Forgiveness and the Gospel

Deep Dive into Cornerstone by Jeremy Prayer - Forgiveness and the GospelForgiveness, as defined through gospel principles, is a profound and active engagement that transforms the one who forgives. It is fundamentally about applying the gospel to one's suffering, prompting an individual to gaze at the cross and consider what Christ did for them on their behalf. This act is a costly activity, as it means absorbing the liability that someone else deserves to pay and releasing them from punishment, precisely mirroring Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary.True forgiveness is where love overpowers hate, a work of the Spirit of God that washes away bitterness and replaces it with love for those who have caused pain. It stems from a deep understanding of one's own sinfulness and the purchased forgiveness and justification received through Christ. Recognizing that one has committed greater sins against God than any person against them, coupled with the realization of Christ's righteousness imputed to their account, melts the heart to a place of delighted obedience, making forgiveness a desired act.The personal story of John Perkins, a civil rights activist, powerfully illustrates this. After suffering immense injustices, including the murder of his brother and his own brutal beating, he battled intense hatred. Through meditating on Christ's suffering on the cross, his hatred was replaced with love, making him feel "stronger than ever."As taught by Milton Vincent, forgiveness is a commanded act to forgive immediately, not permission to delay until emotions align. It is not dictated by feelings or emotions, which are merely the "caboose," but by the mind's understanding of truth. Forgiveness is also presented as a transaction that happens "in a moment of time," rather than a gradual process, ultimately bringing resurrection power and life to the forgiver.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianPatreon: patreon.com/edi_reformed