Forgiveness And Liberation (An Article y Donny Meyer)

JANUARY 4, 2024

 “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)

Children today want forgiveness without correction. Whatever forgiveness is administered without correction from their authoritative figure and change within themselves or the pursuit of change within themselves, they are fashioned into a people who lose interest in forgiveness. They care nothing for forgiveness, but rather become a people who expect everything from everyone regardless of their actions. That’s the very culture that we live in today. That’s the work of men’s hands.

And when the authoritative figure holds to discipline with the pursuit of fashioning their children into the individuals they ought to be, that is considered abuse. These authoritative figures are threatened by our society and informed that if they do not conform to what society says is right, then they will be disciplined. If they are parents, they may lose their children…and so on. In such an environment, we fashion people who care nothing for righteousness and expect all of their actions to be received favorably.

That’s the very thing that is produced whenever we declare that Christ died so that we may be forgiven to the neglect of the totality of Christ’s redemption. It is promised that He has come to deliver His people from their sins. Forgiveness for sins is a part, and a huge part, of Christ’s redemption, but it does not make up the whole. Jesus is the Liberator, and He came to set His people free from the dominion of sin. He does so by giving of His Holy Spirit which He prayed the Father to send when He ascended up on high. (John 14:16) In His sermon on the mount, Jesus declares “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Matt. 5:6) Those who are blessed are not only concerned about forgiveness, but they are concerned about righteousness. They are a people who not only want to be forgiven but want to be changed. They are a people who not only want the consequence removed but want to be delivered from their sin that has brought about the consequence. It would only be right to say that they are preeminently concerned about their deliverance from their sins above and beyond their freedom from the consequences. These blessed people are those who not only hear about Christ’s full work, and who long after it, but who come to Christ by faith and receive all of God’s promises in Christ.

Most today will receive a message that declares to them that the consequence of their sins is removed if you keep back from them the whole offer. The offer of the gospel is delivered from sin. The first two foundational doctrines of Christ are repentance from dead works and faith in God. This, most people do not rejoice in because not everyone hungers and thirsts for righteousness. Most do not see their need to be delivered from their sin, let alone care for deliverance from their sin. But the Lord blesses those who do hunger and thirst for righteousness. He does so not only by forgiving them but making His home in them. He pardons sinners of their sin, while also delivering them from their bondage to sin. He changes their hearts as He has promised He will do. Those who are truly found in the faith are not perfect until they enter into Glory, but they are a people longing after perfection and striving unto that end in and through the grace of God. Where there is a forgiving hand of God upon an individual, there is also His sanctifying hand. Without repentance, there is no forgiveness. As Christ told Peter, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” (John 13:8)