To Err Is Human, To Forgive Is Divine – Final

Let me end from where I began. I quoted Alexander Pope from his 18th-century “Essay on Criticism”. In his essay he wrote “To err is human, to forgive divine.” Indeed to forgive is divine. However one of the implications of his essay is that humans can take on an attribute of God by forgiving those who trespass against them.

There can be essential similarities between God’s forgiveness and our forgiveness. The following is a list of areas of similarities.

God’s forgiveness is for people and human forgiveness is for people.

God’s forgiveness is personal and human forgiveness is personal.

God’s forgiveness is for wrongdoing and human forgiveness is for wrongdoing.

God makes forgiveness available to the wrongdoers and humans can make forgiveness available to their wrongdoers.

God’s forgiveness may not be recognized or accepted and human forgiveness may not be recognized or accepted.

God’s forgiveness releases the wrongdoer and human forgiveness releases the wrongdoer.

God’s forgiveness brings healing and human forgiveness brings healing.

One Bible passage that has meant a lot to me with regards to forgiveness deals with a resounding reason why we should be quick to forgive. Part of the reason is that we are called to be like Jesus who has forgiven us.

Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Upon reading this verse, how then can we not forgive?

Who is it that you need to forgive? Perhaps it’s time to lay down your grudge and ask God to help you to forgive just as Christ has forgiven you.

Something to think about…