The Fruit Of Forgiveness. Series

SERMON OUTLINE:

(1). The Repentant Woman (vs 36-38).

(2). The Critical Host (vs 39-43).

(3). The Forgiving Saviour (vs 44-50).

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

• Has anyone been on a plane trip recently?

• Has anyone been on a boat trip recently?

• Has anyone been on a train trip recently?

• Has anyone been on a coach trip recently?

• Has anyone been on a car trip recently?

• Has anyone been on a GUILT trip recently?

• TRANSITION: That one is not so much fun!

• But sadly for some people it is a regular activity!

Ill:

• When we go on holiday and we arrive at the airport to ‘check in’,

• One of the moments I hate, is when they weigh your luggage.

• Because even though we may have checked the weight ourselves,

• In the past we have been stung with fines for cases that are too heavy!

• And then you have a choice;

• Pay a ‘baggage fees’ fine or you have to throw good stuff away!

• TRANSITION: Some people carry around with them ‘excess baggage’,

• They carry around guilt,

• And like an overweight suitcase it is a heavy load to carry!

Quote: What is guilt?

Answer:

• Guilt is a product of the mind

• Guilt occurs when a person realizes that they have violated;

• Moral, religious, or ethical standards (rules, laws, principles, etc.)

• Not all guilt is wrong, we have a conscience;

• That conscience is given to us for our own good.

• Guilt is to the spirit as pain is to the body;

• A warning system that something is wrong.

• Someone described guilt this way:

• Guilt is like the red warning light on the dashboard of the car.

• You can either stop and deal with the trouble, or you break or cover up the light.

The message of the Bible is one of forgiveness and reconciliation:

• God does not want people to live in guilt,

• He wants them to find forgiveness and freedom in Jesus Christ.

• In Christ God forgives our guilty past,

• When Jesus died upon the cross he paid the penalty for our sins and mistakes.

• Payments are made to legal debts.

• i.e. if I break the law of speeding and I am caught,

• Myself or someone else will have to pay the fine!

• We incur a legal debt to God when we sin because sin is breaking the Law of God

• i.e. Just think of the 10 Commandments (Exodus chapter 20 verses 1-17).

• And we have all broken at least one of them.

Ill:

• 10 Commandments are not a check list, they are more like a pearl necklace,

• Break one and the whole necklace is broken.

• So break one and you break them all!

• TRANSITION: Now here is the good news of the Bible:

• Human beings incur a legal DEBT to God, and we deserve to be punished.

• But Jesus Christ was perfect and therefore in CREDIT with God the Father.

• Willingly paid our debt;

• In fact he took our sins upon Himself and bore them in His body on the cross.

• (1 Peter chapter 2 verse 24).

• Since the wages of sin is death (Romans chapter 6 verse 23),

• And Jesus who was sinless, chose to die on our behalf on the cross,

• He was able to pay the penalty for our sins.

Ill:

• Some years ago, a cartoon pictured a psychologist talking to a patient.

• “Mr. Figby,” he said, “I think I can explain your feelings of guilt. You’re guilty!”

• TRANSITION: Everyone who becomes a Christian,

• Needs to admit the problem, “They are guilty”

• But followers of Jesus do not have to live in guilt because in Christ there is forgiveness!

Note:

• In this story we are looking at today in Luke’s gospel.

• The Pharisees (religious leaders) could see the guilt and faults of other people,

• But failed to see it in themselves.

• They assumed their religious acts of piety made them acceptable to God,

• And when they met Jesus they were in for a shock.

Question: Who were the Pharisees?

Answer:

• At the time of Jesus there were about 6,000 Pharisees,

• The word "Pharisee" meant "separated one".

• A Pharisee was a member of a particular a sect or party among the Jews.

• They were known for a very strict and formal observance of the Jewish Law.

• Pharisees were ordinary Jews, not priests.

• Equivalent to a modem day politician.

• Alongside the religious leaders the scribes and the priests,

• They held power of all the people and no-one in their right minds argued with them!