"forgiveness"

SOTM

“Forgiveness”

Matthew 6:14-15

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

And grace my fears relieved.

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares

I have already come;

'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far

And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be,

As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.

When we've been there ten thousand years

Bright shining as the sun,

We've no less days to sing God's praise

Than when we've first begun.

God’s forgiveness of sin STILL amazes me:

know the truth of my sin

We’ve seen the depth of our own wickedness

If everyone knew the terrible, evil things we have thought and done

We’d have trouble looking anyone in the eye

But God knows the worst about us:

He saw you when you stole

He saw you when you lied

He saw you when you did that thing you wish you never did

He knows about your addictions and struggles with the flesh

We’ve not hidden anything from God

God’s forgiveness has come to us

God is all knowing

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of hi to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13

God’s surprising response:

We’ve broken God’s Law

We’re guilty, there’s no way around it

The wages of sin is death

The Law requires that we pay for our sin with our own blood

That we receive the just punishment for our sin

God knows the worst about us, but He treats us BETTER than we deserve:

A surprising plot twist:

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8 (NIV)

Jesus knew:

That we would sin

He knew that we would wander from the truth

Died for your sin over 2,000 years before you were born

Paid your debt to sin before you even sinned!

God can handle it:

A murderer? Forgiveness is available

Adulterer, fornicator - Forgiveness is offered

Thief, liar, covetor, lustful eyes - Forgiveness

Forgiveness through the cross was made available to:

Jefferey Dalmer, Osama Bin Laden, Sadam Husein and even Hitler

the offer of forgiveness and salvation still stands for YOU!

Do we deserve this forgiveness?

Absolutely not

I don’t want what I deserve

We deserve Hell,

Listen to the Good news for those obedient to the Gospel: (Don’t read citation!)

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1 (KJV)

"Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." Hebrews 10:17

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:11-12

DT - God has forgiven us so much, it’s no problem to forgive others.

How we treat others is a reflection of our heart’s condition

People are going to treat you badly

You will be cheated, slandered, unfairly harassed

Someone cause you intentional and unintentional harm to you

Jesus promised we would have trouble in this world

But He also told us that He has overcome the world

When we received Salvation through the blood of Jesus:

We become have a new master

We have a new purpose

We have a new power

Listen to the expectations of Jesus of those in HIS Kingdom:

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

“The practice of forgiveness is our most important contribution to the healing of the world.” – Marianne Williamson

Jesus tells us that if we are to receive forgiveness we must ALSO forgive our offenders also

Let God’s forgiveness flow to us, and then through us

Forgiveness is like a twix candy bar

When i was a kid, getting a candy bar was a big deal

I rarely got candy, unless I was with my grandparents.

On the rare occasion that I could get a candy bar, I always picked TWIX