1. Life is Brute-ti-ful

- Pains that we cannot erase as a result of other people causing hurts to us
- Personal example: resentment with parents
- How broken relationships need to be restored
- Personal example: needing complete repentance

2. Forgiveness

There are three words used for forgiveness in the Old Testament. The
first Hebrew word is ‘nasa’, which means ‘to bear, to take away.’ The
second word is ‘salach’, which is used only with reference to God
forgiving the sins of people. It means “to pardon” (Isaiah 55:7).
However the origin of the word ‘forgive’ is best represented by the
Hebrew word ‘kafar’ which finds its meaning slanting towards
‘atonement’ and it parallels the word ‘redeem’ (see ‘Yom Kippur’ = Day
of Atonement).

One example of ‘kafar’ being used in the OT is when Noah coated
(kafar) the ark with pitch. This action of covering hence becomes the
concept of the forgiving action. This means that when God forgives us,
He covers our sinful past. It is about the intentional overlooking.

Way back in from the gates of Eden, sacrifice became a part of worship.
Something had to die so that Adam and Eve could be covered. Blood was
spilled, life was taken, for sin to be covered. We see the in Exodus
12 where God instructed the Israelites to put blood on their door post
because “the blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are;
and when I see the blood, I will pass over you” (v.13). This is called
the passover. In the New Testament, with the death and resurrection of
Jesus, there is no more need for sacrifices because the sacrifice of
Jesus is all that is needed for atonement of sin (Heb 10:10). Jesus is
the ultimate sacrifice.

Now, ‘communion’ is also known
as the Lord’s supper. This is actually the old Jewish celebration act
of the passover. It is for all believers to remember Jesus as being
the ultimate sacrifice… but the lesser mentioned fact is this
concept of forgiveness (kafar) – that in Christ we are made a new
creation (2 Cor. 5:17).

So this new month, let us remember Christ. Maybe you have made a big
mess out of the first half of this year; maybe there are still many
past experiences that return to haunt you; maybe all these are
happening because you cannot seem to forgive yourself. May you then
remember that in Christ, you are made new. In Christ you are
completely holy. You are able now to live a life not tormented by the
guilt of your past.

Now the only thing left on our side of the scale is to forgive
(kafar) as how God has forgiven us.