Extraordinary Forgiveness Series

Extraordinary Forgiveness

March 17, 2019 Morning Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: One of the hardest things to do in life is to forgive. Those who have been forgiven much are able to forgive much. When we understand the extraordinary forgiveness that God has given us, we, as believers, should be able to forgive anyone of anything.

Focus Passage: Luke 7:36-47

Supplemental Passage: Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32 NASB)

Introduction: Give a personal account of a struggle to forgive.

I. Judgment Forbids Forgiveness

a. The Pharisee looked down on the woman and judged her

b. Sometimes, we think we know best; that a person doesn’t DESERVE forgiveness

c. Forgiveness isn’t always for the person who is forgiven; most of the time, it is for the person who forgives

II. Being Forgiven Proceeds Forgiveness

a. "For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." (Luke 7:47 NASB)

b. 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (Matthew 6:12 NASB)

i. The very prayer that teaches you to ask for mercy bids you say "forgive us, as we forgive our debtors." Unless you have forgiven others you read your own death-warrant when you repeat the Lord's prayer. – Charles Spurgeon

c. To say you cannot/will not forgive implies you, yourself, have not been forgiven. In other words, forgiveness is a key trait of a Believer.

III. Examples of Forgiveness

a. "A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. "When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?" Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have judged correctly." (Luke 7:41-43 NASB)

b. Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus *said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. "For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. "When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. "But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. "So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.' "And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. "But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe.' "So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you.' "But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. "So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. "Then summoning him, his lord *said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 'Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?' "And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart." (Matthew 18:21-35 NASB)

c. When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:33-34a NASB)

Application/Invitation: Let’s be honest. Instead of saying, “I CAN’T forgive that person” what you’re really saying is “I WON’T forgive that person.” However, if you are in Christ Jesus, you MUST forgive!