Should You Be Forgiven...should You Forgive...

SHOULD YOU BE FORGIVEN…SHOULD YOU FORGIVE…

Many of us say that if people show remorse or say something that makes them sorry for what they have done then maybe I will forgive them. However, it hardly happens like that and many excuses we use to continue in our bitterness, our anger, our desire to get even.

Let us just take a moment and look at Jesus, on the cross, no one seemed sorry or repentant, asked for forgiveness. The crowd was laughing, mocking, even shouted insults at Him, they taunted Him, saying if you are the king…save yourself. The people were pleased when He died, Pilate washed his hands clean of the whole affair, the Jews hated Him with their whole hearts. No one said, ‘this is wrong, this is a mistake, we are fools.

Yet Jesus forgave them…. In Luke 23:34, it says, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

We need to say it to people who hurt us repeatedly, to those who attacked us and still do, to those who have wounded us, to all around us and to our fellow Christians.

What does it mean to forgive?

It is mentioned 75 times in the bible which makes forgiveness an important word. Forgiveness is a matter of the heart, it is a decision made on the inside to refuse to live in the past, it is a choice to release others from their sins against you, so that you can be set free. It allows you to let go and move on, yet it is so easy for us to mouth kind words of forgiveness while harboring anger and bitterness within…

IF I WERE TO ASK: How many of you have committed murder, you should all say, never. Yet I am here tonight to tell you that you all have, just by thinking boy, I could kill you to someone in your family, or when someone really upsets you, you say I wish you were dead. Then you have committed murder, SHOULD YOU BE FORGIVEN FOR THAT?

IF I WERE TO ASK: How many of you want what others have and really go out of your way to get it, by any means necessary, no matter the cost to others and to you, SHOULD YOU BE FORGIVEN FOR THAT?

Look if you have hate, or even dislike in your heart, you are a murderer in your heart and you are guilty before God for the murder even though you never actually committed it. Let me explain it this way: Forgiveness does not mean:

Approving of what someone else did wrong.

Making excuses for other people’s bad behavior.

Overlooking abuse.

Letting others walk all over you.

Refusing to press charges when a crime has been committed.

Pretending that you were never hurt.

That you must tell the person that you have forgiven them.

That you must restore the relationship to what it was before.

That all negative consequences of sin are cancelled.

Turn with me to Matthew 18:21-35

Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy- seven times. Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he began to settle, one debtor was brought to him owing ten thousand talents. But since he had nothing with which to repay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and everything that he had, and to be repaid. Therefore, falling before him, the servant said, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will repay everything to you.' "And having compassion, the master of that servant released him, and forgave him the loan. But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. And taking hold of him, he was choking him, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' "So, his fellow servant fell down at his feet and kept begging him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.' "But he was not willing, but going off, he cast him into prison till he should pay back what was owed. So, when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and they came and narrated to their master all that had taken place. Then summoning him, his master said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, as I also had compassion on you?' "And being angered, his master handed him over to the tormentors until he should pay all that was owed to him. Thus, also My heavenly Father will do to you, if you do not forgive each one his brother their trespasses, from your hearts."