She Loved Much
“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Luke 7:47
God forgives sins. In fact, He not only forgives, but God the Son laid down His life to make forgiveness possible. God doesn't forgive us because we earned His forgiveness. He forgives us when we seek His forgiveness on the bases of the great grace He provides through Christ (Colossians 1:13). When Luke says of the woman that "her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much," he does not mean that she was forgiven because of how much she loved Jesus. Rather, he's saying that she loved much because she was forgiven. In other words, her fervent love for Jesus was evidence of her love and appreciation for His saving grace.
Concerning why we should appreciate the forgiveness that is found only in Jesus, Spurgeon noted, “Persons of merely formal religion cannot understand how we can rejoice that all our sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake. Their works and prayers and ceremonies give them very poor comfort; and their unease is no surprise, for they are neglecting the one great salvation and endeavoring to get remission without blood. My soul, sit down and recognize that a just God is bound to punish sin; then consider how that punishment all falls upon the Lord Jesus, and fall down in humble joy at the feet of Him whose blood has made atonement for you. It is useless when conscience is aroused to trust in feelings and evidences for comfort; this is a bad and sorry habit. The only cure for a guilty conscience is the sight of Jesus suffering on the cross. “The blood is the life,” says the Levitical law, and let us rest assured that it is the life of faith and joy and every other holy grace.”
When Luke writes in contrast to the woman who loved much, "but he who is forgiven little, loves little," he's not saying that only someone who lived a lifestyle of sin all their lives can love Jesus much. Our love for Jesus does not spring from comparing our sins to the sins of others. Our love for Christ springs from understanding the great price that was paid, which satisfied the justifiable demands of a Holy God, so that we can be forgiven. In the cross, we see both the great holiness of God and the great love of God. When we look to the cross we see that our sins our grievous, but His love is glorious. We love much when we understand how much we are loved. The more we understand the weight of our sin in view of the holiness and love of God demonstrated of the cross of Jesus, the more we will appreciate the glorious grace of God. The more we appreciate His grace, which is rooted in His love, the more we will love Him. Have you sought His forgiveness in the name of Jesus? If you have, you are forgiven (Romans 10:9-10; 1John 1:9). May we never take His blood bought forgiveness for granted. But instead, let us rejoice and thank Him for His grace and love day by day. Let us thank Him by living our lives to the praise of His glory and grace.
In your service,
Pastor Marco
God forgives sins. In fact, He not only forgives, but God the Son laid down His life to make forgiveness possible. God doesn't forgive us because we earned His forgiveness. He forgives us when we seek His forgiveness on the bases of the great grace He provides through Christ (Colossians 1:13). When Luke says of the woman that "her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much," he does not mean that she was forgiven because of how much she loved Jesus. Rather, he's saying that she loved much because she was forgiven. In other words, her fervent love for Jesus was evidence of her love and appreciation for His saving grace.
Concerning why we should appreciate the forgiveness that is found only in Jesus, Spurgeon noted, “Persons of merely formal religion cannot understand how we can rejoice that all our sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake. Their works and prayers and ceremonies give them very poor comfort; and their unease is no surprise, for they are neglecting the one great salvation and endeavoring to get remission without blood. My soul, sit down and recognize that a just God is bound to punish sin; then consider how that punishment all falls upon the Lord Jesus, and fall down in humble joy at the feet of Him whose blood has made atonement for you. It is useless when conscience is aroused to trust in feelings and evidences for comfort; this is a bad and sorry habit. The only cure for a guilty conscience is the sight of Jesus suffering on the cross. “The blood is the life,” says the Levitical law, and let us rest assured that it is the life of faith and joy and every other holy grace.”
When Luke writes in contrast to the woman who loved much, "but he who is forgiven little, loves little," he's not saying that only someone who lived a lifestyle of sin all their lives can love Jesus much. Our love for Jesus does not spring from comparing our sins to the sins of others. Our love for Christ springs from understanding the great price that was paid, which satisfied the justifiable demands of a Holy God, so that we can be forgiven. In the cross, we see both the great holiness of God and the great love of God. When we look to the cross we see that our sins our grievous, but His love is glorious. We love much when we understand how much we are loved. The more we understand the weight of our sin in view of the holiness and love of God demonstrated of the cross of Jesus, the more we will appreciate the glorious grace of God. The more we appreciate His grace, which is rooted in His love, the more we will love Him. Have you sought His forgiveness in the name of Jesus? If you have, you are forgiven (Romans 10:9-10; 1John 1:9). May we never take His blood bought forgiveness for granted. But instead, let us rejoice and thank Him for His grace and love day by day. Let us thank Him by living our lives to the praise of His glory and grace.
In your service,
Pastor Marco