Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Lk. 23:34). Thus prayed Jesus for the ones who crucified him, while he was on the cross, and before he died. Thus spake Jesus before he died, and before the spear entered his side, when his blood and water gushed forth. Jesus is the Christian's example. It takes self-control to so pray for one's enemies, yea, even the enemies of righteousness. If this was not right, Jesus would not so have prayed. Stephen had the same spirit, He prayed for those who killed him. Like this did he pray: "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge" (Acts 7:60). Paul asked mercy for the ones who forsook him, "I pray God it may not be laid to their charge," he said (2 Tim. 4:16). And of Alexander, Paul said, "The Lord reward him according to his works" (2 Tim. 4:14). No thought of personal vengeance, at least no mention of it. He had already said, "Alexander did me much evil." Job had been lied upon by his three friends (if such could be called friends). They, too, like Job, and Job's wife may have been having a tussle with the devil, and they (the friends and wife) may have been somewhat influenced by Satan to do what they did. Anyway, the Scripture says: "And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends" (Job 42:10). In view of all this, I am also very much aware that Jesus said, "If thy brother tresspass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent; thou shaft forgive him" (Lk. 17:3). Let us be sure to obey each provision of what Jesus said here.

But what does "the same day" in my subject mean? Jesus on the cross said to the Father in his prayer: "Forgive them:" Does this mean the Father forgave these crucifiers "the same day" Jesus asked him to? Who would deny the power of God? I would not care to. Jesus did not say in his prayer when his Father would forgive them, nor how. He only prayed for their forgiveness. He did not have to explain the when and how to God. Jesus knew God knew. It was now in God's hands. That is the place for the Christian to leave his cares (1 Pet. 5:7). God is not always in as big a hurry as man to take vengeance, but let us not take vengeance in our own hands; that's God's business. But what about "the same day" of this subject? With some Jews (the dead ones) it may have been answered the same day Jesus died. These same Jews may have been forgiven by God the same day Jesus blood was flowing from his body. Let us reason a little. Note carefully.

(1) Animal blood could not take away sin (Heb. 10:4). See also Hebrews 10:11. (2) Yet without the shedding of blood there could be no remission of sins (Heb. 9:22). The blood of Christ, that is. (1 Pet. 1:18-19). (3) Hence, those Jews who lived and died under the Mosaical law and the law governing the Patriarch and who were obedient thereto while they lived, could, dying before Christ's blood was shed on the cross, have their sins forgiven the same day Christ's blood was shed on the cross. For Christ's death and blood were as much for the forgiveness of sins under the Old Testament as it was for those under the New Testament. If Hebrews 9:15 does not teach this, I am at a loss to know what it does teach.

But all those responsible people who both lived before the cross, and after Pentecost of Acts chapter two, could and should be saved the same as any other alien sinner under the gospel of Christ. People on Pentecost day, and on down to today (the day this article is written, and to the end of time) must exercise faith in the Christ as the Son of God, repent and be buried in baptism for the remission of sins. Hence, "53" days after the cross about 3000 Jews "gladly receive the word preached by the apostles, repented and were baptized for the remission of sins," and Christ's prayer on the cross for their forgiveness was answered. (Acts 2:37-38; Heb. 11:6, 1 Jno. 4:15; Acts 8:37-39, Col. 2:12).

Truth Magazine, XVIII:10, p. 11-12
January 17, 1974