Why Should We Be Forgiven?

“Why should I forgive you?” – Jeremiah 5.7, CSB

What a powerful and sobering question. I could try to answer with a long list of things that I’ve done over the years, and yet all of my good deeds are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64.6). I could try to compare myself with others who do worse things than I do, telling myself that even with all of my faults, I’m still a good person. And yet I’m still left with the same conclusion. I could try to pretend that the righteousness that I now have before the Father is something that I now have responsibility for. And yet it’s not. That’s been imputed to me. 

The only answer to God’s question here is this: you shouldn’t. There is nothing in and of myself that I can bring before the Lord as a reason why he should forgive me. All that I can do is fall upon his grace and mercy and receive the forgiveness that he so beautifully and wonderfully offers to me. What a precious and beautiful gift it is to be forgiven. 

“Come, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are crimson red, they will be like wool.” – Isaiah 1.18, CSB

“I am the one, I sweep away your transgressions for my own sake and remember your sins no more.” – Isaiah 43.25, CSB

“Who is a God like you, forgiving iniquity and passing over rebellion for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not hold on to his anger forever because he delights in faithful love.” – Micah 7.18, CSB

He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. – Colossians 1.13-14, CSB

And read this one slowly as it sinks deeply into your soul:

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding – Ephesians 1.7-8, CSB