This Series is based upon a series by Nelson Searcy and the Journey Church. This sermon is my own however.
The Challenge of Forgiveness
Matthew 6:14-15
Genesis 45:1-15
Forgiving doesn’t mean we Forget People’s Sins
Forgiving does mean we Remember God’s Sovereignty
Forgiving doesn’t mean Justice Denied
Forgiving does mean we leave Justice to God
Forgiving doesn’t mean we Return to the Past
Forgiving does mean we are Open to the Future
Forgiveness Video
(FORGIVENESS, by eight20eight.com, available at WorshipHouse Media)
Slide after video
Forgiveness is everything.
Do we believe that?
Do we think forgiveness is that important?
I think when we need forgiveness and recognize it, we understand the importance of it.
But I wonder if we understand how important it is to forgive others.
We are continuing on in the New Testament Challenge this morning and we are going to be looking at the Challenge of Forgiveness.
Slide
I want us to examine the closing verse that was shown in the video we just saw and the verse after it.
It is Matthew 6:14-15 and it is up on the screen.
Slide
It reads
Matthew 6:14-15
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.
“Wait a minute!
Are you telling me that if I don’t forgive others, that I won’t go to heaven?
I thought that my salvation was not dependant on me or what I do, but only upon receiving Jesus Christ as my Savior, truly believing in Him from my heart.”
That is true. The only thing that your salvation depends upon is you truly receiving Jesus Christ as your Savior, by repenting and believing in Him as the Christ, that He died for your sins and rose 3 days later.
Those are the essential beliefs that bring salvation.
Then what are these verses talking about?
These verses are talking about the restoration of relationship. It is the same thing that is being talked about in
1 John 1:9
Slide
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
That verse is written to those who have received Jesus as Savior already.
That forgiveness that is being talked about is a cleansing and a restoration of relationship with the Lord.
We need to recognize that when we are unforgiving, we are sinning.
Sin breaks our relationship with the Lord.
We don’t lose our salvation, but we lose our
effectiveness, peace, joy, assurance, etc.
We are out of fellowship with the Lord when we don’t forgive.
We need to confess it and forgive so that we can receive the Lord’s forgiveness and be restored into fellowship.
This being out of fellowship is what Jesus communicates to Peter when he was about to wash his feet.
Slide
John 13:8-10
8 "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
9 "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
10 Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean…
He is saying to Peter,
once a person has had a bath, (has experienced salvation by trusting in Jesus Christ) they are clean,
but you still need to wash your feet, to be cleansed from the sins that you commit from just being in this world.
You are still clean, still saved,
though those dirty feet, those sins that you commit while saved, don’t allow you to be walking with Jesus, to be in fellowship with Him.
While that person is still a child of God, still saved, they don’t experience the joy, peace, effectiveness, all the benefits of the relationship.
Unforgiveness makes our feet dirty.
And while we often think that our unforgiveness is hanging over someone else,
it is really hanging over us.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Well that sure is easy to say, but why is it so hard?
Partly pride, which we have to overcome
Partly because I that we misunderstand what forgiveness is
That is what we are going to talk about this morning.
What forgiveness is and what it isn’t.
To help us do that, we are going to look at an Old Testament story. I know this is the New Testament Challenge, but sometimes, we can find a New Testament principle greatly exemplified in an Old Testament story.
Turn with me to
Genesis 45:1-15 (p. 35)
Slide
We are going to see the principal of forgiveness as it is lived out by Joseph.
Through this story, I think we are helped to see what forgiveness is and isn’t and how we can truly forgive.
Now a bit of background before we read this section of Scripture.
Background
Joseph – One of Twelve sons born to Jacob
He was second to the last born
He was his father, Jacob’s, favorite son and the others knew it.
His brothers did not like Him because of that.
They ended up selling him into slavery when he was 17.
Some of our youth are thinking right now that that sounds like that may be a good plan for one of their brothers.
Anyway, Joseph ends up being sold to Potipher, who was a high official in Pharaoh’s kingdom.
God is with Joseph through this ordeal, but even then, Joseph gets accused unjustly and is thrown into jail.
Joseph ends up interpreting dreams for a cupbearer and a baker to the king who get thrown in jail.
Things happened just the way Joseph says.
The cupbearer was restored to his position and the baker was executed.
He told the cupbearer to remember him before Pharaoh, but he didn’t.
Joseph spends another 2 years in prison.
Imagine
Now imagine what would be going on in your mind if you were Joseph.
If it weren’t for those evil brothers of mine, I would not be living out this existence.
I have gone
from beloved son
to a slave
to a prisoner
all because of my brothers. If I ever get out of here, I am going to kill those bothers of mine.
Story continues
Well, the cupbearer eventually remembers Joseph and Joseph interprets a dream for Pharaoh and he goes from jail to Pharaoh’s right hand man.
Joseph is 30 years old at this point (Genesis 41:46)
Thirteen years of slavery and prison
Thirteen years of being away from his father
Thirteen years of being away from his younger brother Benjamin
Thirteen years of a life lost
because of his brothers sins against him.
As Pharaoh’s right hand man, Joseph stores up grain for 7 years during the time of plenty so that there will be grain during the time of famine.
The time of famine comes and Joseph’s brothers hear there is grain in Egypt so they go there to buy grain.
Joseph recognizes them.
He has the opportunity of a lifetime to extract his revenge.
To pour out on them the unforgiveness that has been eating at him.
Let’s read and see how he responds to them.
Genesis 45:1-15
1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, "Have everyone leave my presence!" So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.
3 Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8 "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ’This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me--you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11 I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’
12 "You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly."
14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.
Whoa. That does not seem like someone who is bitter.
In fact it doesn’t appear that he is harboring anything against them.
Joseph is not holding the sins of his brothers against them.
He has forgiven them.
Let’s see if we can learn a couple things about what it means to forgive and what it doesn’t mean.
First,
Forgiving doesn’t mean we Forget People’s Sins
Slide
Look what Joseph says to his brothers in
Genesis 45:4 - "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!
Joseph didn’t forget what his brothers did to him.
We are not always going to be able to forget the wrongs that have been done to us and it doesn’t mean that we have not forgiven if we have not forgotten.
But while it is not necessary to forget the wrongs done to us,
Forgiving does mean we have to Remember God’s Sovereignty
slide
Look at Genesis 45:7-8
7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8 "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.
We need to remember that God is ultimately in control of all things, He is sovereign.
“Well then why doesn’t he stop this evil from happening to me?”
Well, I cannot tell you all of why God does what he does or allows what He allows, but I can tell you that He can even use other people’s actions against us
to accomplish His purposes and
even for our good.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Joseph remembers God’s sovereignty. God is in control and as He looks back on his life, He sees some of the ways that God has used this to glorify Himself and even for Joseph’s good.
Well that is all good and everything, but where is the justice then?
Does forgiving others mean that we just forget about Justice?
No.
Forgiving doesn’t mean Justice is Denied
Slide
Josephs forgiveness of his brothers does not mean that what they did was right because God used it.
Joseph still recognizes what they did was wrong.
Genesis 50:20
20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Joseph recognizes that what they did was wrong even as he realizes that God is Sovereign and used it for good.
But what Joseph does in forgiving his brothers, is he takes the seeking of Justice out of his hands and entrusts it to the One who is truly able to be just.
Forgiving means we leave Justice to God
Slide
Again in Genesis 50, after Jacob dies, Joseph’s brothers are afraid again that Joseph will not extract his revenge. But look what he says to them in
Genesis 50:19
19 But Joseph said to them, "Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?
He recognizes that God is the One who will be perfect in His justice.
Joseph lives out what is recorded in the New Testament in
Romans 12:19-21
19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
He overcomes the evil of his brothers with good and he glorifies the Lord.
He has forgiven his brothers sins against him.
In doing so, He has remained in close fellowship with God and the Lord has exalted him to a place of great authority.
Joseph had forgiven his brothers long before they showed up.
He has forgiven them and he trusts the Lord.
That is what we need to do.
We need to forgive others before they even come looking for it.
We need to forgive even if they never come looking for it.
Forgiveness is less about me and another person as it is about me and the Lord.
I need to forgive and trust the Lord so that I remain in fellowship with the Lord.
I need to realize I can trust Him to deliver whatever Justice is required or to extend whatever mercy should be extended.
Afterall, I am grateful for the mercy that has been extended to me.
So, I need to Forgive and trust the Lord.
But what does forgiving someone else mean in terms of relationship with the forgiven person?
Do things just go back to how they were before?
No,
Forgiving doesn’t mean we Return to the Past
Slide
Genesis 45:9-11
9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ’This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me--you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11 I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’
Things were different now.
Joseph was not their little brother anymore.
He was in a place of authority and power.
He was not using that authority to extract revenge, but he was not going back to the boy who would be controlled by his brothers.
Things were not going to be as they were.
So forgiving doesn’t mean we return to the way things were in the past, but
Forgiving does mean we are Open to the Future
Slide
Forgiveness is not saying,
“You are forgiven, but I will never speak to you again.”
That isn’t forgiveness.
Joseph tells them to come down to him.
Look what he says to them in
Genesis 50:21
21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
He didn’t say, listen guys. I know that God used what you did for good, but as far as we go, we’re done. You just pack up your bags and hit the road. You’re forgiven. I’ll leave things in the Lord’s hands as far as justice, but there is no future for us.
No, instead, he is open to a future that includes a relationship with his brothers, though it will be different.
Romans 12:18 - If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
We trust the Lord to deliver Justice and we trust the Lord for the future of what some relationship may look like.
Now, it may be no relationship.
Forgiving just means we are open to what the Lord lays in front of us.
Conclusion
The challenge of forgiveness
It is challenging isn’t it.
But Joseph is in the position that he is in because he forgave his brothers and was set free from the bondage that unforgiveness locks us in.
When we don’t forgive others, we can’t move forward with the Lord.
Unforgiveness really is only hurting us.
Maybe you are here today and you have been dealing with some unforgiveness.
Maybe you have just been unsure how to do that because you just can’t seem to forget.
You don’t need to forget, you just need to be remembering God’s sovereignty and how He can use even what was done to you for His glory and your good.
Leave Justice to God.
And maybe even the hardest part is being open to a possible future relationship.
You may have heard me say this before, but to help make this forgiveness real, put some kind of action to it.
Bake some cookies, send a card, make a phone call to the person.
Do some kind of action to help you make that forgiveness that you want to give a reality.
We are going to pray as we finish the service.
But this forgiveness thing is impossible without first receiving the forgiveness of your own sins by receiving Jesus Christ as your Savior.
If you would like to know more about receiving the forgiveness of your sins through Jesus, we will have people up front that are available to speak with after the service, but it starts with recognizing
that you are sinner in need of forgiveness
that Jesus is the Christ, that He is God in the flesh able give that forgiveness
that He lived a perfect life and died for your sins and
that He rose 3 days later showing He has the power to forgive you your sins.
By believing in Him, and trusting Him as our Savior, we receive that forgiveness and we enter into that relationship with Him.
You can do that by just acknowledging those things to God.
Romans 10:9
9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (from New International Version)
But for those believers in Jesus Christ struggling with forgiving someone, I want to pray for you so you will
Remember that God is sovereign and can use what has been done to you
Leave Justice in the hands of the Lord and
Be open to how the Lord leads in terms of any possible future relationship
I want to pray that you will take some action this week that shows that you trust the Lord’s sovereignty and justice as a step toward the freedom you can experience when you have forgiven from your heart.
Make a call, bake some cookies, send a card or email.
If you would like me to pray for you to be strengthened to forgive, raise your hand and I will pray for you this morning.
Pray.
