The Power of Real Forgiveness

Luke 23:34

"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

You should not be shocked when I say that the true message of Jesus has been taken to the slaughterhouse of popular opinion, and butchered almost to the point of ineffective, powerless, and empty words!

This is because many people, who claim to be the bearers of the good news of the cross, have been tainted with a sweetened up, watered down, and glossed over version of so-called truth, and in doing so, they have distorted the message of Christ so bad, that people these days, don’t even want to know about God.

Much of our modern-day religion is full of counterfeit teachings, false promises, and fake people!

And, I feel bold enough to say that God is tired of this foolishness, and fakeness in the church, that is causing the lost to stumble and not even consider calling on His name!

God is looking for a called out, sanctified, on-fire people who are willing to be real!

It’s Time To Get Real!

In our text, we see Jesus on the cross, in agonizing pain, giving us all a lesson on real forgiveness. Forgiveness is a part of the foundation of our relationship with God. Yes, God loves us, but it is His forgiveness, that opens the door to the full plan of salvation.

Forgiveness is how God calls us out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Forgiveness is how God is able to make us heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus.

Forgiveness is how God makes us the head and not the tail.

Forgiveness is how God blesses our going in, and our coming out.

Forgiveness is how God makes sure no weapon formed against us can prosper.

Forgiveness is how God allows us to come boldly to the throne of grace.

Forgiveness is how God looks beyond our faults and sees our needs.

All of this only works because God’s forgiveness is real forgiveness.

Let’s take a look at what Jesus is teaching us about how real forgiveness is supposed to work!

1. Conversation With God – “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them…”

a. You have to talk to the right person. – The reason people find it difficult to forgive others who have done them wrong, is because they talk to everybody about the person, except God!

b. Talking with God about your problems with others, allows the Holy Spirit to give you a godly perspective about the person.

c. When someone _________, Call On Jesus!

2. Compassionate Understanding – “for they know not what they do”

a. I Corinthians 2:14 says: “But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

b. When a person intentionally does something to you to hurt you, they are “acting out” what they “have within”! Their natural human compulsion, which is not in tune with the Spirit of God, compels them to behave in ways they actually think is right. They “know” what they are doing, and they “know” that it’s wrong, but they don’t “understand”, “why”, what they are doing is wrong!

c. This is the very reason that Jesus was able to ask His Father, not to destroy mankind for crucifying him!

His love was stronger than their 40 lashes.

His understanding was greater than their ignorance.

His grace was more powerful than their greed.

His mercy was greater than their madness.

His tenderness was stronger than their treachery.

His kindness was more effective than their craziness.

His faithfulness was stronger than their foolishness.

His compassion was greater than the crucifixion!

3. Complete Restoration –

a. The most difficult part of real forgiveness is the fact that whatever was scattered in the separation, must be completely restored in the reunion!

b. We have to stop fooling ourselves. God’s real forgiveness closes every gap in the ruptured relationship, and repairs every wound, by filling them with unconditional love!

c. The way we forgive is NOT forgiveness at all! We say we forgive, but then we refuse to associate with the person whom we said we forgave.

d. What if God said: “I forgive you, but you can’t come up here in my Heaven!”

4. Closing

When God forgives, the lost become found.

When God forgives, the lonely soul finds a friend in Jesus.

When God forgives, that which is broken gets made whole.

When God forgives, the castaway gets invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

When God forgives, prodigal sons come home to a seat at their Fathers table.

When God forgives, prostitutes become prayer warriors.

When God forgives, pimps are transformed into preachers of the gospel.

When God forgives, drug dealers are changed into deacons in the church.

When God forgives, hearts are fixed, and minds are regulated.

When God forgives, bowed down heads get lifted up.

When God forgives!!!!!!