A practical lesson on Forgiveness.. 1. THE CONDITION OF FORGIVENESS IS FAITH a. This woman's faith was great.. Jesus is well aware of her sin, but as aware of her repentance; so He pronounces her forgiven (48) - on the basis of her faith (50). So we are justified by our faith alone, the faith which brings us to Jesus. Do you confess with your mouth that Jesus is LORD, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead? Then you are saved (cf Rom 10:9).. a. This Pharisee's faith was faint.. Simon too is aware of her sinful reputation, but not yet of Jesus' Messianic reputation: he wasn't even sure He was a prophet (39). So he couldn't give Jesus the honour due to His Name (44-46). Nor could he have been sure that his sins, however petty, were forgiven (41-42). Can you say that you *know* your sins are forgiven? 2. THE CONSEQUENCE OF FORGIVENESS IS LOVE a. The lesser sinner shows lesser love.. Simon did not even perform the niceties of polite society (cf John 13, the footwashing). He poured no water over Christ's feet; he greeted Him with no kiss; he anointed His head with no oil. True, he invited Him to dinner and gave Him a meal; but what uncomfortable table-talk! b. The greater sinner shows greater love.. She poured tears of relief over Christ's feet; she covered His feet with her kisses; she anointed His feet with her precious ointment. What a wonderful public testimony to her new relationship with Him. Do you love the LORD your God with all your heart and mind and soul and strength? Not to do so is to break the first and greatest commandment.. How we need to cling to the Scriptural doctrine of Justification by Faith, if we are to be sure at all that our sins are forgiven (50).. How we need to cling to the Scriptural doctrine of Justification by Faith, if we are to demonstrate at all that we love Christ "who even forgives sins" (49)..
