When we speak about the word forgive, we may not immediately recognize that it is a transitive verb—a verb that requires a direct object to complete its meaning. Too often, we treat forgive as if it were a noun or simply the subject of a sentence, overlooking its full grammatical and theological implications.
Interestingly, the word forgive doesn’t appear in today’s passage from 1 John, yet its meaning lies at the very heart of the text. God sent Jesus into the world as a demonstration of divine love—a love so complete that it covers our sins. Consider verse 10:
“In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us
and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
This passage points us toward some of the earliest spiritual practices of the Church. In last week’s sermon, I mentioned Tertullian, a theologian of the first century, who was so moved by the love he witnessed among early Christians that he chose to become a believer himself. That’s the transformative power of love made visible in the lives of individuals—spilling over into small groups and eventually shaping entire communities and cultures.
In the early church, this kind of love was countercultural. Believers embraced not only the teachings of Jesus but also the miracle of his death and resurrection as the justification for loving others in radical and inclusive ways. Imagine a church that transcended boundaries—of gender, nationality, race, politics, and more. Real transformation took root in people’s lives at every level.
You may be able to recall other scripture passages where forgive functions clearly as a transitive verb. Now consider this passage again—what is the noun at its center? Is it love? Or perhaps a synonym for it?
In this week’s sermon, I will be discussing the theologian Paul Tillich and his influential work, The Courage to Be, which began as a sermon and later became a widely respected book. Years ago, I had the opportunity to study this work in depth while working with the Ecumenical Institute—also known as the Institute of Cultural Affairs in Chicago. That experience deepened my understanding of love and the word forgive as central practices of life for followers of Jesus.
I hope to see you in worship—whether in person or online.
Peace,
Pastor Todd