The Debt You Don’t Have to Repay: A Lesson in Grace and Forgiveness

The Debt You Don’t Have to Repay: A Lesson in Grace and Forgiveness

When we rightly divide the Word of Truth, we discover the liberating difference between the conditional forgiveness taught under the Gospel of the Kingdom and the unconditional, finished forgiveness given to us under Grace. In Matthew 18:21–35, Jesus tells the parable of the unforgiving servant: a man forgiven of an impossible debt of 10,000 talents, yet unwilling to release his fellow servant from a mere 100 pence. The King, angered by this hypocrisy, revokes his mercy and delivers the servant to the tormentors. To Israel under the Law, this was a sobering warning—“Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven” (Luke 6:37). Their forgiveness was conditional, revocable, and tied to their performance. Jesus Himself concluded, “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses” (Matthew 18:35).

But when we turn to Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles, we see the glorious shift brought by the Cross. Forgiveness is no longer a transaction waiting to be revoked; it is a finished fact. Paul writes, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). Notice the tense—hath forgiven you. Colossians 2:13 confirms it: “And you, being dead in your sins… hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.” Under Grace, God cannot “un-forgive” you, because Christ already bore the torment for your debt. The ledger is not merely canceled—it is paid in full at Calvary.

Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 16 of 16 - There is therefore now no condemnation)

Start this lesson series here: 
Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 1)

Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 16 of 16 - There is therefore now no condemnation)

Brief summary of sanctification

Due to the holidays, there has been a long break between this new post and the previous post in this series. It is fitting therefore to briefly recap the key points from this study before I wrap up with Romans chapter 8.

If you have followed this study, you may recall that Romans 1 to 4 deals with the concepts of justification, a free gift of God to those who choose to believe in the cross work of Jesus Christ for their eternal salvation. Paul then writes a transitional chapter, Romans 5, that rounds off justification and starts to introduce sanctification, the second part of a believer’s full salvation experience. 

The primary purpose of this study is to inform believers of sanctification which is either ignored, or neglected, due to poor spiritual teachings in the modern church. Salvation does not stop at justification. Though justification saves our souls unto eternal life, sanctification is a continuation of salvation that transforms us into living sacrifices for God’s purpose while we occupy this life, Rom.12:1-2, but also saves us from loss, 1Cor.3:15, and towards the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, Phil.3:14, in the ages to come: which is a measure of the glory of Christ, Rom.8:18; 1Cor.15:41; 2Cor.3:9; 2Cor.4:17; Eph.1:18; Col.1:27; 1Th.2:12; 2Th.2:14.

Paul elaborates on the concept of sanctification in Romans 6 and 7. I refer to the contents of these two chapters as the definition, or two pillars, of sanctification, which involve the knowledge of being dead to sin and being delivered from the law.

Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 14 - Psychology 101)

Start this lesson series here: 
Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 1)

Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 14 - Psychology 101)

THAT YE SHOULD BE MARRIED TO ANOTHER

Rom.7:1  Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?  (2)  For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.  (3)  So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

This passage from Romans 7:1-3 uses an analogy of marriage to illustrate the relationship between the law and believers. The key message is that the law has authority over a person only as long as they are alive. Just as a woman is bound by the law to her husband while he lives, but is free to remarry if he dies, similarly, believers are bound to the law until a death takes place. The important thing to learn from this analogy is who are the role players? 

Though Paul provides context to the marriage analogy from verse 4, and before we look into it, let us consider this analogy and work out for ourselves who the role players are.

The Inner and Outer Man

Paul teaches us in 1Thess.5:23 that every person has a spirit, a soul, and a body. The body is the lifeless outer shell that connects us to the earth and allows us to interact in this realm. The spirit is the breath of God within us that gives life and makes us a living soul, 1Cor.15:45. This means that the soul, according to Gen.2:7 and Mrk.8:36, is truly what you are. The body goes back to the dust, the spirit goes back to God who gave it, and the only part that remains of man is his soul.