REVIVAL 2003: FREEDOM
FREE TO FORGIVE
COLOSSIANS 3:12-17
INTRODUCTION [summarize]
BALTIMORE, MD - If one is angry about being diagnosed with the HIV virus, can that hamper his or her immune system? If bitter about how one was infected, is that person at higher risk of infecting others in retaliation? And, if people forgive themselves and/or others for contracting the disease, does that make them stronger, help them live longer and help halt the progressive spread of AIDS? The Institute of Human Virology, a first-of-its-kind center with epidemiologists, basic researchers and physicians working side-by-side under one roof to hasten the progress of scientific discovery, has kicked off a two-year study looking at the effects psychological and spiritual attitudes may have on the immune systems of patients with HIV - and the preventive role they may play in the transmission of the virus that causes AIDS. Two hundred HIV-positive patients will be enrolled in the HIV study, which is designed to better assess the relationship between psychological and spiritual attitudes -- specifically forgiveness -- and HIV health outcomes. The Institute of Human Virology’s clinical team will oversee the medical components of the study. The HIV study also will examine the possible impact of forgiveness on patients’ emotional well-being, the care of their own health and the health of others, engagement in treatment and adherence to medical regimens. It is hypothesized that being able to forgive and forget, to let go of angry thoughts and feelings, may promote the body’s natural ability to return hyper-aroused physiological systems back to more normal levels of homeostasis, Dr. Temoshok explains. This state of homeostasis is critical in maintaining an even keel, slowing the progression of AIDS and in maintaining a higher quality of life.
Emotional coping and adaptation appear consistently in the literature as key among non-medical factors predictive of health outcomes, says Dr. Temoshok. We must evaluate the contribution that factors such as forgiveness may have on health -- both across the board and for those already afflicted with serious and chronic life-threatening conditions. (http://www.ihv.org/news/psychological.html)
The medical community is just beginning to look at this religious idea of forgiveness as more than it appears to be. The medical community is starting to see that forgiveness has affects on a person, physically, emotionally, mentally, and of course spiritually. I want you to know tonight that you can enjoy the benefits of forgiveness. You are free to forgive. You are free to accept forgiveness.
READ COLOSSIANS 3:12-17 = “12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
I. THE SITUATION: “Our Identity”
Colossians 3 and other passages in Scripture such as 1 Peter 2:8-10 describe Christians as the people of God chosen by grace to be His ambassadors and examples in the world. As Christians, we are precious to God and He loves us. As Christians, we are an army of royal priests who declare the message of Christ. As Christians, we are a holy nation committed to Him. As Christians, we are a people belonging to God.
Colossians 3 goes a step further than some other passages and describes for us the attitudes and actions of a person chosen by God. God’s Chosen People, those who are holy and loved by God, are people who act a certain way and hold certain attitudes. A person who is God’s Chosen has these attitudes and actions
[Definitions from Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology]:
§ Compassion and Kindness and Gentleness = the disposition that fuels acts of kindness and mercy. Compassion, a form of love, is aroused within us when we are confronted with those who suffer or are vulnerable. Compassion often produces action to alleviate the suffering, but sometimes geographical distances or lack of means prevent people from acting upon their compassionate feelings.
§ Humility = Biblical humility is grounded in the character of God. The Father stoops down to help the poor and needy; the incarnate Son exhibits humility from the manger to the cross. The dual use of "meek" and "humble in heart" in Matthew 11:29 emphasizes Christ’s humility before humankind, whom he came to serve and his submission before God. The Christian ought to emulate Christ’s example of meekness and humility.
§ Patience and Forgiveness = In the Lord’s Prayer, receiving forgiveness from God is joined to forgiving others. Jesus’ parable of the unmerciful servant makes the point that human beings are obliged to forgive because God has forgiven them. God’s forgiveness is actually said to be conditional upon forgiving others (Matthew 6:14; 18:35; Mark 11:25-26; Luke 6:37). Jesus says that there ought to be no limit on the number of times that one should forgive another so long as the offender repents and asks for forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-22; Luke 17:3-4).
ILLUSTRATION… Scott Higgins, quote taken from Rolling Stone Magazine Issue 585, March 2001
Jacob Dylan is the lead singer in a band called the Wallflowers. He’s also the son of Bob Dylan, and all his life he’s had to live in the shadow of his famous musician father. When his band went on their first tours they’d find the audiences packed with middle-aged fans of his father armed with 20 page letters for the accessible younger Dylan to pass on to his inaccessible father.
I was struck by something Jacob Dylan said in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine. He talked about how books had been written about his father, even history books, and analyzing Bob Dylan’s place in shaping modern culture. The he said this, "There’s countless biographies. In most of the books, there might be one page that mentions the names of [Bob’s] children. That’s it. I don’t want to be a page in the book."
The pages of the Bible describe the identity of the chosen people of God, the Christians. Yet, our identity as Christians is more than just words on a page. What I mean is that I don’t want you to just read about being the Chosen of God, I want you to be the Chosen of God.
II. THE COMPLICATION: “Identity Crisis”
The complication that many of us face is a very serious one. Some of us are experiencing an identity crisis. We identify ourselves as the chosen people of God, but we don’t act that way. The Colossians passage that we are looking at tonight makes a heavy emphasis on forgiveness and living at peace with those around you. Why would Paul mention forgiveness and highlight it in such a way? Why make a big deal out of forgiveness at all? I want you to know that forgiveness or rather, the lack of forgiveness, is one of the more crippling obstacles that many Christians face. I say crippling because not forgiving has consequences for us socially, emotionally, and spiritually.
A. Social – Without reconciliation, the broken relationships that we have will continue to be broken until something changes it. It is sort of like that first law of physics: ‘an object in motion will stay in motion until a force counteracts it.’ Your broken relationship will stay broken until something is done to change it. We may find ourselves isolated because of our refusal to forgive. We might find ourselves cut off from those we love because of an unresolved issue.
B. Emotional – Not forgiving someone brings with it a whole host of other emotions. An unforgiving spirit is one that is full of bitterness. Bitterness leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Depression and anxiety are often side effects of these emotions that we may not count on. Our emotions will be on a roller coaster when forgiveness becomes an issue.
C. Spiritual – We cannot ignore the passages in Scripture that time after time link our own forgiveness with the forgiveness of the people around us. We depend so heavily on God to forgive us daily. We depend on God’s graciousness to wipe the slate clean.
III. THE RESOLUTION [some information from www.foundationsforfreedom.net]
So what do we do, faced with this identity crisis? How are we going to overcome this obstacle? We have got to put the words of the page into practice. We have got to commit ourselves to act like the Sons and Daughters of God that we are. We are free to forgive and free to accept forgiveness.
1. Clearly identify what offenses or words of mine need to be forgiven.
2. Acknowledge the hurt and pain and be specific.
a) Acknowledge to God. As imperfect creatures you, others, and I have offended Him. We have
despised His rules so we could choose to do what we desired. Sin is transgressing God’s law even if we
are ignorant of it. His laws are best for us, but we think our way is best.
b) Acknowledge the other person. We have hurt the other person. It is difficult to think of our own
wrong doings. But it is equally difficult to think of the pain we have caused someone else.
c) Acknowledge Ourselves. Sometimes we are the one who has the injury. Someone has deeply hurt
us. We often pride ourselves in being able to handle things, but our wounds in fact reveal our inability
on our own to handle the situation. Someone’s words have hurt us. Written words whether in emails or
letters have upset us. Add these things to the many other wrong things that have been done. If we are not
forbearing and forgiving, we will soon get bitter and angry.
3. Pass the need for revenge on to God where it belongs. We can trust God to fully take care of justice. This is God’s nature and duty. He is fully equipped and motivated to bring about judgment. This is an important issue.
4. Ask for forgiveness. After we have identified the sin, acknowledged the pain, affirm God’s responsibility to carry out justice, we come to the party and either ask for forgiveness or seek forgiveness. Often both parties have done wrong and so both sides take part in the asking and seeking of forgiveness.
5. Ask God to comfort you. God’s Word brings both comfort, direction, reproof and encouragement at times when we are combatting our pride. It is humbling to apologize but powerful. We can often decide to do something but then not do it. The Holy Spirit delights in bringing God’s Word to your heart for your many needs.
6. Make restitution where possible. When we have done wrong, we need to not only apologize but also financially restore those things that we have broken and destroyed. We agree many things we have done or said can not be restored. Sexual sins are hard to pay back. Evil words can not be easily restored. They have done their damage. In these cases and others, we can
a) Seek the Lord’s heart. Ask Him for help to understand the other’s pain.
b) We apologize and ask forgiveness.
c) We can tell people that we desire to remove the pain that we have brought to their lives, but are
unable. Emotional pain has no payback. However, through these tender thoughts and words, they at least
know you have hurt them. This helps both of you.
7. Thank God for His forgiveness and the softening of your heart. We must remember that for us to make such changes is clearly by God’s working in our hearts. It doesn’t come natural! Thank God. Thank Him for forgiveness. Treasure Him and His care for you. Remember that the clearest way we can express our thanks to Him for forgiveness is for us to freely forgive others.
CONCLUSION
