Many of us live in fear in our daily lives because of our past sins. Many of us have been frozen by our past sins against someone or even more so, a past sin someone has committed against us. Think about it! How many of us do not move on in our Christian walk because we can’t forgive ourselves for something we’ve done. How many of us get mad at God because we are mad about a certain circumstance? Or how many of us can’t let go of some wrong that someone has done to us? You see, to forgive someone in a way that honors our Savior is to not only forgive but to forget. Stop and consider salvation. When we accept Jesus and what the Lord has done for us, He gives us a clean slate. That’s what we are supposed to do when it comes to forgiving others. We are to forgive as Christ has forgiven us and be done with it. Definition of forgive… there are a couple I’d like to share today. The first one is to stop feeling angry or resentful toward (someone) for an offense, flaw, or mistake. The second one is to “cancel a debt.”
As we enter into what we like to call the holiday season, I believe we need to set each other free… Jesus came so that we can be free. We spoke about that last week. He died once for all and His forgiveness set us free from the bondage of sin. I’d like to share from Matthew chapter 6 verses 14-15 today.” For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” These are red letter words. These words came from the mouth of Jesus. These words are just after the instructions on how we should pray. The Lord’s Prayer is in the verses above, let’s go to verse 12: “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Jesus says we are to ask God to forgive us just as we forgive others. There is a reason Jesus mentions forgiveness directly after finishing this prayer. He stresses forgiveness because it is paramount to freedom. It is something that I believe we all have struggled with, are struggling with, or will struggle with during our lifetimes. I’ve thought about that a lot. Did you know that if God forgives me like I forgive others I am in trouble? I say that because, like most other humans, I do forgive, but I don’t forget. Hebrews 8:12 says “FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.” This is part of the new covenant, the covenant that began with Jesus coming into this world in a lowly manger, humble and meek. To receive this promise in the new covenant, we have to accept it.
You see, there are 2 parts to forgiveness. It has to be offered and it has to be accepted.
A person sitting on death row, in a prison, sweating it out, hoping, praying, and waiting for a word of pardon would be foolish to turn it down if it came through! Hebrews 8:12 again in The New Living Translation (NLT), says this: "And I will forgive their wrongdoings, and I will never again remember their sins." The Message Bible (MSG) states it this way: "By coming up with a new Plan, a new Covenant between God and His people, God put the old Plan on the shelf. And there it stays, gathering dust."
The story is told of a young man sitting on "Death Row" in a Pennsylvania state penitentiary, who turned down his pardon. The public was shocked when the warden of the prison walked down "Death Row" to the cell where the young man was awaiting the coming hour of death. Excitement and tenseness filled the entire cell block as the warden broke the news that the governor had sent a pardon. "I don’t want it! Let me alone. I want to die!" came the startling reply from the young man in his cell - he refused all pleas and insisted on his right to die."
The law books were examined and a special legislature session was called to determine what action should be taken in the matter. The law makers concluded that a pardon must be accepted in order for it to be valid. The young man, refusing to receive the pardon, took the long walk to the sound of "Dead Man Walking" and paid the supreme penalty - going out to meet Almighty God! Many people said that the young man was crazy - that he was a fool! Perhaps they were right; yet, multitudes of people continually refuse Almighty God’s offer of pardon from the penalty of sin - the "second death" - Eternal separation from Almighty God in Eternal torment!
There is a vast difference between the state laws and the Law of Almighty God! The state laws say that an individual is innocent until her or she is proven guilty. Almighty God’s Law tells us that everyone - each and every one of us - you and I - is guilty! For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)
The unforgiving person has been compared to a cesspool of still, dirty, and foul water. It’s like a clogged drain that holds back water from flowing steadily down the pipes. It’s been said that forgiveness is a choice not to hold a sin against a person any longer. The longer you leave the blockage alone, the more resistant it gets. What is stuck, decomposed, and coagulated there is an ugly sight. Every hard-earned dollar you spend on cleaning up, flushing out and washing down the accumulated garbage from unforgiving is worth its long-term investment.
I believe that every one of us suffers some kind of wrongdoing in our lives. We all face hurt, teasing, rejection, and pain. Let’s talk about some of the people in the Bible that have not only experienced these things, but have forgiven those that caused this to happen. I am taken to Joseph and his brothers. Joseph was his father’s favorite and everyone knew it. Joseph had a dream that his family would one day bow before him. His father rebuked him, and his brothers were jealous of him. We read in Genesis chapter 37:19-22 and 27-28. This got Joseph to Egypt, but his father thought he was dead. Fast forward a few years and we find Joseph in Potiphar’s household running from his master’s wife who wanted to have an affair with him. Joseph is wrongly accused, put in jail but he found favor with the guards, he was placed in charge of all of the prisoners… fast forward again, Joseph interprets dreams of Pharaoh and becomes his right hand man. Then we get to the fulfillment of the dream. Joseph comes into contact with his brothers once again. He doesn’t hold on to bitterness and anger. Genesis 45:7-8 says “"God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.” Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.” Joseph did not blame his brothers. He knew God was at work in his life and that God was with him the whole time.
Let’s look at the life of Saul, persecuting and killing followers of Jesus. We read in Acts chapter 9 about Saul’s life changing experience. Saul was present in the stoning death of Stephen and many others I am sure. However, here on the road to Damascus we find Saul in the presence of the Lord. Here we have Jesus forgiving a man that sought out His followers to persecute them. Not only did Jesus forgive Saul, He used Saul to make an enormous impact on the kingdom of heaven. Acts 9 10-19 “Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your [f]saints at Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen[g]instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; 19 and he took food and was strengthened.” We all know that Paul suffered while being used by God, but we also know that he always had everything he needed. We read about Paul’s joy in following Christ and bringing others into the kingdom of God. Talk about a change in lifestyle!
There were many others that Jesus forgave while walking here on this earth, the adulteress comes to mind, she was brought before Him to be stoned for her sin and what did Jesus say? “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” Then He set her free with what words? “Go and sin no more.”
Jesus was beaten to near death and then carried a cross as far as He physically could in his state without divine intervention, had help carrying that cross where He was nailed to it and died. As he was dying there on that cross, He said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” They did not seek His forgiveness, but He gave it to them anyway. The thief on the cross right next to Him was forgiven because he asked for forgiveness. This is the example we are supposed to follow. I know I am not the best at this and I pray that God will help me with my unforgiving nature toward those that have hurt me and my family. I do know that I must forgive and let it go to truly be free. But I know that I am not the only one that struggles with this. Someone here today desperately needs to seek forgiveness from another. Maybe it’s a family member. Maybe it’s a business associate. Maybe it’s a friend. And maybe they are right here in this very room. Maybe it’s even your Pastor. Something has happened and it made you angry. I mean blistering angry. Since then, God has dealt with you and you have learned from the experience. Yet you still feel empty. Something remains undone. Forgiveness. Someone here today may also need to give forgiveness to another. Search your heart, see this person through the eyes of Jesus and forgive like He does.
I’m going to ask those singing to come forward. Today, during the song of invitation...take time to forgive. Don’t let another minute go by until you’ve taken care of the issues you have with another. Seek the awesome freedom that forgiveness in Christ can provide. Give that freedom to someone today. Seek Jesus and ask Him to help you do this. There are many here today that will pray with you, grab someone’s hand and bring them with you to lay it at the feet of Jesus. The front of this room is not reserved for just me, it is open to all to come and talk to God. Maybe it’s His forgiveness you are seeking. Don’t wait another second, He is waiting for you and will run to you with open arms as his prodigal child to come home. Don’t let another second go by. Don’t be afraid to come to Him, don’t let anything hold you back from having joy through these upcoming holidays. Forgiveness is yours all you have to do is accept it and believe that you have been forgiven. Let’s sing.
