My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

                                                                                                                           1 John 2:2 

Now that we have identified virtue as an irreplaceable part of the Christian life, let’s look at some principles for dealing with failure. As believers, we should desire to live our lives with all diligence, faith, and virtue, however we live in human flesh and sometimes we fail. Today’s passage reminds us that not sinning is the best way for us to live but when we do, we have an Advocate. When someone is arrested for a crime, they are read their Miranda Rights. Within this mandate is the right to have representation (an attorney) with you when being questioned and throughout the criminal proceedings. This attorney represents the accused and is to act as his/her advocate. Jesus Christ acts as an Advocate in heaven for everyone who belongs to Jesus Christ by faith. Among all of the benefits that we have from this Divine Advocacy, one of the most important to remember is forgiveness. Accepting and receiving forgiveness is essential for a believer to not become entrapped by guilt, shame, and the accusations of the enemy. Virtue is good, but when we fail, we must receive and distribute forgiveness in order to render that failure powerless in hindering us from progressing in our faith. Here are three principles dealing with forgiveness: 

Principle #1: Receive Forgiveness From God

In my own life and in the lives of many others, I have seen firsthand what failing to receive God’s forgiveness can do. When talking about the gospel, often I will hear someone say, “But you don’t know the things I’ve done.” In the lives of many, there seems to be a disconnect between moral failure and God’s willingness to forgive. The idea that somehow the sin we commit is so grand that the love of God can’t respond or reach us, seems to be the spiritual reality that some people construct in their own imaginations. The Bible tells us the opposite. Consider the following:

The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more… 

                                                                                                Romans 5:20

Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

                                                                                                            Matthew 18:21-22 

The grace of God can and does reach the worst of sinners. When we repent and turn toward the Savior, asking Him to forgive us, He does! Jesus taught us that we should be ready to forgive “seventy times seven” meaning that we should forgive as often as is necessary. For the repentant sinner, God is also prepared to forgive as often as needed. In order for us to grow in our faith and continue to be productive for the kingdom, we must meet moral failure by receiving forgiveness from God.

Principle #2: Be Willing To Freely Forgive Others

Another place that can hinder us as believers is the moral failure of others, especially when it directly affects us or someone we love. In this instance, we are to forgive from our hearts, releasing that individual from any penalty or responsibility related to their failure against us. When we walk in the understanding that God is willing to forgive us of our transgressions, we are constantly reminded that we too must have the same attitude. Consider the following:

For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

                                                                                                               Matthew 6:14-15

Jesus teaches us that forgiveness of others, paves the way for us to receive His pardon. Failure to forgive obstructs our receiving forgiveness from God and puts us in a spiritual prison, producing a root of bitterness and keeping us from reaching our full potential in Christ. In order for us to grow in our faith and continue to be productive for the kingdom, we must meet the moral failure of others with a willingness to forgive.

Principle #3: We Must Forgive Ourselves

Sometimes we might find ourselves having receive forgiveness from God and not holding anything against anyone else, yet still find ourselves doing a little mental self-punishing for our own sins. This is completely counter to what pardon from God is to achieve. When we fully understand that, at the cross, God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19) and that, as believers, our sin was cast away “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12), we can live in spiritual victory. That truth is intended to free us from the guilt and shame that comes with moral failure. Consider the following:

For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

                                                                                                                        Romans 13:9

Our instruction to “love others as ourselves” implies that you should care for yourself. When someone is in the mode of self-hatred, something has gone very wrong. Self-deprecation does not bring about the desired result for a child of God. In order for us to grow in our faith and continue to be productive for the kingdom, we must meet moral failure with the ability to forgive ourselves.

Virtue is good, but when we fail, receive forgiveness from God, be willing to pardon others as well, and allow God’s forgiveness to free you to live the abundant life that Christ came to give all who would believe!