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Most of us have never asked ourselves this question: "Why would/should God forgive us?" I know I haven't. I suppose we haven't asked because we already know the answer -- He loves us. I guess the answer is accurate, but I'm afraid that it's quite incomplete and, in fact, largely misleading. The sense of that answer is, "Why wouldn't He forgive us? He loves us!" The natural conclusion in that sense is "We are lovable." And that would be the wrong conclusion.

The Bible offers a radically different reason for God offering salvation to anyone. In fact, the answer is repeated in multiple places. In Psalm 25, David pleads for pardon for his iniquity:

For Your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my iniquity, for it is great (Psalm 25:11).

The "it" in that sentence refers to "my iniquity". David says, "My iniquity is great!" His claim is that he is guilty of massive sin and in desperate need of pardon, without which he has no hope. On what basis does David pray for that pardon? Because God loves him? No. Because he's so lovable? No, indeed. His iniquity is against God, making him closer to God's enemy than His friend. On what basis, then, does David hope for pardon? "For Your name's sake," is the only answer. David's hope for pardon is not based on anything at all about David or anything at all about God's affection for David. It is based solely on the glory that doing so will bring to God.

We see the same concept offered in Exodus when God threatened to destroy Israel for worshiping the golden calf. In Exodus 32, the people got tired of waiting for Moses to return from Mt. Sinai, so they erected an idol. God told Moses, "Let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation" (Exodus 32:10). Moses didn't appeal to God's mercy. He didn't appeal to Israel's standing as the people of God. He didn't appeal to God's love. He appealed to God's good name.

"Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, 'With evil intent He brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth'? Turn from Your burning anger and change Your mind about doing harm to Your people" (Exodus 32:12).

Moses's plea was for God's good name not to be damaged. It was the right response and God chose not to destroy Israel.

The same concept is found in Daniel's prayer in Daniel 9. Daniel's prayer is a repeated claim that Israel -- including himself -- had sinned and was worthy of all the punishment God had given them. His only claim for himself and his people was for "open shame" (Daniel 9:8). No mention of how God should forgive His people because they are His people. No call for mercy based on their worth. Daniel's prayer is full of "we're only getting what we deserve" (e.g., Daniel 9:13). Instead, Daniel begs for God's forgiveness based on God's good name.

"O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name" (Daniel 9:19).

There it is again. The prayer is that God would show mercy and forgive not on the basis of those who are being forgiven, but on the basis of His own name's sake. For His own glory, God can forgive.

In Ephesians 1:3-14, Paul gives a partial list of "every spiritual blessing" that we have received in Christ. These blessings include being chosen (Ephesians 1:4), being redeemed (Ephesians 1:7), being given knowledge of His will (Ephesians 1:9), an inheritance (Ephesians 1:11), and the seal of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). Paul repeatedly explains the reason for all of these blessings: "to the praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:6,12,14).

As you are worshiping God and enjoying the salvation that is ours, remember ... it's not about you. It's not because God loves you; it's because of God's glory. The fact that He loves you is to His glory alone. Our forgiveness is for His glory. The grace and mercy He gives us is for His name's sake. If He wasn't interested in magnifying His own glory, we would be without hope because our position as "God's people" or the fact that God loves us would be insufficient to provide any reason for our redemption. It is all "to the praise of His glory."

"Refreshment in Refuge" from Gina Burgess

Manifestations of the Spirit