FORGIVENESS
Matt 18:21-35
* As we come to the Lord ’s Table tonight, I offer this thought; “Divine forgiveness is the central part of the gospel.” Jesus left heaven to make provision for our forgiveness
• The word of God teaches that divine forgiveness is intrinsically tied to human forgiveness. Because God forgives, He mandates His crown creation forgive one another. (scripture)
• Ephesians 4:32- Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
• Luke 6:37 Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
• Col 3:13 Bear with each other & forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
• 2 Corinthians 2:5-8 “you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.”
• Forgiveness is mandatory as if we don’t forgive, it will alter our quality of life
• Karl Menninger, the famous psychiatrist, says that if he could convince the patients in his psychiatric hospitals that their sins are forgiven, 75 percent of them could walk out the next day. So often we do not take God at his Word.
• Divine thinking into 5 thoughts-
1. ILLUSTRATIONS OF FORGIVENESS
* Consider Abraham & Lot. Every time wealthy Abraham gave his young nephew a inch, he took mile. After many problems Lot was taken captive and Abraham had to perform a rescue operation.
* Consider Joseph & his brothers. The brothers laughed at, imprisoned, and sold Joseph, telling Jacob his favorite son was dead. Some 12 years later the brothers walk in to find Joseph in a position to have had them put to death. Instead he forgave, took off ruling robe & embraced/
* Consider Jesus & Peter: After declaring his told allegiance to Jesus, he was told that he would deny Jesus. He disputed the claim and then gave his denial at a critical time. After the resurrection Jesus said, “tell disciples & Peter”
Forgiveness – Pg 2
* I read the story recently of how Louis XII of France treated his enemies after he ascended to the throne. Before coming to power, he had been cast into prison and kept in chains. Later when he did become king, he was urged to seek revenge but he refused. Instead, he prepared a scroll on which he listed all who had perpetrated crimes against him. Behind every man’s name he placed a cross in red ink. When the guilty heard about this, they feared for their lives and fled. Then the king explained, "The cross which I drew beside each name was not a sign of punish-ment, but a pledge of forgiveness extended for the sake of the crucified Savior, who upon His cross forgave His enemies and prayed for them."
• Is there a story about you? Someone wronged you? You could have taken revenge, but forgave or are you living in Unforgiveness
2. INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT FORGIVENESS
* Peter asked a significant question. The Pharisees didn’t put a great deal of emphasis on forgiveness. Under the Rabbinical system of law, the required forgiveness to be offered was 3 times. It was based on Amos 1 which says, “for 3 sins I will hold back wrath, but for 4 I will not”
* Peter doubled the 3 and added one to (for good measure). Quite likely he thought “Jesus will be impressed.” Yet Jesus responded with not plus 1 but times 70. Can you imagine their reaction?
* The Disciples probably thought this was unreasonable, unthinkable, and uncountable; which is the point!
* The reason I believe they were amazed is that He immediately supported His principle with a parable because He wanted them to have clear picture of forgiveness.
* Sir Walter Scott had difficulty with the idea of "turning the other cheek." But Jesus’ words took on special meaning one day when Scott threw a rock at a stray dog to chase it away. His aim was straighter and his delivery stronger than he had intended, for he hit the animal and broke its leg. Instead of running off, the dog limped over to him and licked his hand. Sir Walter never forgot that touching response. He said, "That dog preached the Sermon on the Mount to me as few ministers have ever presented it." Scott said he had not found human beings so ready to forgive their enemies. Jesus’ way means forgiveness is not option.
Forgiveness – Pg 3
3. IMPORTANCE OF FORGIVENESS
* Jesus took every opportunity to stress the Importance of forgiveness. In Matthew 6 (the Sermon on the Mount), Jesus taught us “how to pray” and gave Model Prayer. At the end of the prayer, he only spoke to the forgiveness part with these words, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” It doesn’t get much clearer than this.
4. IMPACT FROM FORGIVENESS
* If I don’t or do forgiven, what does it matter? Look at the story Jesus told about the King forgiving the huge debt while the Servant didn’t forgive. When the King found out, he withdrew His forgiveness. Like it or not, this is consistent with the teaching in Matthew 6. This doesn’t mean God will recant your salvation but it will impact your fellowship and prayer life. Jesus says that to pray with Unforgiveness in your hear is wasted breath .
* Are you tied up in unforgiveness? Could be your spouse, former spouse, in laws, outlaws, siblings, or any other relationships, it matters not, any unforgiveness has a huge impact on you./
5. IMPOSSIBILITY OF FORGIVENESS
* I am suggesting that it’s not just hard or difficult, left to our own strength, it is impossible. This is particularly true if two things are presence: 1) If you misunderstand what forgiveness is. To forgive is not to condone an offensive action. Forgiveness is releasing your right & desire to get even. 2) Until you experience forgiveness it is difficult to express forgiveness. It is the “give-get” or “release-receive” principle.
Although forgiveness is not easy, it is required. It is also freeing, healing, and even restoring. As we come to the Lord’s table, we should make sure we have no unforgiveness in our heart.
Ó Corrie Ten Boom shares this true story in her book, The Hiding Place: It was a church service in Munich that I saw him, the former S.S. man who had stood guard at the shower room door in the processing center at Ravensbruck.
Forgiveness – Pg 4
He was the first of our actual jailers that I had seen since that time. And suddenly it was all there -- the roomful of mocking men, the heaps of clothing, Betsie’s pain-blanched face.
He came up to me as the church was emptying, beaming and bowing. "How grateful I am for your message, Fraulein," he said. "To think that, as you say, He has washed my sins away!"
His hand was thrust out to shake mine. And I, who had preached so often to the people in Bloemendaal the need to forgive, kept my hand at my side.
Even as the angry, vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him.
I tried to smile, I struggled to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so again I breathed a silent prayer. Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me Your forgiveness.
As I took his hand the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me.
And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world’s healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.
* Bible says, “love one another, enemies included” / Forgive & you will be forgiven/Who do you need to forgive today/ What prayer? Our Prayer “Change my heart o God”
