The Cloak of Forgiveness, Part 1

July, 2007

by: Shelbi Cullen

In Colossians 3:12-13, Paul lists eight pieces of virtuous clothing that are owned and should be worn by every believer. He says we are to put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness,  patience, forbearance, and forgiveness. These virtues are to cover like a new cloak on the new man. And because the phrase, to “put on,” is an imperative verb, putting on these virtuous clothes such as forgiveness is a command that must be obeyed at once!

More specifically, when you wear these virtues, like forgiveness, what you’re really doing is demonstrating the love and kindness of God. The word Paul used for forgiveness in the Greek (charizoma) literally means to forgive in the sense of treating the offending party graciously. It carries with it the idea that we are to “stand ready and eager to forgive” when a repentant sinner comes to us. This heart attitude is demonstrated in the parable of the prodigal son.

After the prodigal son had squandered his property in reckless living (Luke 15:1-24), he realized what he had done and repented. Then he headed home to ask forgiveness of his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, felt compassion, and ran to embrace and kiss him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. This my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ ” This is charizoma; it is being eager and ready to graciously forgive an offending party.

Paul adds in Colossians 3:13, “…if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive” (ESV). This means that when someone is at fault because of sin or perhaps an error in judgment, Christ’s forgiveness is what we are to model. This model can be found in the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:21-35).

The Greek word Christ used for forgiveness in that parable is afeeyamee, meaning to leave behind as to forget, or to release out of prison and to act toward the person as if he or she had never committed the crime. In addition to “standing ready and eager to forgive,” when a repentant sinner asks for your forgiveness and you extend it, from that point forward your relationship with that person is to be reconciled, meaning you treat that person as if he or she had not sinned against you. Genuine forgiveness chooses deliberately not to mention, recount, or think about that sin ever again. Isn’t that what God promises us? He forgives us all our iniquities and promises us that He will not remember our sin (Isaiah 43:25).

Jesus describes for us what the forgiven slave did later, which is often sadly reflective of how we choose to react. The forgiven slave went to one who owed him a relatively small amount, demanding repayment. This person could not repay it at that moment, and he begged the forgiven slave for patience. The forgiven slave was unwilling to forgive the debt and threw him into prison (Matthew 18:28-30), picturing how heinous and wicked it is when a believer refuses to forgive another. Remember, God has forgiven all believers an un-payable debt for unrighteous rebellion against Him. So, how can any believer not forgive a relatively small, payable debt of another person?

So how about you? Are you like our great Lord and Master who stands eager and ready to forgive? Or are you like the unmerciful servant who was unwilling to forgive? Consider this: Christians are the most forgiven people in the world; therefore, we must be the most forgiving people in the world. Next month, I’ll list seven biblical principals to assist in putting off an unforgiving heart and putting on the cloak of forgiveness.