Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Pastor's Ponderings, September 15, 2020

To err is Humane; to Forgive, Divine 

“To err is Humane; to Forgive, Divine.” This quote was written by the English poet Alexander Pope, in the poem An Essay on Criticism, Part II, 1711. “Pope explains that, while anyone can make a mistake, we should aspire to do as God does, that is, show mercy and forgive sinners.”  However, hearing about the unrelenting inhumanity expressed by some people and reading about recent examples of cruelty to others makes us want to despair for all of mankind.

 

We all have a tendency toward evil (Psalm 51:5).  That is why we need someone to rescue us from ourselves.  We need a Savior.  Although we may think we would never stoop to the level of people we read about we routinely justify committing other sins, Jesus went to the cross for all of our sins so that we could resist disobedience to God (1 Peter 2:24).  Miraculously, Jesus became the sacrifice so that we could be in right standing with Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). Because He forgave all of our past, present, and future sins we therefore ought to forgive others of their offenses against us (Ephesians 4:32).

 

When we forgive others, we demonstrate Jesus’ nature in us.  Because He forgave us from the penalty of disobedience, we can forgive others for what they have done to us.  We can do this because we can do everything through Christ who gives us the strength to do so (Philippians 4:13).  In our humanness, we will err, make mistakes, and commit sin but to forgive those who have offended us means that Jesus has taken up residence in us.  The divinity of Christ in us allows us to forgive others. Let us follow Christ and forgive like He has forgiven us.

 

Psalm 51:5

New International Version

5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

 

1 Peter 2:24

New International Version
24 "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed."

 

2 Corinthians 5:21

New International Version

21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

 

Ephesians 4:32

New International Version

32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

 

Philippians 4:13

New International Version

13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.



 

 

 

 

No comments: