The true Christian knows that forgiveness is his deepest need. It has been aptly said that if God were not willing to forgive sin, heaven would be empty. The cross is the cost of our forgiveness. "If anybody imagines that God could simply forgive us in the same way that we forgive one another, he has not yet considered the seriousness of sin." (Anselm) "It would tire the hands of an angel to write down all the pardons God bestows upon true penitent believers." (William Bates) "God has never promised to forgive a single sin that man is not willing to forsake." (John Blanchard) Is your faith visible because it is evidenced by action? Jesus is in a house preaching the Word to a standing-room-only crowd. Meanwhile, four men who are unable to enter the room through the front door carry their paralyzed friend atop the house, tear open the roof and let him down through it right in front of Jesus. Jesus does something unexpected. He first forgives the man's sins! Imagine the shock! In ancient times, disabled people were social outcasts. There was no wheelchair accessibility. No care centers. No SSDI. Paralytics were lonely, helpless, and hurting people. This was a desperate man. Yet, to restore his health would save him from decades of suffering, but to restore his soul would save him from an eternity of suffering. Our physical needs may be great, but they will never be as great as our need for forgiveness!
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David Bodanza is the pastor of Mission of Grace Church in Westborough, Massachusetts. He is also a practicing lawyer. He holds an M.Div. degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a J.D. from New England School of Law. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, four...
