Offering Grace Series

OFFERING GRACE

The Rhone River begins high in the Swiss Alps, some 5000 feet above sea level. It is one of the most important commercial waterways in France, stretching more than 500 miles in length. The river that glistens and sparkles through France, however, is much different than it was at its origin. As it begins its voyage, glacial clay is picked up making it very milky and muddy in appearance. Just before it enters France, the Rhone River empties into Lake Geneva, and a wonderful transformation occurs. The clay sinks to the bottom of the lake, and the Rhone River emerges clear and blue! It is so clear and blue that English poet Lord Byron once described the "blue rushing of the Rhone."

Our lives can be like that river. Shortly after we begin our journey of faith we find ourselves polluted by our sins and the sins of others. When we come to Jesus He washes us and cleans us and throws our "sins into the depths of the sea." (Micah 7:19). We find forgiveness, and along with it the strength to forgive others.

Today we are concluding our series Amazing Grace. We have looked at Saving Grace, Sustaining Grace and Restoring Grace. Today I want to talk about Offering Grace to others. God tells us to share what we have received. This is true of grace.

Matthew 10:7-8 As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

We are to extend the grace that we have been given to others. Not because they need our forgiveness, but because we need to give it.

Matthew 6:11-15 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ' 14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

A man by the name of General Oglethorpe once said to John Wesley, "I never forgive and I never forget." To which Wesley replied, "Then, Sir, I hope you never sin." There are consequences in our lives of failing to forgive others.

The man who refuses to forgive destroys the bridge over which he himself must cross -- John Iverson

Often we struggle forgiving others because we do not understand what true forgiveness is. Let me start by sharing this morning four things that forgiveness is not;

1. Forgiveness is not conditional

In other words, forgiveness is not based on the action or inaction of the person who hurt you. It is something that you do for your sake, not something that is dependant on anyone else. The Bible says that real forgiveness is unconditional. It is not something you earn. It is not something you deserve. It is not something you buy or bargain for. It is unconditional.

When you tell the person, "I will forgive you if..." that's not forgiveness. You're bargaining, not forgiving. Genuine forgiveness is unconditional. It's offered even if it's not asked for.

Colossians 3:12-13 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

We are to forgive as Jesus forgave us. God did not wait until we deserved forgiveness, He simply forgave. When Jesus hung on the cross He prayed;

Luke 23:34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

Certainly nobody deserved it. Nobody had bargained or bartered for it. It was an unconditional offer of pardon. Genuine forgiveness is unconditional.

Two little brothers had finished supper and were playing until bedtime. Somehow, the one brother had hit the other with a stick, and tears and bitter words followed. Charges and accusations were still being exchanged as their mother prepared them for bed. She said, “Now boys, what would happen if either of you died tonight and you never had the opportunity again for forgive one another?” The one brother spoke up and said, “Well, OK, I’ll forgive him tonight, but if we’re both alive in the morning, he had better look out.” That is not forgiveness. Forgiveness is unconditional.

2. Forgiveness is not minimizing the seriousness of the offense

Real forgiveness is not minimizing the seriousness of the offense. It's not saying, "It is no big deal, I am OK. It really did not hurt my that bad. I will get over it." The truth is that if something is worth forgiving, it did hurt you. It did cause pain and you don't need to minimize it. Forgiveness is not minimizing the offense, it is simply saying that I am not going to hold it against you.