Intro: We talked last week about Colossians 3:1 - setting our minds on heavenly things. Yet, so often we focus on things on the earth. We are slow to do that which we know is right. One of the areas we struggle is in the area of offering forgiveness.
Is there anyone you hold a grudge against?
Is there anyone who has wronged you that you choose not to forgive?
#Two little brothers , Harry and James, had finished supper and were playing until bedtime. Somehow, Harry hit James with a stick, and tears and bitter words followed. Charges and accusations were still being made as mother prepared them for bed.
The mother instructed, “Now James, before you go to bed, you’re going to have to forgive your brother. James was thoughtful for a few moments, and then he replied, “Well, OK, I’ll forgive him. He then knelt to say his prayers:
Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.
Then he looked over at his brother and said,
“but if I don’t die before I wake up, you’d better look out in the morning.”
We humans struggle with the concept of forgiveness. Dr. James Dobson reports seeing a sign on a convent in Southern California reading:
“Absolutely No Trespassing--violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.” Signed, “The Sisters of Mercy”
What is this concept of forgiveness really all about? The truth is that we struggle with forgiveness because of our humanness, because we all have a sin nature. Yet, as we look this morning at God, we find that He loves to forgive. He desires to offer his forgiveness to us.
We are going to be looking at various passages this morning as we consider this. Let’s learn a few basic truths this morning about forgiveness.
I. Forgiveness brings Grace
This is a very simple point, but a very great truth to understand. Our forgiveness is not founded in our actions. It comes from the one who does the forgiving. There are far too many people who think they can “earn” forgiveness. If only they would do enough good, God would be motivated to forgive them.
Titus 3:4-5 says - But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
There is not any basis we have for receiving forgiveness apart from the grace of God. And while that might lead us to despair, knowing we can do nothing to merit God’s forgiveness, the encouraging, exciting part of this is that God LOVES to forgive us. It’s part of who he is.
A. Forgiveness is part of the nature of God.
In Exodus 34, God appears to Moses and reveals himself. We find these words written:
Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation."
Over in Psalm 99 we find this: Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel was among those who called on his name; they called on the LORD and he answered them. He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them. O LORD our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds. Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.
The basis of our forgiveness comes from the very nature of God. He loves to forgive his people.
Forgiveness brings grace because
B. Forgiveness is promised to those who seek it
I was talking with someone this week about 2 Chronicles 7:14, a wonderful verse. They said they were going to memorize it this week. Many of you will know it when you hear it:
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
1 John 1:8-9 tells us “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
God loves to forgive those who will turn to him. Yet this forgiveness is all based in who God is, not in who we are. God does not choose us because we are worthy, but because we are his creation.
Forgiveness brings grace because
C. Forgiveness is provided through Jesus
Turn with me to Hebrews 10. READ vs. 1-14
None of the Old Testament sacrifices ever took away sin. The people offered them in faith, but it was not the death of an animal that took away sin; rather it required the sacrifice of a holy, righteous, sinless God.
None of our rituals--going to church, reading the Bible, giving an offering --none of these provide forgiveness. Forgiveness comes from the fact that we serve a God who is great, who is rich in love towards us, and who wants to forgive our sins.
Far too often we fail to truly experience the joy of true forgiveness. Jesus offers forgiveness of sins to all who will receive him as savior. Romans 10 tells us 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. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
If you have not received forgiveness of sin this morning, 2 Corinthians tells us I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. Ask Jesus to forgive your sins and be your savior today.
--The place where many of us are today, however, is that we have received the forgiveness of the penalty of our sins. We have trusted Christ as Savior. Yet we still sin. When Jesus gave Peter a lesson about footwashing in John 13, He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean.
When we trust Christ as Savior, we are secure in our salvation. Yet, we still need forgiveness, not of the penalty of sin, but for restoration of the relationship.
With Jacqueline and Joy, sometimes one will do something wrong, and we have to work through the confession and forgiveness process. When there is a wrong committed, it strains the relationship between us. But when there is confession and forgiveness, we can have close fellowship once again.
One of my favorite stories about this healing process of forgiveness and grace is about a group of boys who played baseball in an empty lot. One day they were playing and the ball came through the window of the house next door. As the owner came to the doorway, he saw kids running in every direction. The next few days, he didn’t see and kids playing ball. After about a week, they were back again, and he went over and said, “I see one of your friends hasn’t been coming out to play lately.” He found out the name of the boy who had put the ball through the window, found out his address, and went over to his house. As the boy came to the door, the man said to him: I know you hit the ball that broke my window. I just want to let you know that I’ve replaced the window, I’ve paid the bill, and your friends are all back playing ball on the field again. Why don’t you come back and play with your friends again - I’ve taken care of the window.
That’s what Jesus does for us. He paid the price for our forgiveness and he offers that forgiveness to us freely. Sometimes Satan comes and tries to drive us to despair over the “broken window’ in our lives. Jesus calls to us and offers his forgiveness and full fellowship with him if we will accept his grace.
Forgiveness brings us grace: that which we did not deserve: God’s riches at Christ’s expense.
II. Forgiveness also brings change
Some people forget that God loves them - even though they aren’t perfect yet. Yet, let’s realize that God doesn’t want us to continue to stumble and fail. He desires to help bring change to our lives. Look with me again in Hebrews 10. Read 10:16-25
God desires to help rid us of guilt and anxiety over wrongdoing. He does it by helping us to do right. 2 Cor 5 tells us For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no-one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
How have you been doing in living a new, changed life? Sometimes we fail, and God brings correction to us. Look with me in Hebrews 12:5-11. Read Text - God provides correction because he loves us, and he wants us to be holy.
Concl: If we think that God punishes us because he is mean or desires revenge, we need to think again. God is love, and he loves his children, even when we go astray. He offers his forgiveness fully and freely. Ronda and I have a habit when we seek forgiveness, if there is any question about whether the other has granted forgiveness, we say, “Fully and freely?”
That’s what God does for us. Fully and freely he offers us a forgiveness that we could never earn, work for, afford to buy. It is all given out of his love and grace for us. It is all done so we can be holy and like Christ. Romans 8 tells us our goal is to be like Jesus.
If you have never received forgiveness of your sins, today is the day to accept Christ as savior. If you can’t forgive yourself, remember that forgiveness is a gift. God loves you and offers forgiveness. There is nothing you can do to earn forgiveness, so there is nothing worry can do to increase forgiveness. This morning, accept the grace and love of God, forgive yourself, and allow God to let you become holy and righteous in your lifestyle. When we understand the gracious love of God for us, it helps us to forgive others in the same way.
Let us pray.
