When Grace Confronts Religion: An Instructive Moment with the Master Concerning Forgiveness

Introduction

Once President Lincoln was asked how he was going to treat the rebellious Southerners when they had finally been defined and returned to the Union of the United States. The questioner expected that Lincoln would take a dire vengeance, but he answered, “I will treat them as if they had never been away.” Someone has said, “Nothing is more Christian than forgiveness, demonstrating trust in one who has fallen.” Forgiveness is the greatest failure of religion. Religion dehumanizes, Denominations demoralize. It is said that church members crucify living saints, worship dead saints and shoot fallen saints. The 21 century church has many unpaid bills concerning forgiveness that will be collected on judgement day.

In this account Jesus teaches the Pharisee what real faith and real forgiveness looks like.

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

The Gravity of this Moment - She was a prostitute. She was unwanted. She was judged unjustly. They would hold females accountable for the sin of prostitution but wouldn’t hold the male involved accountable. She was us! How many times have we prostituted our lives. How have we compromised our character. Many times we cheapen our lives with sin.

The Pharisee spirit cares more about appearing righteous than being transformed. Pharisee’s are obsessed with rules, titles, and outward holiness but lacks love and compassion. Pharisee’s love to correct others but resists correction. They use Scripture as a weapon instead of a healing balm. The 21st century Pharisee is the judgmental churchgoer who knows all the verses but none of the grace. They know about God, but they don’t know His heart. They worship their religion, not the Father.

The Greeting that wasn’t Mannerly - Jesus was this man’s invited guest, yet he was treated like a stranger. The traditional hospitality measures were forfeited. No washing feet, no welcoming kiss, no fresh anointing before the meal. This man had an opportunity to serve the Saviour however, he chose to neglect Him. Jesus judged this man heart and found it was cold, calloused and unconscious of his sin. The debt Jesus calls into account is not the prostitute’s it’s the Pharisee’s. Jesus proves Himself a prophet by not discerning the morals of the woman, but the mind of His host!

The Gratitude that was so Modest - This woman was broken. She was grateful to Jesus and earnest with Jesus. Her faith was extraordinary!

Psalm 32:1–2 “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no guile.”

Psalm 34:17–18 “The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, And delivereth them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

The Grace that was Manifested - Precious Jesus full of Grace & Truth! Oh, how His grace flowed unto this woman, who through faith humbled herself kissing and worshipping the Master. It was her faith alone that saved her. The works that she performed were the evidence of her faith, but not the means of salvation. This woman understood the extent of her debt and she appreciated the extent of the Saviour’s grace. Faith alone saves & Grace transforms.

Personal Application

Create Cultures of Restoration - When someone stumbles, respond first with “How can we help you heal?” not “How can we protect our reputation?”

Acknowledge your own debt - Before confronting others’ sins, spend time acknowledging your own need for grace. The degree to which you recognize your forgiveness determines your capacity to extend forgiveness.

Balance Truth and Grace - Speak truth about sin without weaponizing Scripture. we must learn to say hard things with soft hearts.

Examine Pharisee Tendencies - Regular audits of our hearts are necessary. Are we more concerned with others’ opinions than with internal transformation?

Champion the Broken - Actively seek out and welcome those whom religious systems have rejected. Let us make Grace Baptist Church a place where broken people find healing, not judgement.

Practice Hospitality - Like the woman who offered what the Pharisee withheld, demonstrate welcoming to those who feel unworthy. Learn people’s names. Remember their stories. Serve without keeping score. Make them feel they truly belong without being fake and shallow.

Conclusion

The church that will impact the 21st century won’t be the one with the most polished programs or the most rigid boundaries. It will be the community that learns to love like Jesus loved, seeing past reputation to recognize faith, looking beyond failure to celebrate repentance, and extending grace as extravagantly as it has been received. Lincoln’s words about treating the defeated “as if they had never been away” capture the heart of the Gospel. This is how Jesus treat us, not pretending sin doesn’t matter, but covering it so completely that we stand before God as if we’d never been away from Him.