WARNING: This Sermon Contains Material That May Overcome Offense Series
Based on John Benere’s book, The Bait of Satan
Forgiveness: If You Don’t Give It...You Don’t Get It
Oct. 28, 2007 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor
Introduction
A
B The paragraph is not about salvation, it’s about forgiveness.
1 Your salvation is wholly because of God’s grace, & He gives you His love without condition.
a To make God’s love a losable/temporary/conditional/ earnable thing is a violation of Scripture.
aa But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NASB) He loved me before I loved Him
bb For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Eph 2:8-9 (NASB) Saved by grace
cc For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7 (NASB)
b We’re not saved by our works, actions, or deeds, but by grace.
2 Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus said* to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Matt 18:21-22 (NASB)
a We say, "Offend me once, shame on you; offend me twice, shame on me."
aa Peter’s giving them seven offenses maximum
bb Rabbis at the time had a strict three strikes & you’re out.
cc Jesus said 70 x7...490 x’s. Imagine Peter’s face!
b Who keeps track of that many offenses?
aa That’s the point. "Love keeps no records of wrongs." (1 Cor. 13:5b)
bb By the time we forgive another person 490 x’s, we are in the habit of forgiving them!
c The theme of this paragraph is forgiveness between brothers, not salvation for lost sinners.
3 "For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 "When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 "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. 26 "So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ’Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ 27 "And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. 28 "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.’ 29 "So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ’Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ 30 "But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. 31 "So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. 32 "Then summoning him, his lord said* to him, ’You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 ’Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ 34 "And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. 35 "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart." Matt 18:23-35 (NASB)
C Let’s pray before we discover about forgiveness: you don’t give it, you don’t get it.
I The landscape of the parable.
A The first servant had a debt to his master that was impossible for him to pay in this life (10,000 talents. Talent was approximately 75 lbs., 375 tons. In gold we’re talking $4.5 to 5 billion).
1 The master forgave him his debt, erased the amount owed, released him from his punishment, & the servant received forgiveness (of $4.5 to 5 billion).
a Friend, God has done the same for you!
aa When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Col 2:13-14 (NASB)
bb There is no way we could ever repay the amount we own God.
b We have been forgiven, justified, He saved us from eternal hell, undying dining worm, torment, anguish, lake of fire.
c We’ve been given the gift of salvation! Jesus paid it all.
2 The servant received forgiveness, but he didn’t experience forgiveness is his heart.
a Proof? A fellow servant owed him 100 denarii (100 days’ wages, about $4,000, 1/3 yearly salary), & he refused to forgive the fellow servant’s debt.
aa Interestingly, in v. 28 the forgiven slave goes looking for someone to have trouble/conflict with (malicious heart that manifested wickedness). "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.’
bb People who have experienced God’s forgiveness do not look for reasons to be offending or be offended.
b I’m not about to tell you that you lose your salvation because you are failing to forgive someone.
aa Best case: backslidden condition
bb Worst case: you have yet to experience God’s forgiveness
c Because we’ve not experienced it, we can’t share it.
II Lessons from the servant who didn’t "get it"
A Unforgiveness can shut down your witness.
1 Everyone knows that the lord had forgiven a $5 billion debt from the first servant. "So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened.
a When he refused to forgive another for a $4,000 debt, the word got out.
b They knew it was wrong, even though the servant had the legal right to get his $4,000, it was morally wrong.
aa He probably wasn’t real well-liked, not on a lot of speed dials/friends & family plans.
2 Failing to give/withholding forgiveness from someone is an evidence that you didn’t get it.
a By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another...14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 1 John 3:10-11,14-17 (NASB) A proof that you’re saved is that you love the brethren.
b Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? 7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Cor 5:6-8 (NASB) A little malice (thought) & wickedness (action) can destroy the body.
B Unforgiveness is dealt with by the Lord.
1 The lord didn’t wink at the unforgiveness of his slave, didn’t let it slide for long. Then summoning him, his lord said* to him, ’You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 ’Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ 34 "And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.
a The lord had set him free, & the servant put himself right back in prison by having unforgiveness is his heart.
b The world’s worst prison is an unforgiving heart, & the world’s most miserable people are those who refuse to give to others.
2 God will deal with the servant (believer) who harbors and unforgiving spirit. 35 "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."
Conclusion
A This parable is not about salvation, it’s about forgiveness.
1 Forgiveness is difficult, especially for repeat offenders.
a How many times do we forgive? (We’re looking for a measuring stick like Peter).
b Jesus is telling us not to keep count (love doesn’t keep count), just practice forgiveness.
2 As Christians, we do not have options about forgiveness.
a We’ve been saved from an eternal lake of fire, undying dining worm, torment, anguish, for eternal life! Jesus paid it all!
b Because you’ve (I’ve) been forgiven, we must forgive.
c The offense we experience horizontally is NOTHING compared to the offense we have inflicted vertically.
3 We forgive because we’re forgiven.
a Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Eph 4:32 (NASB)
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Col 3:12-13 (NASB)
b Have a hard time forgiving? Think of the reality of Hell & the love of God that saved you from it. Hallelujah!
B Today, maybe there’s so much unforgiveness in your heart that there is no room for you to experience God’s forgiveness.
1 It’s time to "get it"
a Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. Mark 11:25 (NASB)
aa Maybe you’ve got to start forgiving yourself (you’re "anyone", too!)
bb Maybe someone has offended you (real), it’s time to forgive ((ex) friend, (ex) boss, (ex) spouse, ruined you, abused you, cruel to you, violated you, embarrassed you).
b Will you bow your heads & close your eyes?
c Have you been forgiven for much? It’s time to forgive much.
2 If this morning you’re ready to forgive as you’ve been forgiven, join me at the altar right now.
aa Stand, ball your hands into a fist, clutching.
bb Put that anger, revenge, hate, malice you’ve been holding on to in your hand.
3 Pray, ask God to enable you to truly forgive the person who has offended you that you will be able to receive God’s forgiveness.
4 As you release you offense, unforgiveness, allow God to give you peace & freedom.
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Mike Fogerson
