The Ability of Forgiveness
Proverbs 19:11; “A person’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.”
It has been said that people pay attention to sermons on forgiveness more than any other subject preached upon. Why is that? Probably because we recognize our need of forgiveness, as well as our need to forgive.
Solomon in his God given wisdom speaks to the realm of forgiveness as he declares the beauty and honor of being able to forgive.
Proverbs 19:11 “A person’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.”
First we need to define forgive.
1. To excuse for a fault or an offense; pardon.
2. To renounce anger or resentment against.
3. To absolve from payment of (a debt, for example).
For the believer:
· Overlooking a transgression is to look beyond the transgression.
· As we forgive we bring glory to God ... for we never more like God than when we forgive.
For the next several weeks we are going to look at this subject of forgiveness by way of the Old Testament book of Philemon. From this study we will look into the character, action and motivation of forgiveness. But before we jump into the study of this small book I want us to look at the "Parts of Forgiveness" ... the Principle, the Parable and the Personal parts of forgiveness.
I. The Principle Part of Forgiveness
Throughout the Scriptures we are taught three basic principles of forgiveness.
Principle 1: Forgive those who sin against us.
Matthew 6:12; “and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Matthew 18:21-22; “Then Peter came to Him and said, ‘Lord, how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ ‘ I tell you, not as many as seven’, Jesus said to him, ‘ but 70 times seven.’” * It is very important for those of us that are believers in Christ to understand this 1st principle; we must forgive.
Principle 2: Forgive and be forgiven.
Matthew 6:14; “For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well.” Luke 6:37; “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
· This is a very simple principle to understand and doesn’t need much explanation. But I must add this:
· This is one of the most misquoted passages of Scripture in the Bible. People often say preacher I don’t go to church and I may not always do what is right but doesn’t the good book say you shouldn’t judge me? Or how about this one; “Don’t judge me because I have one drink every now and then.”
· Well, I just say I’m not judging or condemning you, but I can inspect your fruit.
· This passage of Scripture does not condemn discernment.
Principle 3: Don’t forgive and you won’t be forgiven.
Matthew 6:15; "But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Mark 11:25; “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too."
· Let me add comment to these verses. This is not to say that God will withdraw forgiveness or justification from those who have already received the free pardon He gives freely to all believers. John MacArthur says; “Forgiveness in that sense-a permanent and complete acquittal from all guilt and ultimate penalty of sin-belongs to all who are in Christ. Yet, Scripture also teaches that God chastens His children who disobey. Believers are to confess their sins in order to obtain a day-to-day cleansing. This sort of forgiveness is a simple washing from the worldly defilements of sin; not a repeat of the wholesale cleansing from sin’s corruption that comes with justification. It is like a washing of the feet rather that a bath. Forgiveness in this latter sense is what God threatens to withhold from Christians who refuse to forgive others.
· As principle centered people … we are called upon again and again to forgive. The principles of forgiveness are given priority throughout the scriptures to be placed into practice.
II. The Parable Part of Forgiveness
· Jesus reminds us of the practice of forgiveness through parables. In two parables Jesus points us to forgive like God and not like man. Someone has said, "We are never more like God than when we can forgive others."
· Jesus, using the method He often used by teaching in parables, gives us two great examples of those faced with the decision to forgive
First…
· The Prodigal Son - Forgiving like God
Luke 15:18-20; “I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, "and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants. And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”
· Jesus shows us the heart of the one who is willing to forgive … eager, not reluctant … he doesn’t even wait for the sinner to get home.
· Jesus shows us the heart of the Father who forgives … totally, and lavishly.
The second parable Jesus uses is…
· The Unforgiving Servant - Unforgiving like Man
Matthew 18:26-30; “The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ’Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ "Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denari; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ’Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ’Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.”
· Man nurses grudges … God eagerly forgives and restores.
· Man keeps score … God totally and lavishly forgives and forgets.
Which parable reminds us of ourselves? Jesus puts our feet to the fire in these parables to force us not just to think about the principles of forgiveness … but to forgive.
III. The Personal Part of Forgiveness
Taking the principles and parables we come to the personal part of forgiveness. It is not enough to have some good rules and a nice story or two … forgiveness is personal.
To help us personalize forgiveness we will look at the book of Philemon. In this wonderful book, forgiveness is fleshed out in the human realm. But then that is the purpose of the principles and parables. Forgiveness must be displayed in our personal life.
Here is Philemon in Panorama
· Philemon saved through the ministry of Paul.
· Philemon a slave owner … common practice in Paul’s day.
· Onesimus a slave of Philemon
· Onesimus stole from Philemon and ran away to Rome. (vs.17)
· Onesimus encounters Paul and is led to salvation. (vs.10)
· Onesimus is sent back to Philemon with letter in hand. (vs.12)
Forgiveness seems to be the over arching purpose for personal application in the book of Philemon, though others can be seen as well.
It forces us to deal with:
· The Purpose of the Nature of Christian Love … forgiveness is fleshed out by love.
· The Purpose of the Providential Care of God … forgiveness is one of the great acts of God’s care.
· The Purpose of the Principles for Christian Relations … forgiveness reconciles & restores relations.
Philemon is Personal
In the next three messages forgiveness is going to be personalized in the way of …
· The Attribute of forgiveness … what is the character of one who forgives?
· The Activity of forgiveness … what action is needed to forgive?
· The Ambition of forgiveness … what motivates a person to forgive?
As you can tell forgiveness is going to be brought to the forefront of our lives … with the hopes that we will become more like God and forgive.
Two very important facts must be dealt with as we study this book:
1. Have you ever come to a point in your life that you have realized your need for forgiveness? Have you at any time in your life called upon the only One that can forgive you of your sins? The Lord Jesus.
2. Is there someone in your live that has so wronged you? Scripture teaches us we must forgive…
You have heard the message; now you must respond…
