Justice and Forgiveness

Justice and Forgiveness

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

In every situation in life, God calls us to walk in His promises and instructs us in the ways of righteousness.  Our church’s current situation arises from a forced entry and robbery.  We were invaded and attacked by both the perpetrators of the crime and the enemy of our souls.  Because our church building and all its contents have been dedicated to the Lord, the ones who committed the crime touched not what was ours, but what was God’s. 

Our building was damaged and goods were taken.  What the thieves did not damage was our relationship with God nor our purpose as a church.  What they did not steal was the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.  We are still walking in love, joy and peace.  We must continue to practice patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 

As servants of God, we are called to balance justice with forgiveness.  Both are required in manifesting the glory of God.  A key scripture for us is: 2 Timothy 2:24-26 (NKJV) “²⁴  And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, ²⁵  in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶  and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” 

We are servants of God and, as such, in humility we must call for the correction of those who have opposed us so that they may repent, know the truth of God and escape the captivity of sin. 

▪Justice leads to repentance.

Repentance comes when we begin thinking differently about ourselves and our relationship with the Lord. Consider Romans 12:2 (NKJV) “²  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Justice can bring us to a reconsideration of our priorities in life and our relationship with God.  That renewed thinking, which is true repentance, will bring about acceptable mindsets, behaviors and relationships.

▪ Repentance leads to truth.

The greatest truth is that God loves us and desires relationship with us.  2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) “⁹  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”   “Jesus loves me.  This I know for the Bible tells me so.”

▪ Truth leads to salvation.

The gospel of John expresses that concept:  John 3:16-18 (NKJV) “¹⁶  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. ¹⁸  He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

No one goes to eternal damnation for breaking the commandments.  The lake of fire awaits those who do not accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and make Him the Lord and Savior of their lives.  He became our Savior when He went to the cross.  He becomes our Lord when we chose to walk in His ways.  

 Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15 NKJV).   When we choose the path of sin, we have not made Him our Lord and Savior; we do not love Him if we do not keep His commandments.

In love and mercy, God has declared, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved” (Acts 16:31).  God’s love and mercy reaches out to those who have come against us.

▪ While we demand justice for the deed, we must forgive the guilty one.

Biblical forgiveness means that even though others have hurt us, we choose not to hurt them in return. We will not speak evil against them.  We will seek justice and not vengeance.

 Forgiveness does not mean that we will not protect ourselves.  We will make our church building more secure.  Forgiveness does not mean that we will overlook or excuse the crime. That is denial and actually enables wrongdoing. 

God does not forgive us because we deserve to be forgiven.  He forgives us out of His mercy and grace. Therefore, we do not forgive others because they deserve to be forgiven.  Our forgiveness must be an act of mercy and grace. 

We must forgive because God has forgiven us. Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV) “³²  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.” 

We must forgive in order to be forgiven. Matthew 6:14-15 (NKJV) ¹⁴  "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵  But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

We must forgive in order to bring God’s peace into our own hearts. Hebrews 12:14-15 (NKJV) ^“14  Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: ¹⁵  looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.”

We will forgive because God has promised to bless us in all circumstances if we are walking in His will. Romans 8:28 (NKJV) “²⁸  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” 

Please pray with us.

Our Father,

We lift before the throne those who have come against us.  We pray for justice to lead them to repentance, for repentance to lead them to truth, for truth to lead them to salvation.  

We forgive as we have been forgiven.  We thank You for the restoration of all things the enemy has tried to take from us.  

You alone are our hope and our salvation, our truth and our light, our peace and our provision.

In Jesus’ Name and in remembrance of the finished work of the cross,

 Amen