I would like to say that we forgive as an act of obedience to the Father and for His glory. Any time our philosophy involves the veneration of man it is off the mark. Jesus said that our obedience is an expression of our love FOR THE FATHER. Jesus said that if we love Him (Jesus) we will obey Him. Obeying Jesus is obeying the Father. They are One. So, in that regard, to forgive is an act of love - not for the benefit of man (although all people involved benefit from forgiveness), but to the glory of the Father! Remember when Jesus asked Peter three times (as many times as Peter denied Him), "Do you love me?" When Peter acknowledged that he loved Jesus what did Jesus do next? He gave Peter something to DO. Jesus instructed Peter to care for His sheep. Jesus has commanded that we love God, first, and then love others. Love requires the actions of love. Forgiveness is an act of obedience to the Father for the one who loves Him, to the glory of the Father. The one in unforgiveness is the one in rebellion.
When Jesus was in distress over His impending death, he said (in John 12:27-28), "Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came out of heaven: "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." What Jesus did He did for the glory of God the Father because He loves Him! Jesus' love for mankind was the second love. Jesus' love for the Father was His first love and prompted His obedience for the glory of the Father. Jesus set the example for why and how we take up our cross, and forgive.
Isaiah 1 and Ezekiel 36 are the litmus test to what I am asserting here. Please read these chapters. They are so important to learn from in our perceptions as to "God so loved the world" in John 3:16. God loved the world 'in this manner' - to HIS GLORY!
In a portion of Isaiah 1, in verses 18-20, it says, "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool. IF you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land; But IF you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." Truly, the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
In verses 26-28 God goes on to say, "Then I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning; After that you will be called the city of righteousness, a faithful city." Zion will be redeemed with justice and her repentant ones with righteousness. But transgressors and sinners will be crushed together, and those who forsake the LORD will come to an end."
We see here God's deliberate plan of forgiveness and salvation for His people foretold. We see that it is conditional. In Ezekiel 36 God makes it very plain why He does this. Here is a portion of that scripture.
Ezekiel 36:16-36 says:
Then the word of the LORD came to me saying, "Son of man, when the house of Israel was living in their own land, they defiled it by their ways and their deeds; their way before Me was like the uncleanness of a woman in her impurity. Therefore I poured out My wrath on them for the blood which they had shed on the land, because they had defiled it with their idols. Also I scattered them among the nations and they were dispersed throughout the lands. According to their ways and their deeds I judged them. When they came to the nations where they went, they profaned My holy name, because it was said of them, 'These are the people of the LORD; yet they have come out of His land.' But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went. "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD," declares the Lord GOD, "when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight. For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God. Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness; and I will call for the grain and multiply it, and I will not bring a famine on you. I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field, so that you will not receive again the disgrace of famine among the nations. Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations. I am not doing this for your sake," declares the Lord GOD, "let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel!" 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places will be rebuilt. The desolate land will be cultivated instead of being a desolation in the sight of everyone who passes by. They will say, 'This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.' Then the nations that are left round about you will know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted that which was desolate; I, the LORD, have spoken and will do it."
Here God makes it clear that His forgiveness, redemption, and restoration of fallen people is for the vindication of His Name! It is for the sake of His Name. While He carries our sins away as far as the east is from the west and remembers them no more, we do not forget our sins. When we have been redeemed and restored to life we look back upon our sins and abominations and, in our own sight, we loathe ourselves for them! We are ashamed and confounded - deeply regretful. So, in obedience, we forgive others their sins for the love of God and for the glory of His Name. In this we express our love for others, as well. If we do not forgive we are not forgiven. We are among the transgressors and sinners who will be crushed.
Glory to God for His perfect justice, full of mercy and compassion! Glory, honor, and power to His Name! May His Name be vindicated in all the earth. He has glorified His Name, and He will do it again. Let us glorify the Name of our Father in Heaven! Praise be to Him that He has shown His love for us in this way! Hallelujah! To God be the glory forever and ever, Amen.
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