Surprised by Grace (6): You have to forgive: Is it work? Or is it grace?

“What is the key difference between Catholicism and Protestantism?” The teacher started the class.
“Catholics think they would need to do good to get to heavens. Protestants say they only need to believe.” Almost the entire class said the same thing. They are just Primary Sixers but they knew.

This seems to typify evangelical caricature of Catholics, thought by many to be legit.

Or is it?

Once St Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive his brothers. Would seven times be good enough?
Jesus’ immediate reply is 70x7 (Mt 18: 22).

What aggravated matters was Jesus immediately spoke a parable, the concluding sentence of which says, “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” (Mt 18: 35)

Clearly how you treat others determines how Father treats you.
Isn’t that work?
Why blast Catholics?
Why makes Protestants so pure and superior?

Are you surprised?

Two things are clear:
1. You have to forgive
2. Forgive from your heart.

The parable in Mt 18: 23-34 serves to elaborate on 70x7, while it is encapsulated by verse 35.
Both verse 22 and verse 35 talk about “forgive”.
The parable in between talks about “forgiving debts”.

That’s enough of interpreting the passage. Leave it to the scholars.

It all revolves around debts.
Our debts to the Father.
Others’ debts to us.
The former dwarfs the latter, hugely (How much? Again, let scholars and pastors fill you in).

That’s how we should calculate in our hearts.
That’s how we should approach forgiving.

How?
We owe God a debt much greater, and yet forgiven.
So see others’ offences, or debts, as insignificant.
Let go.
Cancel the debts.
Forgive.

This appears to be “by works”.
But the first step of the calculation—forgive from your heart—begins with faith.
Faith trusts in grace of forgiveness.

Surprised?
Grace forgives, notwithstanding the magnitude of debts.

The greater the debt, the greater the surprise, the closer it will be to 70.
Times 7.

It begins with faith.
It builds on grace.

Surprised?