 |  |
(2). "Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving (charizomai) one another, even
as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you (charizomai)" (Eph. 4: 32).
This word conveys the idea of an act of grace:--
"Graced Him with a Name that is above every name" (Phil. 2: 9).
"Freely give us all things" (Rom. 8: 32).
Such is the glorious message of the forgiveness of sins. Those sins have been "put
away", "cancelled", "blotted out". Their debt has been remitted, the debtor set free.
This forgiveness is found in the shed blood of Christ, and in the rich grace of God, and is
so established in righteousness that His righteousness has been manifested even in the
remission of sins that were committed before Christ came. Whenever and wherever
forgiveness is granted it is the glory of the gospel that "He is faithful and just to forgive",
even though the whole scheme and provision is an act of mercy and free grace beyond
our power to fathom.
He who minimizes or throws doubt upon the sacrificial work of the Son of God, who
discredits the shedding of His precious blood, is an enemy to our true peace, a destroyer
of the gospel's sweetest message. It is not only written in Hebrews, in Ephesians, and in
Romans (three great epistles indispensable and priceless), that without the shedding of
blood is no forgiveness, but it is found in the mouth of the believer in the day of the Lord.
Converted Israel cry: "Unto Him that loveth us and loosed us from our sins by His
blood" (Rev. 1: 5).
"Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart (apoluo, same word "forgive",
Luke 7: 47) in peace, according to Thy Word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation"
(Luke 2: 29).
#20.
The precious blood of Christ.
pp. 81 - 85