The Debt Exchange
- Pastor Nathan Harding
- Apr 9
- 1 min read
Based on Matthew 6:14–15, Matthew 18:21–35, and Romans 12:19–21
💡 The Idea:
When Jesus saves you, He purchases all of your spiritual company—your value, your sin-debt, and even the debts others owe you.
🔄 Forgiveness: A Spiritual Transaction
Your soul is like a spiritual company: Assets = Your value and potential. Liabilities = Your sin, mistakes, guilt. Receivables = What others owe you (hurt, betrayal, injustice).
When you accept salvation: Jesus pays in full to buy the whole company. He takes: What you owe (your sin-debt). What others owe you (emotional IOUs, pain, wrongs).
❌ The Wrong Way to Think:
“Forgiving means forgetting or pretending it didn’t happen.” Forgiveness is not excusing behavior. Forgiveness is not trusting again right away. Forgiveness is not saying it didn’t hurt.
✅ The Right Way to Think:
Forgiveness means handing over the debts to Christ. You let Jesus collect what’s owed—not you. You’re not Heaven’s debt collector. Jesus owns it now—He’ll handle it justly.
🔥 Let This Sink In:
You can’t hold emotional IOUs and be truly free. Salvation is 100% conditional on your willingness to forgive (Matthew 6:15). Forgiveness is an act of trust in God’s justice: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Romans 12:19).
🛐 A Prayerful Response:
What debt am I still holding onto? Am I willing to let Jesus collect what’s owed to me? Have I tried to collect on something that now belongs to Christ? Do I believe that God's justice is better than my revenge?
✝ Final Thought:
“You can stand in heaven and say, ‘They owe me nothing—Jesus paid it all.’” Let Christ carry it. Let Christ judge it. Let Christ redeem it.
Comments