Forgiveness
- Mar 25, 2024
- 4 min read
INTRODUCTION :
You may notice a bit more greenery today. Well today is Palm Sunday and we want to share with you, if you don’t know already, why Palm Sunday exists before we move into our main topic today which is very much related to why Palm Sunday exists.
Jesus has been doing His thing for the last few years, miracles, healings, sermons, and he’s got the attention of the Pharisees and Sadducees and they are looking for him because they feel threatened and want him gone.
Jesus is returning to Jerusalem on a “colt” that he asked his disciples to round up for him. This is important because he is fulfilling a prophecy found in Zech 9:9…
This triumphal entrance is recorded in all 4 of the gospels but we will take a quick look at Luke 19:30-40.
Palm Sunday is preparing us for the week ahead, where the ultimate sacrifice and the forgiveness of sins takes place.
So today, we wanted to spend some time on Forgiveness
Main Idea- We forgive because God has forgiven us first.
Let's take a look at a couple passages.
Ephesians 4:31-32
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
This verse contrasts sin with a Christ-like alternative.
Because God forgave us all our sins, we are to extend that same forgiveness.
If you withhold forgiveness from someone, it is truly only hurting you.
When you do forgive, the burden is released from you.
We see a recurring theme throughout Paul’s letters to the churches. One of his utmost priorities is unity within the body. In Col 3:13 we again see him speaking to believers about forgiving as the Lord forgave.
Colossians 3:13 says
bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Here the word forgive literally means to let loose, to release or let go of something.
With that as a foundation of sorts let’s READ - Matthew 18:21-35
Let me help you understand how much money we are talking about here.
10,000 talents is roughly 375 bags of silver or some say gold.
1 talent is equal to 6000 days of labor
10,000 talents equals 60 million work days
Not sure how much time you have left but I don't think I can cover this one. Its an unpayable debt. Beyond what a debtor could possibly ever hope to pay.
In today’s money it is over 200 billion dollars.
Cost of our daily sins are more than we can imagine.
The Lord forgives us as soon as we ask him as we see in the parable.
But the forgiven servant does not extend that forgiveness to his fellow servant even though the debt was much smaller.
What Jesus is saying here is that because our Father has forgiven us so much, we are to extend this by forgiving anyone who has sinned against us.
Here’s the reality, we can never “out-forgive“ God. There is no price paid higher than that of Jesus on the cross for us. Jesus paid such a high price to redeem us and secure our forgiveness, that when we don't do the same, it is such an offense to God as it was to the master in the parable.
Forgiveness is both a decision and a process - He says not just 7 times but 7x70 times. His point was not to forgive 490~ times but to be willing to continuously forgive. It starts with a decision to be obedient to God and choose to forgive, but we know that doesn't erase the damage done or magically heal our hearts. We have to be open to continually receiving God’s forgiveness so that we can continue to work through all the levels of healing and forgiveness in ourselves and allow God’s forgiveness to flow through us to others.
CONCLUSION:
Forgiveness is an ongoing process, it's up to us, to you and I, and God calls us to forgive as He has forgiven us.
We just talked about The Lord’s Prayer two weeks ago. Remember the part, forgive us our debts as we forgive others… Forgiveness is a part of our daily lives. Forgiveness isn't just for the hard stuff and things we go through. Forgiveness is as much a part of our lives as eating, breathing, sleeping and exercising. Asking for forgiveness and extending forgiveness are to be a part of life every day… maybe even multiple times a day :)
Scripture
Luke 19:30-40
Eph 4:31-32
Col 3:13
Matt 18:21-35
Thoughts/Questions To Consider:
Why is asking for forgiveness hard?
Why is extending forgiveness hard?
What lies do we believe that need to be rejected and replaced by truth?
Rom 12:2: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Announcements:
Giving box available on Sundays or you can give on the website inthevineonline.com - 2 Corinthians 9:7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Easter service will start at 10am instead of 10:30. There will be a service, communion, an egg hunt and food so invite your families.