Forgiveness C S Lewis Forgiveness is a beautiful
Forgiveness C. S. Lewis: “Forgiveness is a beautiful word, until you have something to forgive”
Forgiveness • Jesus spent his entire life teaching lessons about forgiveness and a provision for it “to hold one as though no offense had been given; stop being angry with; pardon, to cancel or remit (as a debt); interested in as though nothing had happened” (Webster’s New World Dictionary) Ephesians 4: 32; Colossians 3: 13
Forgiveness Is Necessary • Man is a transgressor of the law of God – All have sinned • Romans 3: 23; 1 John 1: 8 – Sin against our fellow man • Matthew 5: 22 -24; Luke 15: 18 • Necessary for man’s physical good – We have enough burdens to bear!
God’s Forgiveness • Man is lost for eternity without it – Revelation 21: 27 • Must be IN Christ to receive forgiveness – Ephesians 1: 6 -7 – We get IN Christ through baptism (Gal 3: 27) • • • Hear (Romans 10: 17) Believe (Mark 16: 16) Repent (Acts 2: 38; Luke 13: 3; Acts 17: 30) Confess (Matthew 10: 32) Baptism (Romans 6: 3 -4)
God’s Forgiveness • Baptism saves us – 1 Peter 3: 21 • If we love Jesus – we will keep His commandments and obey Him – John 14: 15 • God is always ready to forgive – Romans 10: 21
God’s Forgiveness • God wants everyone to be saved – 1 Timothy 2: 4; 2 Peter 3: 9 • We have a patient, loving Father! – Psalms 103: 1 -22 • God’s kindness leads us to repentance “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? ” (Romans 2: 4)
Man’s Forgiveness • Man sins against his fellow man – Genesis 4: 4 -8 • Brethren sin against each other – 1 Corinthians 8: 12; Luke 17: 3 • Strife and division is the result of SIN • Man must have a forgiving spirit – Matthew 6: 14 -15
STORY OF THE SLAVE Matthew 18: 23 -35 • Owes ten thousand talents – Talent = 5 -6 thousand denarii • Working man received one denarius a day • One talent = about 15 years wages – He owed 10, 000 of these! • Why does he use astronomical figures? – To remind us of our debt before God
STORY OF THE SLAVE Matthew 18: 23 -35 • Character of the king – Only the king can forgive the debt • He did so by paying it himself! • Fellow servant – Owed one hundred pence – much less • Begs for patience • Same thing this servant did before the king
STORY OF THE SLAVE Matthew 18: 23 -35 Key Point • Although he has a legal right to demand payment – he has no moral right – It is impossible to receive forgiveness gratefully from one and to refuse it vengefully to another When I choose to receive forgiveness – I obligate myself to practice forgiveness!
Christ Is Our Standard • This was taught by the apostle Paul – Ephesians 4: 31 -32 – Colossians 3: 12 -13 – Romans 4: 7 -8 • Once one asks God forgiveness of sin – God remembers it NO MORE “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. ” Hebrews 10: 17
Christ Is Our Standard • Why do we hesitate to forgive others when we ourselves sin? – Matthew 18: 15 • How often should we forgive? – Matthew 18: 21 -22 forgiveness means erasing the act, letting go of the wrong
Christ Is Our Standard “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous” 1 Peter 3: 8
Principles of Forgiveness • Source of forgiveness is God’s forgiveness • Refusal to forgive is costly • Secret to forgiveness is grace The cross is where we receive forgiveness and where we learn to forgive
- Slides: 14