Forgiveness

One of the most difficult questions as a believer revolves around the area of forgiveness. When do I forgive? Is there anything that needs to be done first before forgiveness can be offered? These are all great questions, but I think sometimes we make them harder because we begin mixing concepts. When I take a look at the parable of the prodigal son, I see a significant truth... Love is not the same thing as forgiveness. Consider with me the reaction of the Father. Upon seeing his son returning home, he could not contain himself and ran to his son, embracing him tightly. The father had no clue at this point that the son was the least bit repentant. As far as the father knew, he could have been returning to manipulate him for more. Who knows, but what we do know is that the father responded in love before he knew the son was repentant. It was only after the son was repentant that the father restored the son, which is what forgiveness does! Forgiveness always leads to restoration! Restoration cannot take place without forgiveness, and forgiveness can't take place without repentance, but you can extend love without any of them. What did repentance look like on the part of the Son?

1. True repentance understands emptiness! The son didn't go to his father having expectations of restoration or even forgiveness. He knew he didn't deserve anything, not even being made a servant, which was his request. He knew he was empty! He did not deserve anything!

2. True repentance recognizes a violation against God and the other party! The son didn't simply say that he had wronged his dad, he said he had, "sinned against heaven and against you." True repentance toward someone else has to start with God! For one to be truly be repentant toward another, he must be truly repentant towards God! True Repentance brings about restoration, and complete restoration comes only when your repentance is expressed toward God and the offended party.

Read: Luke 15:11-24

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