Not so long ago I heard someone say that grace is forgiveness squared. Not only does it forgive, it takes the offender in, just like Jesus Christ does for us.
Which brings me to something else mentioned within the same context, from a friend who remembered a story dealing with such forgiveness and grace. During Apartheid in South Africa, a man went into a home at two different times to kill a woman’s husband and then her son right in front of her. He got away with it and there was nothing she could do. This was something that happened frequently during that time to many people. After Apartheid, many people were finally given the chance to face and hear from those who had wronged them. The man who had killed the woman’s husband and son took responsibility for what he did and apologized. With the love of Christ on display, the woman forgave him AND told him to come visit her from time to time. She not only forgave, she welcomed him into her life.
As I was looking up this story to see what all I could find (I encourage you to look it up, too!), I found similar stories from separate people under similar circumstances. I have no idea if I’d even want to forgive someone for murdering my family, so it would certainly take the strength of Jesus to get me to do it, and it was Jesus that got these people to forgive this way. One woman (perhaps the same woman I mentioned earlier) didn’t just forgive the man who had murdered her family members, she wanted him to become her son! That is exactly what God does for us!
When we repent, God doesn’t just release our offenses towards Him, He adopts us as His own. God doesn’t let go of the offenses and then let go of us, He lets go of the offenses and pulls us close. God doesn’t just cleanse us from guilt, He takes us in and walks with us from then on.
Related:
Notes on Grace
God’s Mercy and Grace for Granted
The Miracle of Forgiveness
Punishment and Forgiveness
Law and Grace