“But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts.”
Luke 7:42
When you are in debt, whether $50 or $50,000 there’s that anxiety of being in slavery to the lender. And yet when we begin to line up the spiritual with the physical we learn that we are all in debt. We all owe more than we have. Most of us realize this, and many just “turn off the spiritual apparatus” that seems to keep harping on this, and then we tell ourselves repeatedly that it really isn’t true.
But all of us are in debt.
Of course not everyone is the same, we have different sins. Some have lived a deliberately dark, prodigal life (as in “drugs, sex and rock-n-roll”). Others, embracing a strained moralism of some kind, have apparently sinned less (think choir boys, or “Snow White”). But no matter, for “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
And “all” means all. “Fallen” means a complete collapse.
In this parable, Jesus adroitly tells the story of two men who were indebted to a very rich man. One owed a relatively small amount, but yet it was significant enough for this man to worry and to hope maybe for some mercy. He knew that he owed, and knew he lacked the means to pay what was required.
The second man owed far more, many times beyond the first man. This guy was very deep in debt. The modern equivalent was close to $500,000, and in ancient times this would have been a staggering amount of money. But he too held out for mercy; and hoped for the forgiveness of his debt (stranger things have happened).
The astonishing thing is that the rich man completely and unreservedly forgave both.
Kindness alone was what moved the Lender. These two men would be released without any conditions, liens, or liabilities. They walked into the room expecting imprisonment, and they walked out with all their debts forgiven. Plain and simple.
The amazing fact for you and I is this– we have been released from the ponderous weight of our sins, and yet we are really confused. Our sins have been taken from us and we bear them no more! The guilt of our transgressions has been cut away from our souls.
What Jesus did, dying on that cross, not for His sin, but for mine, ours and theirs, allows even the most nasty and vile of us to walk out scot-free.
Some who read this have committed spectacular sins.
You have piled up more sin and evil than others around you. But no matter, it’s all forgiven. It’s time to believe this, repent and then take your pardon and walk out into the bright sunshine as a free man or woman. There is no record of your sins, you can scour heaven and earth looking for it, and yet there is no evidence it ever existed.
Except for His nail-prints.
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Broken Believers 