Forgiveness and God's Sovereignty in Christian Relationships
Christian forgiveness operates within a framework where divine sovereignty and human responsibility intersect. Scripture commands believers to forgive one another precisely because God has first forgiven them—a pattern established in Colossians 3:13, which instructs believers to forgive "even as Christ forgave you" [1], and echoed in Ephesians 4:32, where kindness and forgiveness mirror "God also in Christ forgave you" [2].
The Divine Model and Human Obligation
The command to forgive is not merely ethical advice but flows directly from the character of God's own forgiveness. God's pardon is granted "freely," "readily," and "abundantly" [4], rooted in his sovereign mercy rather than human merit. Easton's Dictionary distinguishes pardon as "an act of a sovereign, in pure sovereignty, granting simply a remission of the penalty due to sin" [4], while noting that forgiveness of sin constitutes "one of the constituent parts of justification" [3]. This divine forgiveness, accomplished "in Christ" [6], cost God the death of his Son, yet "costs us nothing to forgive our fellow man" [6].
The imperative to forgive is unlimited—extending to repeated offenses [5]—and must be "accompanied by forbearance" and "kindness" [5]. John Gill's commentary on Colossians 3:13 specifies that believers must forbear "to render evil for evil, or railing for railing, or to seek revenge" [8], forgiving "all trespasses and offences, so far as committed against themselves" [8]. The motivation is explicitly theological: "it is but just that you in turn shall be so to your fellow men, who have not erred against you in the degree that you have erred against God" [6].
Sovereignty in Forgiveness
God's sovereignty appears in both the granting and withholding of forgiveness. Joel 2:14 acknowledges that "God is not obligated to restore us merely because we perform certain rituals. Forgiveness comes only through divine grace" [9], though God remains "inclined to forgive" [9]. This sovereignty extends to the conditions under which human forgiveness operates: Scripture warns that "no forgiveness without" our own forgiving posture [5], linking divine and human forgiveness in Matthew 6:15.
The pattern is clear: forgiving others becomes "a natural and good response to experiencing God's forgiving grace in Christ" [7], making interpersonal forgiveness both a command and a reflection of divine character in human relationships.
Sources
- Colossians “bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. -- Colossians 3:13”
- Ephesians “And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you. -- Ephesians 4:32”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Forgiveness of sin — One of the constituent parts of justification. In pardoning sin, God absolves the sinner from the condemnation of the law, and that on account of the work of Christ, i.e., he removes the guilt of sin, or the sinner's actual liability to eternal wrath on account of it. All sins are forgiven freely (Acts 5:31; 13:38; 1 John 1:6-9). The sinner is by this act of grace for ever freed from the guilt and penalty of his sins. This is the peculiar prerogative of God (Ps. 130:4; Mark 2:5). It is offered to all in the gospel. (See [219]JUSTIFICATION.)”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Pardon — The forgiveness of sins granted freely (Isa. 43:25), readily (Neh. 9:17; Ps. 86:5), abundantly (Isa. 55:7; Rom. 5:20). Pardon is an act of a sovereign, in pure sovereignty, granting simply a remission of the penalty due to sin, but securing neither honour nor reward to the pardoned. Justification (q.v.), on the other hand, is the act of a judge, and not of a sovereign, and includes pardon and, at the same time, a title to all the rewards and blessings promised in the covenant of life.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Forgiveness of Injuries — Christ set an example of -- Lu 23:34. Commanded -- Mr 11:25; Ro 12:19. To be unlimited -- Mt 18:22; Lu 17:4. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 7:4. Motives to The mercy of God. -- Lu 6:36. Our need of forgiveness. -- Mr 11:25. God's forgiveness of us. -- Eph 4:32. Christ's forgiveness of us. -- Col 3:13. A glory to saints -- Pr 19:11. Should be accompanied by Forbearance. -- Col 3:13. Kindness. -- Ge 45:5-11; Ro 12:20. Blessing and prayer. -- Mt 5:44. Promises to -- Mt 6:14; Lu 6:37. No forgiveness without -- Mt 6:15; Jas 2:13. Illustrated --”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 4:32: (Luk 7:42; Col 3:12). even as--God hath shown Himself "kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving to you"; it is but just that you in turn shall be so to your fellow men, who have not erred against you in the degree that you have erred against God (Mat 18:33). God for Christ's sake--rather as Greek, "God in Christ" (Co2 5:19). It is in Christ that God vouchsafes forgiveness to us. It cost God the death of His Son, as man, to forgive us. It costs us nothing to forgive our fellow man. hath forgiven--rather as Greek, "forgave you." God has, once for all”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:32: 4:32 Forgiving fellow believers is a natural and good response to experiencing God’s forgiving grace in Christ (cp. Col 3:12-13; 1 Jn 4:19).”
- Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 3:13: Forbearing one another,.... Not only bearing one another's burdens, and with one another's weaknesses, but forbearing to render evil for evil, or railing for railing, or to seek revenge for affronts given, in whatsoever way, whether by words or deeds: and forgiving one another; all trespasses and offences, so far as committed against themselves, and praying to God to forgive them, as committed against him: if any man have a quarrel against any; let him be who he will, high or low, rich or poor, of whatsoever age, state, or condition, and let his quarrel or com”
- Joel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Joel 2:14: 2:14 Who knows? Joel’s simple question acknowledges God’s absolute sovereignty (see also Jon 3:9). God is not obligated to restore us merely because we perform certain rituals. Forgiveness comes only through divine grace, but Joel knew that God was inclined to forgive (Joel 2:13).”