are found, and the
obvious work of the flesh when they are disregarded and set
aside in favor of justice. Has not Christ given us His example,
who when He was reviled, reviled not again, when He suffered,
He threatened not? There is a certain aspect of
forgiveness which relates to the legal remission of sin which
Christ did undertake in his own body on Calvary's tree. Yet the
primary meaning of forgiveness as it is set forth throughout
the scriptures is not the legal satisfaction itself, but rather
the result of the legal action which the Lord is pleased to
apply to the conscience of those called. When John says, if we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.
He is not saying that the legal standing of the sons of God is
dependent on them confessing their sins. The legal standing
of the sons of God is those whose sins are paid for by Christ is
not in any wise dependent on their own actions, but rather
in that work which Christ undertook in their behalf. Yet the application
of forgiveness is brought to them through the work of repentance,
which is wrought in them by the Spirit of God, causing them to
confess their sins and thus enter into the joy of the Lord in their
own conscience. As a man is humbled by the Spirit
to see Christ as that perfect substitute, he can then taste
the forgiveness of God. This is an ongoing work of the
Spirit in them, causing them to confess their sins while being
reminded of His blessed work as their advocate both in the
past and at the present moment. Thus it is impossible for a hard-hearted,
unforgiving man to have his own sins forgiven. That man who is
without repentance has no enjoyment of the blessings of redemption
in his own soul. And O'er the land they stripped
down from our home.