As I was recently writing a paper attached to a discipleship assessment, the issue of forgiveness and its importance came to the forefront. And the question that has arisen, and that I have been wrestling with, “Is forgiveness, particularly forgiving others, a first-order theological issue?”
For reference, I use Al Mohler’s article “A Call for Theological Triage and Christian Maturity” as my basis for first, second, and third-level issues. First-order issues would be the essential doctrines of orthodox Christianity. Departure from these would be a departure from Christianity. Second-order issues would be something like the mode of baptism and often separate denominations. While Baptists and Presbyterians disagree on the mode of Baptism, they agree on the first-order issues. Third-order issues are those finer points, primarily, as Al Mohler says, in issues of eschatology (and that is all I can think of).
Now, back to the question: Where does forgiving others fit in theological triage?
My snap-shot answer to this question is that forgiving others is a first-order issue. I say this because forgiveness is a central tenet in Christianity and one of the longest-threaded themes throughout the Bible’s tapestry, from Genesis through Revelation. God did not have to allow us to live after the fall in Genesis 3, but he set up a plan to redeem His people, which was first mentioned there (Genesis 3:15). We see it through God’s commands, His compassion, and His laws. Forgiveness happens throughout the history of God’s people, for if it didn’t, God’s people would have ceased to exist.
However, it is in the New Testament, especially the Gospels, that we see forgiveness played out so readily. Jesus is foretold to “save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus Himself was a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45). He even asked God the Father to forgive His captors, “for they know now what they do.” (Luke 23:34). Jesus is the one who delivered us from darkness and in whom we have the forgiveness of sin (Colossians 1:13-14).
God modeled forgiving others by Himself forgiving us. The steadfastly faithful God forgives the predictably unfaithful chosen people of God. So, we must forgive others…
Forgiving others is not only modeled by God for us; it is commanded as well…
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14–15, ESV)
“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”” (Mark 11:25, ESV)
“Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21–22, ESV)
I could go on and on with the verses on forgiveness.
So, as to the question, “Is forgiving others a first-order theological issue?” I stand firmly in the “yes” category.