Imagine hating your little brother so much you arranged for him to be sold on the black market to some stranger in a foreign land thereby getting him out of your life forever. Fast forward your imagination several years where you find yourself arrested on some trumped up charges in some foreign country where you have no access to American jurisprudence. Your fate lies completely with the judge sitting on the bench, and from all appearances you fear he might order you executed. Finally, imagine the judge comes from behind his seat on the bench, calls you by name, takes your hand in his, and informs you that he is your little brother. Would all hope be lost? Would you know you were about to breathe your last?

The first time the English word “forgive” is used in either the NIV or the KJV of the Bible is in Genesis 50:17 when the brothers of Joseph plead that he would forgive them for the crimes they had done to him. Each of them knew they deserved death from the hands of their younger brother for their crimes, but instead they received both life and support.

In Luke 7 Jesus told a story of two men who were indebted to a certain man. One owed just a little, while the second owed more than he could ever repay. Instead of demanding payment he forgave the debts of both. Then Jesus asked, “which man would love their creditor more?” The correct answer given was, “the one who was forgiven the most.”

When God forgives our sins we deserve death, yet instead of issuing justice he grants both life and support. He calls us his children, his brothers. As such we are called not to continually try and pay back the forgiven debt, but to love God to the degree he has forgiven us.

When God saves people from their sin he does much more than just wipe away “all” their offenses. He eternally gives them everything they need for both life and godliness through their knowledge of their Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:3). When they realize all that he does then the only right response is love.

Dana Arledge, Phil Meade, Kevin Farmer, Will Uminn