I think that some people figure that God should just forgive our sins and let us back into heaven. Look, though, at the how Paul arranges things in this verse:
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, (Ephesians 1:7a,b–ESV)
Paul places redemption through Christ’s blood first, and then layers in the forgiveness of our sins. Is that order significant? Maybe it would seem that forgiveness should come first and then the blood transaction second.
Let’s shift into “analogyville” for a bit and build some scenarios.
First, suppose I am walking down one of those wide aisles at Target. A couple of ladies talking loud enough to make me angry pass by in the other direction and go on their way. If I end up behind them at the register and pop out with, “I forgive you” what good is that? At best I am going to garner suspicious looks and be graciously ignored. More likely some sort of argument will ensue when I have to tell them they are loud. That is surely going to degenerate into something unpleasant, and probably none too quiet.
Second, suppose I am out by the street getting today’s mail when a neighbor looks ups from his yard work and with twinkling eye says, “Guess what?” Before I can even reply he cannot stop his rush of gossip. “Do you know what those kids next door did today?” If I march into that other neighbor’s house and attempt to forgive those misdeeds how well is that going to go over? Yeah, not well. The parents won’t want to hear my attempts at forgiving their child and neither will the children. That is meddling in an argument not my own and Solomon compared that to pulling a dog by the ears.
One of the problems with forgiveness in these contexts is the lack of connection. My efforts at forgiveness are irrelevant, incongruous. By being outside of the circle of communication or the family there is not enough connection to foster forgiveness. It does not make sense.
Forgiveness works when it follows connection. Forgiveness flows in the family.
Redemption first; forgiveness second.
After Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave the redemption price was paid. Satan’s claim on humanity was dissolved. This paved the way for a renewed relationship. In that setting, forgiveness would be meaningful. It would not stoke the fires of offense.
Considering the analogy of family once the custody of the children was removed from the bad parentage of Satan the opportunity for adoption arose. See, Satan only wanted the children for the benefit that comes from them. In the U.S. being a foster parent comes with a subsidy. See the government will give a non-taxable payment for each child and more for special needs children. Unfortunately, these arrangements can lead to abuse and foster children with disinterested parents fare poorly.
Satan was a bad foster parent. He was in it for all the wrong reasons, mainly the ownership claim. Satan only wanted to dominate, to own, and he got it…for a while.
God stepped in and enacting the arrangements he had foreordained so that new family bonds and relationships could be offered. In the new family context, forgiveness of sins became wonderfully relevant.
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