1 Corinthians 15:8-10
Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain.
Being a Christian changes the way we act, if we take it seriously. When Jesus says, “Follow me,” he invites us into a way of life that can be difficult and demanding, and also meaningful and fulfilling.
Among the many ways in which following Jesus can change the way we behave, one of the most difficult can be learning to forgive. Over the 35 years that I have been an active minister, I have had more conversations about forgiveness than almost any other form of discipleship.
One of the questions I frequently hear is, “Does God forgive everything, or are there some things God does not forgive?” When I am asked this, I suspect that the person asking believes that they have done something unforgiveable, or that they are intrinsically unlovable.
The honest answer is, “There is nothing that God cannot and does not forgive.” When we find it hard to believe this, we should remember the story of Paul, who actively persecuted followers of Jesus, even to the point of having them stoned to death, until an encounter with the risen Christ transfigured him and made him into a different person.
God forgave Paul, and Paul responded to that forgiveness by becoming an apostle. He was deeply aware of his failings and flaws and of the damage and hurt he had caused; he took responsibility for changing his ways and making up for his mistakes, his ‘sins,’ and by doing so he showed those around him that the love of God can change even the most violent, adversarial person.
So, the more difficult question is not, “Can God forgive me?” but, “What can I do to thank God for being forgiven?”
Blessings,
David
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