Forgiveness = 100% Restoration?

In the Bible, Jesus says that we ought to forgive someone 70 times seven times. In essence, He’s saying we shouldn’t limit forgiveness to a number–that forgiveness, genuine and sincere forgiveness, equals 100% restoration of the broken relationship.

Wow. That’s a pretty tough order to follow. Even for “extraordinary” Christians. Obeying that command in the strictest sense of the word would mean completely emptying yourself of your own pride and seeing yourself as you truly are–just another sinner who God forgave and must therefore “pay it forward” and forgive another fellow sinner.

“To err is human; to forgive divine.” Quite true. Which is why we also need to ask to be filled with God’s Spirit. The only way we would ever beable to live up to what God requires of us is if we are moment by moment soaked in His own Spirit. “Superhuman” Christians may perhaps be able to forgive 69 times seven times or even 70 times seven times but, it is only a Spirit-filled Christian who will be able to forgive as God desires him/her to–beyond the numbers, beyond infinity.