Fully Realized Forgiveness...the Test Of Love-5 Series

FULLY REALIZED FORGIVENESS...The TEST of LOVE-V—Luke 7:36-50

Attention:

A kid who is unwittingly involved in bringing about a tragedy. The ones effected forgive her. She is Fully Forgiven, YET she is unable to function, her every thought being colored by the event. Her every decision is made in light of a personally perceived guilt.

She grows up enslaved to a set of values by which she, thru their accomplishment, reduces her guilt.

However, should she choose Jesus & thus true religion, she would know & experience God’s Forgiveness on a scale that would free her for life in Christ!

She needs to Fully Realize her Forgiveness!

Thru testing, one's reality becomes conclusive.

Jesus called Simon the Pharisee to task regarding two demonstrations of love.

A forgiveness that is fully Realized is reflected in a proportional appreciation.

?Is God’s forgiveness fully realized in your life?

&

?Where/How is that fully realized forgiveness tested?

9 tests of Realized Forgiveness.

Previously we found that Realized Forgiveness is tested in the crucible of...

1. RECOGNITION(:36-37a-b)

2. OPPORTUNITY(:36-37)

3. PERCEPTION(:38, 39)

4. DEBT RELEASE(:40-42)

5. APPRECIATION/Love(:42-43)

6. RECIPROCATION(:44-46)

7. Life-PRINCIPLE(:47)

8—Realized Forgiveness is tested in the crucible of...

ACCEPTANCE(:48-49)

Explanation:(:48-49)Belief/Trust

:48—“Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Living in the realization of that forgiveness, prior to its pronouncement, had already driven her to the meal & to weep, & to anoint & kiss & to wipe Jesus’ feet. Her forgiveness & her example of love for Jesus had already been apparent.

Jesus’ parable to Simon was born of the comparison between the woman’s & Simon’s polar/contrasting responses to forgiveness.

Thus the woman’s forgiveness was in place before Jesus’ pronouncement!

Jesus merely stated words, but the woman had to accept His word as true/truth....by faith!

She walked away publicly & actually “forgiven” by God Himself thru Christ Jesus!

Such a realization of reality is empowering to any & all believers, & is a beckoning call to all who want to believe!

“Sins”(See :47, 49; :37, 39—amartwlov)—amartia—

“Forgiven”(See :42, 43, 47, 49)—afihmi—

:49—“And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

Lk. 5:20-21(Mk. 2:1)—“When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes & the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

To the disdain/contempt of Simon’s other guests(:49), Jesus publicly & officially declares the woman “forgiven.”

Upon hearing Jesus’ statement, the others(Pharisees +) at the meal ‘reasoned’ in their own minds about the legitimacy of Jesus’ ministry, rightly thinking that no one could declare forgiveness except God(the Father) Himself. However they wrongly were unwilling to accept Jesus as the Son of God & thereby divine. Thus they & the Pharisees had no recourse but to despise Jesus practically.

Lest we ourselves become too hard-hearted...Concerning Simon & the others personally, we do not know whether they one day abandoned their hardness of heart for surrender to Jesus as Savior & Lord...Particularly with the evidence of the resurrection.

“Sat at the table with”(See :36—anaklinw)—sunanakeimai—1) To recline together, feast together—1a) Of guests. Strong—To recline in company with(at a meal). Used 9X.

“Began to”—arcomai—1) To be the first to do (anything), to begin; 2) To be chief, leader, ruler; 3) To begin, make a beginning. Strong—middle voice of arcw[ To be first(in political rank or power)](through the implication of precedence); To commence(in order of time).

“Who”—tiv—Interrogative Pronoun—1) Who, which, what.

“Forgives/Forgave”(See :42, 43, 47, 48)—afihmi—

“Sins”(See :47, 48; :37, 39—amartwlov)—amartia—

Argumentation:

Ps. 32:1-2—<> “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.”

Lk. 5:17-25—“Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees & teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, & Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in & lay before Him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop & let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes & the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered & said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up & walk’? “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”--He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, & go to your house.” Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, & departed to his own house, glorifying God.”