God's Forgiveness: The Basis of Reconcilitation
Forgiveness: The Pathway To Freedom • Sermon • Submitted
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· 10 viewsA message about God's amazing forgiveness of the prodigal person.
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God's Forgiveness
Luke 15:11–24 (NLT)
11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons.
12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living.
14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.
15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.
16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!
18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,
19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” ’
20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’
22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.
23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast,
24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.
INTRODUCTION
A- Forgiveness begins with God
B- Reconciliation is the desired outcome of forgiveness.
I- THE GOODNESS OF GOD (Luke 15:11-12).
I- THE GOODNESS OF GOD (Luke 15:11-12).
11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons.
12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
A- He has declared his love for all people.
A- He has declared his love for all people.
(John 3:16).
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
1- In the story, the love of the father for both sons is evident.
a- In his relationship with both.
b- In his interaction with both.
2- In his story the provision for both sons is the same.
a- He made all people and provided for their needs.
(Acts 17:24-26 NLT)
24 “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples,
25 and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.
26 From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.
3- He allows all men to choose how they will relate to Him.
a- Just as the father gave the sons a choice.
(John 1:10–12)
10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.
11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.
12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
2. THE SERIOUSNESS OF SIN (LUKE 15: 12-16).
2. THE SERIOUSNESS OF SIN (LUKE 15: 12-16).
12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living.
14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.
15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.
16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
A- Sin begins with an attitude of extreme ingratitude.
A- Sin begins with an attitude of extreme ingratitude.
(Romans 1:20–23)
20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.
22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.
23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.
1- The younger son was not thankful...he was demanding and ungrateful.
(vs. 12) "The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die."
B- Sin separates us from the one who most desires a relationship.
B- Sin separates us from the one who most desires a relationship.
“A man had two sons... So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons... while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming."
1- The father wants a relationship with us.
(Matthew 11:28–30 (NLT)
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
C- Sin estranges us from the one who alone can meet our deepest needs.
C- Sin estranges us from the one who alone can meet our deepest needs.
(Luke 15:13-16)
13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living.
14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.
15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.
16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
1- The son's sin kept him in extreme need.
2- The only one who could meet the son's needs was the father.
3- Continuing in his separated state only led him to deeper desperation.
(Jeremiah 2:13)
“For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me— the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!
D- Sin produces turmoil and guilt, and destroys relationships.
D- Sin produces turmoil and guilt, and destroys relationships.
1- Guilt
(Luke 15:18-19)
18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,
19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” ’
2- Broken relationships
(Luke 15:28-30)
28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him,
29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.
30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’
3. THE AWESOMENESS OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS (Luke 15:17-24).
3. THE AWESOMENESS OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS (Luke 15:17-24).
17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,
19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” ’
20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.*’
22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began."
A- God's forgiveness provides a full pardon for our sin against God.
A- God's forgiveness provides a full pardon for our sin against God.
(Romans 5:1)
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
(Romans 6:23)
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
B- God's forgiveness cleanses away all of the guilt and stain of sin.
B- God's forgiveness cleanses away all of the guilt and stain of sin.
(1 John 1:9)
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
C- God's forgiveness restores the relationships God intended.
C- God's forgiveness restores the relationships God intended.
(Ephesians 2:12–13) "
In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
D- God's forgiveness creates a new creature in the place of the old.
D- God's forgiveness creates a new creature in the place of the old.
(2 Corinthians 5:17)
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
E- God's forgiveness is ready to be received. (Luke 15:22-24)
E- God's forgiveness is ready to be received. (Luke 15:22-24)
22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.
23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast,
24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.
CONCLUSION:
A- Now What?
1- Video "Amazing Love" - Hillsong
2- Invitation to Discipleship:
You may be saying at this point in your study of sin and forgiveness, “Well, what is our part? Isn’t there anything that we have to do?”
Yes, we must do something as part of the process of receiving forgiveness. The pattern for receiving forgiveness is also evident in the story of the forgiving father, which we discussed in the today's study. Let me remind you of these verses:
But when he [the son] came to himself, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.’ ” And he arose and came to his father.… And the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son” (Luke 15:17–21).
This boy “came to himself.” We might say, “He came to his senses.” He began to think the right way, and he began to have a clear picture of himself, his sin, and his father. He started to think the truth about his situation—that even his father’s servants were better off than he was. Furthermore, his attitude was summed up in this statement: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.”
Recognizing the truth—and agreeing with it—is called confession. Confession is vital to our receiving forgiveness. To confess means to “agree.” It involves our thinking and admitting to God, “You’re right, I’ve sinned. I’m a sinner. I have not only wronged other people and myself, but I have wronged heaven.”
As long as you refuse to admit that you have done wrong, you can’t be forgiven. Oh, God is willing to forgive you. But if you refuse to admit you have done wrong, you won’t turn to Him and receive His forgiveness.
• Can you recall a time in your life when you “came to your senses” about sin? Perhaps you perceived something as sin for the first time, or you finally admitted that what you were doing was sin in God’s eyes. If you can't what will you do now?