How Forgiveness Works

Making forgiveness real happens when love is restored. One day at a Pharisee’s house, a woman with a bad moral reputation approached Jesus, crying. Her tears wet His feet, which she wiped with her long hair. Then she poured expensive perfume on His feet. Witnesses were offended—"How dare she approach so closely! How dare she show such unrestrained adulation!" But Jesus confronted His offended host by accusing him of not showing any such respect: "Her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

C. Restored health (2 Chron. 7:14)

Second Chronicles 7:14 says: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Forgiveness is linked to health—health in the life of the individual and health in the life of the church. The people "who are called by [God’s] name," the church, have to be ready at any time to repent and turn toward God. And then health will come.

D. Restored relationship (Ps. 32:1-5; Gen. 50:17)

The widow of the man who shot the children in the one-room Amish school wrote a letter to the Amish community, and it was released to the press. It is a powerful letter—one you wouldn’t expect. One paragraph says this: "Your love for our family has helped to provide the healing we so desperately need," she wrote. "Gifts you’ve given have touched our hearts in a way no words can describe. ... Your compassion has reached beyond our family, beyond our community, and is changing our world, and for this we sincerely thank you."

Forgiveness is not just what the world needs; forgiveness is what changes the world.