costly

Forgiveness costs more than we are able to pay.

When we forgive someone, we tell them that they no longer have to repay the relational debt that has been incurred. But the debt must be paid for us to be whole. True forgiveness means that not only do we not ask for the payment but also that we don't keep the debt on the record books. Again, the debt must be paid for us to be whole. But we don't have the resources to pay the other person's debt in our lives.

This is why followers of Jesus can truly forgive. We have received a payment that not only covers the debt of others but also our own. It was the perfect payment. It was the offering of a life. But not just a life - The Life. The Life in whom all other life exists. And it was given as a payment for our relational debt with God. But the payment was so huge that it overflows into other people's relational debt to us.

Forgiveness costs more than we are able to pay.