Our Lord Jesus Christ made it abundantly clear, that those who do not forgive other sinners, are not (themselves) forgiven their sins (by God Himself).  And, to not be forgiven one’s sins, is to be abiding in sin, death, condemnation, judgment, and (impending) hell.  Our Savior could have said a lot about His “Lord’s Prayer,” given to us in His “Sermon On The Mount,” but He reserved His only commentary on any of the Prayer’s phrases for the one touching on forgiveness, (see Matt. 6:14-15).

A man named Alexander Pope (1688-1744 AD), apparently penned the famous phrase, “To err is human, to forgive is divine,” in a poem he wrote in 1711.

Both parts of his statement are true and profound.  We fallen sinners are thoroughly characterized by “error”; and God alone, in Christ alone, established the splendor of forgiveness.  Nothing in this sin-wrecked world is more glorious than forgiveness (all based in Christ); and no one on this fallen sod of the earth is more beautiful than a forgiving human being (all in Christ).

Forgiveness is so serenely-gorgeous, stunning, lovely, and attractive, that the angels themselves marvel at it, (cf. 1 Pet. 1:12).  Though the elect angels have no personal experience with or of it (forgiveness)–they realize that mercy emanates from the very being–let alone character–of the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Forgiveness, ultimately in Jesus’ bloody atonement and glorious resurrection, is supernaturally breathtaking in its magnificence; and when we sinners experience it, and give it to others, we partake of this otherworldly glory.

We sometimes speak of all the universe of fallen sinners as being absolutely distinguished by regeneration or non-regeneration, election or reprobation, the true church (or “Israel”) and everyone else. . . . But, we could also, with just as much truthfulness and accuracy, speak of those who are forgiven (and who forgive), as opposed to those who are not forgiven (and who hence do not forgive).

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