Forgiveness
Aired 4 June 04
Good morning,
Last week we talked about Jonah and his trip to Ninevah. We noted that Jonah was
reluctant to go to the city to preach repentance because he knew that God was a
forgiving God and would forgive them. Jonah was actually upset that the city
repented and that God forgave them. The Bible doesn’t state why Jonah reacted
this way towards God’s forgiveness of the city. Perhaps he hated their sinful
state so much that he thought the city deserved to be destroyed. Perhaps he
considered the city an enemy of God. Perhaps he felt they weren’t worthy of
forgiveness. Perhaps he just didn’t like them. God pointed out to Jonah that
Jonah was more concerned about the loss of a gourd plant that shaded Jonah than
he was about the city of tens of thousands.
You know I thank God that he forgives. I thank God for his plan of salvation. I
thank God that he is merciful and will hear our cries of repentance. How loving
that He sent his Son to pay the price for our sin.
John 3:16 through John 3:17 (KJV) 16) For God so loved the world, that he
gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life. 17) For God sent not his Son into the world to
condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
How dreadful it would be if we had to “earn” salvation. We simply couldn’t. But
God showed his love for us so much by sending his Son to pay the price for our
sins. And when we accept that and turn to Him and repent of our sins, He is
faithful to forgive us. And let there be no mistake, we all have sinned.
Romans 3:23 (KJV) 23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God;
1 John 1:8 through 1 John 1:10 (KJV) 8) If we say that we have no sin, we
deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9) If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. 10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and
his word is not in us.
Praise God! We have such a loving father. We have all sinned, there is no
denying that. There is also no denying that He is faithful to forgive us if we
confess those sins and accept Jesus Christ as our saviour. There is no denying
God’s love or mercy towards those that have sinned and repented. And His grace
is there for those that have not turned from their wicked ways, if they turn to
Him and repent, He will cleanse them.
We’ve discussed how God forgives; now let’s discuss how we are to forgive.
Matthew 6:9 through Matthew 6:16 (KJV) 9) After this manner therefore pray
ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10) Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11) Give us this day our daily
bread. 12) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13) And lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the
power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14) For if ye forgive men their
trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15) But if ye forgive
not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Most of us are familiar with these verses, in which Jesus instructs the
disciples in the manner in which they should pray. Many of us have memorized
this short prayer. But let’s not be casual in praying it. Note verse 12 asks
God’s forgiveness for ourselves as we forgive our debtors. But what if we don’t
forgive our debtors? What then? Verse 14-15 are pretty clear – I’ll repeat them
again.
14) For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you: 15) But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses.
So when you’re praying this prayer, you are asking God to forgive you as you
forgive others. This is a foolhardy prayer if you’re not forgiving others, isn’t
it? Sometimes it’s not easy to forgive is it? Sometimes we feel that we’ve been
hurt too badly, wronged far too harshly. We want vengeance. We want someone to
pay for our hurt. We forget how much God has forgiven us. Let’s see what Jesus
had to say about forgiveness in Matthew Chapter 18
Matthew 18:21 through Matthew 18:35 (KJV) 21) Then came Peter to him, and
said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till
seven times? 22) Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times:
but, Until seventy times seven. 23) Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened
unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24) And when he
had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand
talents. 25) But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be
sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26) The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have
patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27) Then the lord of that servant was
moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28) But the
same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an
hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay
me that thou owest. 29) And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and
besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30) And he
would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31)
So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and
told unto their lord all that was done. 32) Then his lord, after that he had
called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt,
because thou desiredst me: 33) Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on
thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34) And his lord was wroth, and
delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35) So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your
hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
The wicked servant had 10,000 talents forgiven, yet would not forgive 100 pence.
Are you like that sometimes? Now if you are a Christian, than you have been
forgiven your sins. And anything anyone else has done against you pales in
comparison to mankind’s sins against a perfect, loving God. I heard a preacher
say the following, and I agree with it wholeheartedly - - No-one has sinned
against us like we have sinned against God. He has forgiven us 10,000 talents
times 10,000 talents, yet we struggle mightily to forgive the 100 pence.
Sometimes we like our grudges. Some don’t want to forgive – they struggle in
praying for their enemies. Perhaps they don’t even pray for their enemies, or
they do so grudgingly. Their anger puts them in disobedience to God and that is
sin. They want revenge for the perceived wrongs against them. Some won’t pray
for their enemies because they don’t want them to be forgiven, because they
won’t forgive them themselves. But this attitude only harms you.. When you can’t
forgive, then you are in mortal danger. You not only harm your enemy, but you
harm yourself. A true Christian has to forgive. Not only must we forgive our
enemies, we should strive to love our enemies.
Matthew 22:35 through Matthew 22:40 (KJV) 35) Then one of them, which was a
lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36) Master, which is the
great commandment in the law? 37) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord
thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38)
This is the first and great commandment. 39) And the second is like unto it,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40) On these two commandments hang all
the law and the prophets.
If we truly have the love of God in our hearts, we should want to forgive. Has
anyone sinned against you so badly that you truly want them to suffer hell for
eternity? Especially if they were to come to you with a truly repentant heart?
We have to understand love. We have to love our enemies as well as our brothers.
We often find it easy to forgive our children and those we love. Even before
they come with a repentant heart we spend hours praying for them, praying that
God brings them to a state of repentance, that God will forgive them. Oftentimes
we are eager to forgive them. Oh that we could feel that same love for everyone.
I will quote Jesus again in Matthew.
Matthew 5:38 through Matthew 5:48 (KJV) 38) Ye have heard that it hath been
said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39) But I say unto you, That
ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to
him the other also. 40) And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away
thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 41) And whosoever shall compel thee to go
a mile, go with him twain. 42) Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that
would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 43) Ye have heard that it hath
been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44) But I say
unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that
hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45)
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his
sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the
unjust. 46) For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even
the publicans the same? 47) And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more
than others? do not even the publicans so? 48) Be ye therefore perfect, even as
your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
When we refuse to forgive, we are playing God. We want to be the judge, jury,
and executioner - - we have proclaimed their sins against us unforgivable! What
a dangerous decision to make! What a dangerous attitude to have. How does that
compare to Matthew 5:44? Having been forgiven so much do we dare not to forgive?
Oh how quickly we would judge and punish others, oh how righteous we feel as we
condemn others – having forgotten our own sins. Throughout your lifetime, how
many people have you hurt? How many people have you wronged, deliberately or
accidentally? Perhaps you are a stumbling block for someone else because of your
actions towards them, either now or in the past. Perhaps you are the one that
someone else just can’t forgive. Oh if we would only consider our own ways and
the forgiveness given to us. And consider that our own fate, our own judgment,
our own forgiveness may be linked to how we judge, how we forgive! Jesus says,
in Matthew.
Matthew 7:1 through Matthew 7:2 (KJV) 1)Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2)
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye
mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Is this saying that we will be judged by the same standards we judge? And
receive the punishment we would give others?
Luke 23:33 through Luke 23:34 (KJV) 33) And when they were come to the place,
which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on
the right hand, and the other on the left. 34) Then said Jesus, Father, forgive
them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast
lots.
Jesus asked for forgiveness for those that were hanging him on the cross.
Stephen asked for forgiveness for those that were stoning him. Now that is
praying for your enemies! And don’t forget, Saul was holding the garments of
those that were stoning Stephen. And we all know what God had in store for Saul,
who later had his named changed to Paul. What might have happened had Stephen
not prayed the prayer of forgiveness? Oh God, to have that mindset, that
attitude of prayerful love for our enemies.
Today, if you have an enemy you just can’t forgive, pray to God that He would
enable you to show forgiveness. The flesh doesn’t want to forgive, the flesh
wants revenge – but as Christians we are not led by the flesh, but by the Holy
Spirit. Ask for God to help you overcome the pride, anger, or hurt that is
hindering your ability to forgive.
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy
will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever. Amen