Judgment and Forgiveness

Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.  [Acts 10.28]

How we look at people matters. 

To some degree, all of us have been groomed to judge others. 

Whether a person is a liar, thief, murderer, adulterer, sodomite, pervert, or any other type, it is not the responsibility of any Christian to judge that person. Jesus said:

If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” [John 20.23]

So, how important is it that we forgive people instead of judging them? According to Jesus' words, it could have eternal consequence upon them! But, regardless what our personal forgiveness of others accomplishes, it remains critical for us to forgive because Jesus also said:

But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. [Matthew 6.15]

Unforgiveness apparently cancels faith's effectiveness. Jesus forgave the world upon the cross:

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” [Luke 23.34a]

However, Jesus' forgiveness of the world only makes the way for faith of the individual to work. Had Jesus not forgiven us, there would have been nothing for our faith to accomplish - there would have been nothing to believe in. Had the bearer of our punishment not forgiven us faith would be useless.

While it is true that nothing but faith pleases God (Hebrews 11.6), it is also true that misplaced faith is of no consequence. To "believe" in God without Jesus as the focal point is to miss the mark entirely:

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. [John 14.6]

If then, we are to please God, it will be through Jesus Christ. And, if we are to be identified with Jesus, it is absolutely necessary that we are identifiable as Jesus. In other words, we are to look and act like Jesus, and particularly so as it pertains to forgiveness. It is forgiveness, not judgment, that saves:

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. [John 3.17]

Father, help us to get it right regarding judgment and forgiveness.