Title The Great Pardon / Luke 7:36-50
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Bible Text: Luke 7:36-50
President Kim Young-sam issued a special amnesty for 3,169 people on the 11th, ahead of the 50th anniversary of liberation on August 15, with the aim of clearing the past and making a fresh start. Though the views of all walks of life were different, the subjects were equally happy. In the text, we find a scene in which a woman who is a sinner is forgiven (remission of sins). “Your sins are forgiven you” (verse 47). Today, let's take a look at some truths related to the forgiveness of sins.
First, it is Jesus who proclaims the forgiveness of sins (v. 47).
Under the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, amnesty is the exclusive right of the president. The President may exempt the offender from punishment by extinguishing all or part of the national penal right or the effect of the penal right at his own discretion. We well remember that Korean Air bomber Kim Hyun-hee was sentenced to death in court. She was a death row inmate who had to wait for execution. But the president granted her a special amnesty. As a result, she is now living and working on this land as a free citizen.
If the supreme ruler of a country has such authority, wouldn't it be natural for God, the Creator of the universe, King of kings, and Lord of lords, to have such authority? When Jesus said to a paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven," the Jews around him said, "Who can forgive sins except God?" They showed their faith in God's authority to forgive sins. It came out (Luke 5:21). As mentioned in the text, those who were with Simon the Pharisee with Jesus also had such faith (verse 49).
Jesus is God manifested in a human body. Therefore, he has not only the power to judge (John 5:22) but also the power to forgive sins (Luke 5:24).
Second, the woman's sins were forgiven because of her faith (verse 50).
The woman in the text was an uninvited person. And to the extent that Simon, the owner of the house, knew, he was a sinner who was pointed with fingers in that town. Regardless of how others treated her, she wet Jesus' feet with her tears, washed them with her hair, kissed them, and poured the perfume she had prepared. Jesus said that this woman's many sins were forgiven.
Verse 47 may be misunderstood to mean that her sins were forgiven because of her devotion and service. The Bible says that those who are forgiven are saved because they are freed from the eternal judgment of hell for their sins. Therefore, forgiveness of sins is used synonymously with salvation. See verse 50. Her sins were forgiven and she was saved because of her faith in Jesus, not because of her service to Jesus.
It should be understood that this woman had already believed in Jesus before this happened. Hearing that Jesus was at the house of a Pharisee in the village, he came to us with a precious gift in gratitude for the forgiveness of many sins, and he did his best service. Jesus publicly reaffirmed that her sins were forgiven to those gathered there.
This woman had faith, and that faith was shown in her actions of loving and serving Jesus. If faith is true, works are bound to follow. Therefore, faith with works is true faith and faith that leads to salvation.
“My brethren, if a man says he has faith, but has no works, what profit is it? can faith save him?” (James 2:14)
Third, those who do not have faith cannot receive remission of their sins (verse 49).
There are quite a few people who say that they were penalized or imprisoned as a result of political retaliation when the civilian government was established. However, although there are differences in the degree of this, it is the case in any government and in any country. And the greater the power wielded by the ruler, the harsher the retaliation will inevitably be. The crime of treason was, of course, the most severe. There was a time when the three tribes were destroyed for those who rebelled against the king.
Those who do not believe in God are committing treason against God. They do not acknowledge the existence of God. They do not recognize God's authority over life and death. God is with them, but he is a mana. They insult God by shouting that they cannot have the power of a fingernail on themselves. Where is that? Naturally, they also disregard God's laws and are unwilling to listen to His commands. What kind of king would treat such a man kindly?
"Bring here those enemies who did not want me to be king, and kill them before me."
(Luke 19:27)
Jesus literally declared "a great pardon" so that they could have a fresh start. It is not called a big amnesty by targeting about 3,000 people. It is not a special amnesty where each person is selected and amnested. In legal terms, what he has declared is a comprehensive general amnesty.
“Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
The woman in the text believed in Jesus as the Savior and was forgiven of her sins. However, the people in that house did not receive the benefit of a great amnesty because they did not believe that Jesus had the power to forgive sins. There are too many people in this world who foolishly refuse the pardon of the Lord today.
In 1830 in the United States, a man named George Wilson was arrested for train robbery and sentenced to hang. After that, President Andrew Wilson issued a pardon order. However, he did not accept the pardon. The judges were confused. Should Wilson be released or hanged in this case? The judges were unable to reach a conclusion and referred the decision to Chief Justice John Marshall. After deliberation, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court made the following decision: "A pardon is a piece of paper, and the value of a pardon is determined by the approval of the person to whom the pardon is granted. If the pardon is denied, there is no pardon. George Wilson deserves to be hanged."