Forgiveness

Introduction

In light of the events that took place yesterday

Today is fitting that we speak about forgiveness

please remember that whatever your political views are

those views are not appropriate in the kingdom of God

God is king. Period.

He’s in charge and is not unaware of what’s happening

He’s still on the throne

and we still have a job to do to

Introduce people to Him

develop followers of Jesus, not a president or candidate

and then deploy them into the world

There is an old African Proverb that reads

He who forgives ends the quarrel. - African Proverb

Here’s another one

The heaviest load any man carries on his back is a pack of grudges

or perhaps C.S. Lewis

We all agree that forgiveness is a beautiful idea until we have to practice it.  C. S. LEWIS

How many fights, feuds, and awkward situations

can be finished if we simply forgive

How many medical ailments could be cured if we were to forgive someone

or be forgiven by someone

A psychiatrist once recorded in a medical journal that

if he could convince the patients in psychiatric hospitals that their sins were forgiven, 75 percent of them could walk away the next day.

One last quote. William Temple who started as an Anglican priest and would later become the Archbishop of York and the n Canterbury said it this way.

Only one petition in the Lord’s Prayer has any condition attached to it. It is the petition for forgiveness. WILLIAM TEMPLE

That is what we are going to look at this morning.

The petition for forgiveness

Matthew 6:12 (ESV)

12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Matthew 6:14–15 (ESV)

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,

15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Forgiving Our Debts

Matthew 6:12a (ESV)

12 and forgive us our debts

If I were to ask the question what is your greatest enemy,

some might say a high school bully

some might list a political opponent

there are even others that would list an ex-spouse

but most would say that Satan is man’s greatest enemy.

He is an enemy to be sure, but he is not man’s greatest enemy.

He is God’s greatest enemy.

Man’s greatest enemy is sin.

This is what separates man from God.

Romans 3:23 (ESV)

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Because of our sin, we are separated from God

But the original sin is not the only sin in our life

Original sin took place in the garden of Eden

When Adam and Eve first took the bite of that fruit

after being told not to, that sin is passed down to everyone

through our very DNA and the fiber of our being

And that is why the world is broken

and why we there is sickness, disease, natural disaster etc.

and that is what separates us from God

Because of those events, sin still exists in each of us

Sin is not what you do, sin is who you are

I often share about babies

and how much I love children!

But in reality even a sweet innocent baby is a born sinner

Before a child can talk

they will still defy a parent telling them not to do something

they’ll still do it

no one had to teach anyone how to lie, or to cheat, or to steal

that comes naturally

sure, you may have had to have someone teach you how to do it better

but the impulse to do these things come naturally to us

Romans 3:10–12 (ESV)

10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;

11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.

12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

So sin is the enemy to us

Because it is now sin that keeps us from God

So, not just man’s greatest enemy, but man’s greatest problem.

Because man’s greatest problem is sin

Our greatest need is forgiveness

and forgiveness is what God provides

Romans 5:8 (ESV)

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16 (ESV)

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

This is the gospel message

Even while we are still sinners, God sent His son Jesus to die for us

It was a debt that had to be paid

to redeem us from sin

Romans 3:23–24 (ESV)

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Ephesians 1:7 (ESV)

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

I’ve heard different words being used to talk about sin, debt, trespass

What’s the difference between a trespass and a debt?

In the model prayer, we can substitute the word “debt” for “sin”

but to do that, there needs to be an understanding

There are 5 Greek words for the word sin in the Bible

Hamartia - missing the mark

this is the most common word

It’s like aiming the opposite direction from a target and shooting

which is why repentance, literally meaning turning around and facing the other way

is so important

Anomia - lawlessness, flagrant sin

Parabasis - stepping across the line, going beyond the limits prescribed by God, “transgression”

Paraptōma - slipping, falling, unintentional disobedience. “trespass”

Opheilēma - debt

Opheilēma - This is the word used in this passage

A debt is is an obligation that we owe to someone else

We usually think of debts in money terms

But in this case it means a moral or spiritual debt

and of all the times this word is used it means a spiritual debt to God

one that has to be paid

We call it a sin in the church

Let’s see how this is applied to salvation

Romans 3:23 (ESV)

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

because of sin, our falling short creates a debt

Romans 6:23 (ESV)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

A wage is the payment, the debt we owe for our sin

death is the debt we owe for sin

When Jesus Redeems us

and He died for each person

and pays the debt we owe

the penalty of our sin

we are freed

We simply need to believe and confess

so for those that believe that Jesus did that

and confess Him as their Lord

they are saved from this debt

Back to the model prayer then

Jesus said we are to ask forgiveness for our debts and forgive our debtors

Didn’t God forgive us once for all on the cross?

Why do we need to ask God for forgiveness if He’s already done that?

Believers have experienced once-for-all God’s judicial forgiveness

the moment that you receive Christ as Lord and Savior

Romans 8:1 (ESV)

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

So absolutely there is no chance for a believer in Jesus

To ever be convicted of the sin that has been passed down to you

from the original humans created

We will no longer be judged by God’s law

Galatians 3:24–26 (ESV)

24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,

26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

But, we still sin, we still do bad things, right?

The debt of sin is paid

but missing the mark is a daily occurrence

Even as a believer we still do things against God

Because although we have been forgiven from the original sin

sin still lives within us

This is how it works

We are tempted by something

temptation is not sin, but a lure, a desire

and we don’t have to be tempted by Satan

actually, 99% of the time, it’s our own desires that get us into trouble

That’s why feelings are not viable things to make decisions on

Just because it’s on sale doesn’t mean we have to buy it

Just because it feels good doesn’t mean we should do it

Just because we have money doesn’t mean we have to spend it

Just because we want something doesn’t mean we need it

Just because we post a picture doesn’t mean that everyone has to like it for us to feel good

When I get a feeling, a tingle, a gut feeling

It has to be checked with what the Bible says

before I should act on it

that’s not always easy and to be perfectly transparent

doesn’t always happen

because temptations can be strong desires

but temptations are not sin

only when we act or give in to the temptations do they become sin

James 1:14–15 (ESV)

14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Someone that says that they do not have sin

is lying to themselves and to others

it doesn’t matter if you are a believer or not

1 John 1:8–9 (ESV)

8 If we say 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.

So because we still fall into sin,

even as a believer in Christ we still have sin in our body

So we sin, but we are already forgiven, right?

I mean we don’t have to ask forgiveness to God

because He forgave us already

He forgave our sin against the law

our debt has been paid

So we will never face God as judge

we now require God’s forgiveness in a different way

God’s forgiveness is not now as judge, but as Father

when we miss the mark as a sinner

we grieve God,

Ever do something that made a parent upset at you for doing something?

During the Last Supper, in the upper room

Jesus began by washing the feet of his disciples

John 13:5–11 (ESV)

5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”

7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”

8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”

9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”

10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.”

11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

Jesus’ act of footwashing was more than just an example of humility

This is a picture of forgiveness that God gives when we are already saved.

The dirt on their feet represents sin that we experience as we walk through life

It does not and cannot make us entirely dirty,

because we have been permanently cleansed from that.

like Peter when he asked about having his whole body washed

and Jesus said, “One who has bathed does not need to wash”

But we do need to clean our feet every day

Because every day their feet would get dirty

from wearing sandals on the dusty, muddy, animal filled streets

because every day we fall short of the perfect holiness of God

So we ask forgiveness from God

because everyday we do something that dirties our soul

and by asking for forgiveness

it cleanses us

Does verse 15 mean the God doesn’t forgive some people?

Matthew 6:14–15 (ESV)

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,

15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Asking forgiveness implies confession

Feet that are not presented to Christ cannot be washed by Him

Sin that is not confessed cannot be forgiven

Confession remember is nothing more than agreeing with God

Romans 10:9 (ESV)

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

This is simply agreeing with God that Jesus is Lord and Savior

So we need to confess our sin to God

which really just means that we agree that we sinned before God

But this ins’t just talking about God

This is talking about others

so does this really mean that if we don’t forgive someone else

that God won’t forgive us?

Well, yes, but let me explain

Let’s talk about the second part of the petition on forgiveness

As We Forgive Our Debtors

Why should I forgive someone?

The very first thing that Jesus says as part of the verse is

Matthew 6:12 (ESV)

12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

The prerequisite of being forgiven by our Father is that we forgive others

Remember this isn’t a salvation issue

this is a cleanliness issue

We are to forgive because it is the character of righteousness, godliness

If we forgive, we will be forgiven

if we have not forgiven, we will not be forgiven

forgiveness is the mark of a truly regenerate heart

because it reflects the same forgiveness that God showed us

In other words, if we forgive others

it proves that we are truly a believer in Jesus

and shows the world the glory and gospel of God

If we rebel against God and choose not to forgive others

That shows that we are not truly a believer

whether or not you are

and does not glorify God to the world

forgiveness is evidence of discipleship

The Gospel according to Matthew b. Prayer, 6:5–15

Jesus is saying that to fail to forgive others is to demonstrate that one has not felt the saving touch of God.

Let me put it this way

In Matthew 18 Jesus tells the parable of a king who forgave his servant a million dollar debt

the servant went out from the king and found one of his fellow servants

who owed him a relatively small amount of money

and when the fellow servant said he couldn’t pay

the other servant had him thrown in prison

When the king heard about it

Matthew 18:32–35 (ESV)

32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.

33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’

34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.

35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

The reason we would be handed over to our tormentors

is because holding fast to an unforgiving spirit

proves that we do not trust Christ

If we truly trust Him,

we won’t be able to take forgiveness from his hand for our million dollar debt

and hold forgiveness from our ten dollar debtor

You may have said the words that you accepted Christ

but did you really believe it or mean it when you did?

Forgiveness is the fruit of a true relationship with Him

Forgiveness frees your conscience of guilt

Want to get rid of the nagging feeling of guilt in your life?

You may need to forgive someone

Ever wonder why people walk around in life

looking like they suck on lemons for a living?

It may be because they have never forgiven someone

An unforgiving heart manifests itself in bitterness

and that sin forfeits blessing and invites judgment

Hebrews 12:15 (ESV)

15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

What does it look like to forgive someone?

Let’s start with what forgiveness is not

forgiveness is not the absence of anger at sin.

it’s not feeling good about what is bad

I had a pastor friend that had a woman in his congregation that refused to take communion

He found out that she had been separated from her husband because he repeatedly beat her and sexually abused her children

She said that every time she came and they served communion

she would remember what he had done and feel so angry at what it cost her children

that she felt unworthy to take communion

It had been over a decade that this had happened

He counseled her and told her she was not expected to feel good about what happened.

anger against sin and its horrible consequences is fitting up to a point

But you don’t need to hold on to that in a vindictive way that desires harm for your husband

Hand it over to God who judges justly

1 Peter 2:23 (ESV)

23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

and you may have to do this over and over again

and pray for the transformation of your husband.

Forgiveness is not feeling good about horrible things

He encouraged her to forgive him in this way, if she hadn’t

take communion as she handed her anger over to God and prayed for her husband

Forgiveness is also not the absence of serious consequences for sin

sin has consequences

and God can use the consequences of that sin to help someone

Those consequences are necessary in some cases

calling the police, sending someone to prison

doesn’t mean you didn’t forgive them

but the consequences of their wrong actions

may be what is needed to help them

What is forgiveness?

Let me share a definition of forgiveness from Thomas Watson

who was a puritan preacher

Thomas Watson, Body of Divinity

When we strive against all thoughts of revenge; when we will not do our enemies mischief, but wish well to them, grieve at their calamities, pray for them, seek reconciliation with them, and show ourselves ready on all occasions to relieve them.

Let’s break down Thomas Watson’s definition of forgiveness

Each part comes from a passage of Scripture

1. Resist thoughts of revenge: Romans 12:19, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

2. Don’t seek to do them mischief: 1 Thessalonians 5:15, “See that no one repays another with evil for evil.

3. Wish well to them: Luke 6:28, “Bless those who curse you.”

4. Grieve at their calamities: Proverbs 24:17, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles.”

5. Pray for them: Matthew 5:44, “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.”

6. Seek reconciliation with them: Romans 12:18, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”

7. Be always willing to come to their relief: Exodus 23:4, “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him.”

How to forgive someone

Adrian Rogers shared these three things on how to forgive someone

Here they are and we’ll talk about each one individually

We ought to forgive freely

We ought to forgive fully

and we ought to forgive finally

We ought to forgive freely

We ought to be in a hurry to do it

don’t wait around

and give forgiveness freely

As soon as you have the opportunity

forgive them

If someone comes up to you and asks for forgiveness

forgive them freely

If Jesus in the middle of being crucified

after having nails driven into His hands and feet

having people spitting and mocking him

and Jesus is praying what?

Luke 23:34 (ESV)

34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

We have no excuse why we shouldn’t forgive someone when they ask immediately.

I’m glad my Savior didn’t wait and think about it before he forgave me

We ought to forgive fully

Have you ever wronged somebody

and come and confessed it to that person

and they say, “Oh man, don’t worry about that! Forget it”?

That’s not forgiveness

That’s pride on their part not wanting to admit that it really did bother them

I’m not talking about some inconsequential action that is easily dismissed

something that was a real wrong done

and they act like it was nothing

You can’t forget until it’s forgiven

It can never be forgotten until it’s forgiven

because forgetting is not the means,

it’s the fruit of getting right

Don’t act like it doesn’t matter

truly forgive someone

say the words, “ I forgive you.”

It’ll make them feel better

and it will make you feel better

We ought to forgive finally

We are to forgive fully the way God forgave us

what does it look like to forgive fully like God forgave us?

Let me share how God forgave us Biblically

Hebrews 8:12 (ESV)

12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”

Hebrews 10:17 (ESV)

17 then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

Isaiah 38:17 (ESV)

17 Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back.

Psalm 103:12 (ESV)

12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)

32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

When we forgive someone fully

We freely forgive someone

and we do it finally

God will help us through the rest

To live in a better world, we need forgiveness

forgiveness comes from love

and the only love that provides forgiveness is God’s love