" . . . To Forgive Is Divine"

 " . . . To Forgive Is Divine"

A man named Alexander Pope (1688-1744 AD), apparently penned the famous phrase, "To err is human, to forgive is divine," in a poem he wrote in 1711.

 

Both parts of his statement are true and profound.  We fallen sinners are thoroughly characterized by "error"; and God alone, in Christ alone, established the splendor of forgiveness.  Nothing in this sin-wrecked world is more glorious than forgiveness (all based in Christ); and no one on this fallen sod of the earth is more beautiful than a forgiving human being (all in Christ).

 

Forgiveness is so serenely-gorgeous, stunning, lovely, and attractive, that the angels themselves marvel at it, (cf. 1 Pet. 1:12).  Though the elect angels have no personal experience with or of it (forgiveness)--they realize that mercy emanates from the very being--let alone character--of the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Forgiveness, ultimately in Jesus' bloody atonement and glorious resurrection, is supernaturally breathtaking in its magnificence; and when we sinners experience it, and give it to others, we partake of this otherworldly glory.

 

We sometimes speak of all the universe of fallen sinners as being absolutely distinguished by regeneration or non-regeneration, election or reprobation, the true church (or "Israel") and everyone else. . . . But, we could also, with just as much truthfulness and accuracy, speak of those who are forgiven (and who forgive), as opposed to those who are not forgiven (and who hence do not forgive).

 

I suspect--though I would never want to venture to "prove" it by examination--that some professing Christians actually think that they have the prerogative not to forgive some other fellow fallen sinner.  If this is true--and someone actually thinks this--they are making a fatal mistake.  Our Lord Jesus Christ made it abundantly clear, that those who do not forgive other sinners, are not (themselves) forgiven their sins (by God Himself).  And, to not be forgiven one's sins, is to be abiding in sin, death, condemnation, judgment, and (impending) hell.  Our Savior could have said a lot about His "Lord's Prayer," given to us in His "Sermon On The Mount," but He reserved His only commentary on any of the Prayer's phrases for the one touching on forgiveness, (see Matt. 6:14-15).

 

A human sinner who arrogantly refuses to forgive another sinner, preposterously seeks to place himself on the throne of God.  The humble sinner who receives God's forgiveness in Christ, and who grants it to other sinners, makes himself "like" his Great God.

 

Forgiveness does not mean that sins are not dealt with.  On the contrary, sins are only (positively) "dealt with" in and through the blood atonement of Christ.  Even when a non-regenerate sinner is forgiven sins (by a regenerate Christian churchman), this does not mean that the sins (of the unrepentant) are not "dealt with" by the Holy God.  They are; but we, as God's children, have done not only what is our duty (in forgiving); we have also done what comes "naturally" to souls cleansed by the redeeming blood of Christ.

 

Have ALL our sins been forever removed from us, by the sacrifice of the Son of God on the cross, and by the application of His atonement to our hearts via the Holy Spirit's regeneration of our souls?  If so, let us rejoice "with joy unspeakable and full of glory," (1 Pet. 1:8b).  If this is so, we will--not "might"--forgive other sinners, even out of our filial fear of our Holy Triune God.

 

Rev. Mark J. Henninger

Treatise #114

30 June 2026

 

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