His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that the word “forgives” appears in three different occasions: forgiveness from God, forgiveness issued by the priesthood, and forgiveness among people toward one another. Each meaning has its significance and spiritual limits.
1. Forgiveness from God (direct) God’s forgiveness is the erasure of sin and non-accountability on the last day. Christ alone has the right to forgive by His divinity, as when He said to the paralytic “your sins are forgiven” and the Jews objected because forgiveness belongs to God alone.
2. Forgiveness of the priesthood as an agent of God Clergy do not forgive by their own authority; rather they are commissioned to ask God for forgiveness and the Holy Spirit works in them. The priest first verifies the penitent’s repentance, and he knows the law which says that the penitent’s sins are forgiven, then he prays and intercedes to transfer the sin to Christ’s account. The act of absolution is a prayer, and the priest asks, through the Holy Spirit, that the sin be forgiven.
3. Forgiveness among humans (human pardon) A person forgiving another means renouncing his personal right and pardoning; it does not erase the sin before God for eternity. A person who forgives waives his right, but the erasure of the sin eternally depends on God’s forgiveness which requires true repentance.
How forgiveness works with the priest First: confirmation of the penitent’s repentance; second: knowledge of the law and its ruling that the penitent is forgiven by God; third: transferring the penitent’s sin to Christ’s account by prayer and the sacrament, as shown in David and Nathan’s story where it was said “your sin is taken away.” The Holy Spirit is the effective agent in the priest’s forgiveness, not his human nature.
Relation between human forgiveness and God’s forgiveness The Lord’s Prayer taught us to ask the Heavenly Father to forgive us as we forgive others, so there is a moral connection: whoever forgives people will have his Father forgive him, provided that he is also repentant. Human forgiveness is an act of love and renunciation, but it does not substitute for God’s eternal forgiveness except through true repentance.
Final spiritual message Holiness and divine judgment show that true forgiveness requires repentance and the mediation of the Holy Spirit. We must practice forgiveness among ourselves as an expression of Christ’s love, and turn to God with repentance and atonement to receive the true erasure of sins from Him.
For better translation support, please contact the center.
Biblical Terms – Forgive
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that the word “forgives” appears in three different occasions: forgiveness from God, forgiveness issued by the priesthood, and forgiveness among people toward one another. Each meaning has its significance and spiritual limits.
1. Forgiveness from God (direct)
God’s forgiveness is the erasure of sin and non-accountability on the last day. Christ alone has the right to forgive by His divinity, as when He said to the paralytic “your sins are forgiven” and the Jews objected because forgiveness belongs to God alone.
2. Forgiveness of the priesthood as an agent of God
Clergy do not forgive by their own authority; rather they are commissioned to ask God for forgiveness and the Holy Spirit works in them. The priest first verifies the penitent’s repentance, and he knows the law which says that the penitent’s sins are forgiven, then he prays and intercedes to transfer the sin to Christ’s account. The act of absolution is a prayer, and the priest asks, through the Holy Spirit, that the sin be forgiven.
3. Forgiveness among humans (human pardon)
A person forgiving another means renouncing his personal right and pardoning; it does not erase the sin before God for eternity. A person who forgives waives his right, but the erasure of the sin eternally depends on God’s forgiveness which requires true repentance.
How forgiveness works with the priest
First: confirmation of the penitent’s repentance; second: knowledge of the law and its ruling that the penitent is forgiven by God; third: transferring the penitent’s sin to Christ’s account by prayer and the sacrament, as shown in David and Nathan’s story where it was said “your sin is taken away.” The Holy Spirit is the effective agent in the priest’s forgiveness, not his human nature.
Relation between human forgiveness and God’s forgiveness
The Lord’s Prayer taught us to ask the Heavenly Father to forgive us as we forgive others, so there is a moral connection: whoever forgives people will have his Father forgive him, provided that he is also repentant. Human forgiveness is an act of love and renunciation, but it does not substitute for God’s eternal forgiveness except through true repentance.
Final spiritual message
Holiness and divine judgment show that true forgiveness requires repentance and the mediation of the Holy Spirit. We must practice forgiveness among ourselves as an expression of Christ’s love, and turn to God with repentance and atonement to receive the true erasure of sins from Him.
For better translation support, please contact the center.