But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayst be feared (Psalm 130:4) 

Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. (Luke 7:47)

Divine forgiveness evidences itself in correspondent deeds of love, adoration, and obedience. The fruit of divine forgiveness grants grace, place, and security to those who are in Christ Jesus.

Divine Forgiveness Produces Fear of the Lord (Psalm 130:4)

The sins of Israel and of the psalmist are a weight, sinking unto the depths. The psalmist is meditating upon the Lord’s holiness while knowledgeable of his own failings. He is ascending toward Jerusalem and the temple of the Lord in hope; not in his righteousness but in the abounding goodness of Christ. His musings turn from reflection to prayer. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. His prayer is for mercy and redemption. His hope is in the knowledge of the Holy. If our Lord recorded our iniquities who would stand in His Light?

He waits in confident expectation. He watches for the first signs of the light of dawn. He rests with all persuasion for the prosperity of His Word. The Lord is faithful. The Lord is the God of mercy. The Lord abounds in redemption. The psalmist desires forgiveness and the Lord grants it in mercy.

The response to the Lord’s forgiveness is fear; a fear proceeding out of love unto adoration and obedience. Genuine forgiveness produces the gratitude of reverent obedience.

Divine Forgiveness Produces Divine Love (Luke 7:47)

Christ Jesus is partaking of a meal at the home of a Pharisee. A harlot of that city brings an alabaster box of ointment into the home. This “woman of the streets”, weeping, washed the Savior’s feet with her tears and wiped his feet with her hair. She then kissed his feet and anointed them with the alabaster box of ointment. The Pharisee was shocked that this woman touched Jesus and that Jesus permitted it!

Jesus communicates that the expressions of her love to him evidenced the fact that she had been forgiven; her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much. The scriptures manifests forth the fact that her forgiveness was not based on the works of love but that her works of love were produced in response to the Lord’s forgiveness of her many sins – but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. A person forgiven responds in love to the One who has forgiven him.

Fearful Love

Brethren, what joy it is to be forgiven in Christ. No condemnation is our banner. There is no law recording transgression unto death. If there were, who would stand? Forgiveness rests in the Lord. Fear of the Lord is to be our joyful response to being forgiven. Acts of adoration and love flows in and from a heart that has been forgiven by the Lord.

The degree of our fearful love is the measure of our knowledge of sins forgiven. We do not sin in order to love but it is true that if we know our sinfulness and His forgiveness then fearful love is the response of gratitude of a soul that knows the risen Christ.