More Than Forgiveness

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Luke 6:37 says, "Forgive, and you will be forgiven." The Greek word translated as forgive in that Scripture is apoloo'oh. In Acts, the same word is used to speak of the disciples 'sending away' the other disciples on their journey. We tend to think of forgiveness as an overlooking of sin. But the word apoloo'oh means far more. God's forgiveness isn't just to overlook a sin. It's to literally 'send it away.' Forgiveness is an act of actively sending the sin or issue into the hands of God, never to be taken back. When the disciples sent the other disciples on their journeys, they laid hands on them, prayed for them, escorted them out of the city, or sent them off on ships - apoloo'oh. So it is with God's forgiveness. It isn't enough to overlook sin, you have to take the time to send it out of your life once and for all. Take that offense, hurt, or wound, and by the power of God's love, escort it out of your heart, and life. Set it off in a ship of grace, into the sea of God's mercy.

From Message #153 - Notes on Forgiveness