The Forgiven Heart

Mark Strand story - Nelson’s

Forgiveness is a difficult thing because it means a broken relationship

I. A Heart that is forgiven has acknowledged their sinfulness

Sinfulness: is not about wrong actions but rather about a heart that is separated from God in rebellion.

All the Pharisee could see is that his actions were better than this “sinner”.

Talk about the account up to verse 37, 39

“sinner” - harmartolos - a person who has disobeyed any divine command or neglected any duty.

All the Pharisee could see is that his actions were better than this “sinner”.

Sinfulness: is not about wrong actions but rather about a heart that is separated from God in rebellion.

The Pharisee’s response to Jesus and the woman shows the reality of his heart but he could not see it.

The woman we find at some point had come to see her need for Jesus and his forgiveness vs 47-49

II. A Heart that is forgiven humbly approaches Jesus

Talk about vs 37-38

Woman comes in to this meal and stand behind Jesus and she is so overwhelmed by him and his forgiveness that she begins to weep.

This “sinner” who was disdained by the religious elite approached Jesus not to get or deride but to do the work of a servant.

When we experience the forgiveness of God it changes how we approach Him because we see him as loving Lord.

III. A Heart that is forgiven is filled with Love for Jesus

Verses 41-48

Love for Jesus is a sure sign of a forgiven heart

When God reveals to us the depth of our separation from him and brings us to repentance and faith we are filled with gratitude and love. vs 47

Keith DeYoung quote

1 John 4:18–21 ESV

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

1 John 4:7–12 ESV

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

IV. A Heart that is forgiven experiences peace

vs 50 -

Peace of heart because she was right with God shown in her love for Jesus

I John 3:

1 John 3:16–24 ESV

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

The Pharisee had no peace - he questioned who Jesus was and demeaned the woman.

I experienced this when I finally let go of my self-sufficiency and submitted myself to God in repentance.

Experiencing God’s forgiveness creates peace in our heart so that we can forgive others.

Conclusion

Perhaps you’ve never experienced the forgiveness of God

Wilbur Rees quote

2. Perhaps you have experienced it but are having trouble looking him in the eye because of sin in your heart

3. Perhaps your right with God, forgiven in Jesus, but there is a broken relationship in your life.