More Than Forgiven -- Graced Upon!

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;" (Colossians 2: 13)

When we read the word "forgiven" we often ignore or overlook the intensity of what that word informs and carries.

"Forgiven" is "charizomai", when means to show favor, to give grace to.

charizomai: to show favor, give freely

Short Definition: I show favor to, forgive
Definition: (a) I show favor to, (b) I pardon, forgive, (c) I show kindness.

 

 

Cognate: 5483 xarízomai (from 5485 /xáris, "grace, extending favor") – properly, to extend favor ("grace"), freely give favor to grant forgiveness (pardon).

5483 /xarízomai ("favor that cancels") is used of God giving His grace to pardon. This is freely done and therefore not based on any merit of the one receiving forgiveness.

 

[5483 (xarízomai) literally means, "to exercise grace, freely show favor," i.e. willingly ("graciously") bestow.]

This is an affirmative, positive promise. God did more than not punish us. He granted us favor in His sight through His Son:

"3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.  " (Ephesians 1:3-6)

This same word carries over into the blessings we receive through Christ Jesus throughout all our lives:

"31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 31-32)

"Freely give" is the same word "forgiven" used in Colossians 2: 13.

The first mention of "charizomai" occurs when Jesus healed someone:

"And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight." (Luk 7: 21)

"gave" is also "charizomai".

When we understand that Jesus did not just die on the Cross to pay for our sins, but also to grant us His grace in all things, we can better appreciate what Jesus did for us in every way.