"Earthly Forgiveness"

Message Text:

Message Subject: “Earthly Forgiveness”

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Forgiveness, Forgetting And

A man who was telling his friend about an argument he’d had with his wife commented, “Oh, how I hate it, every time we have an argument; she gets historical.”

The friend replied, “You mean hysterical.”

“No,” he insisted. “I mean historical. Every time we argue she drags up everything from the past and holds it against me!”517

A man who was telling his friend about an argument he’d had with his wife commented, “Oh, how I hate it, every time we have an argument; she gets historical.”

The friend replied, “You mean hysterical.”

“No,” he insisted. “I mean historical. Every time we argue she drags up everything from the past and holds it against me!”

Definition

Forgiveness: (1) a term denoted in the ot by words that mean ‘send away,’ ‘cover,’ ‘remove,’ and ‘wipe away.’ In the nt ‘send away’ is used most often; forgiveness is also communicated by words which mean ‘loose’ (), ‘be gracious to’ (; ), and ‘pass over’ ().

(1) a term denoted in the ot by words that mean ‘send away,’ ‘cover,’ ‘remove,’ and ‘wipe away.’ In the nt ‘send away’ is used most often; forgiveness is also communicated by words which mean ‘loose’ (), ‘be gracious to’ (; ), and ‘pass over’ ().

Forgiveness: (2) the wiping out of an offense from memory

it can be effected only by the one affronted. Once eradicated, the offense no longer conditions the relationship between the offender and the one affronted, and harmony is restored between the two.

A.W. Tozier wrote,The heart and soul are open to God in some people’s lives, but certainly not in others.

We should be aware that man’s forgiveness is not always like God’s. When a man makes a mistake and has to be forgiven, the shadow may still hang over him among his fellows.

But when God forgives, He begins the new page right away. Then when the devil runs up and says, “What about his past?” God replies, “What past? He has been forgiven!”

Now, I think that kind of forgiveness and justification and acceptance with God depends upon a person’s willingness to keep the “top side” of the soul open to God and His saving grace!"

Forgiveness is the center around which our faith revolves. But when we are the ones who need to forgive, forgiveness becomes more difficult.

Forgiveness affects the way I relate to God and interact with others. We can begin to understand forgiveness by looking at what it is not:

Forgiveness is the center around which our faith revolves. But when we are the ones who need to forgive, forgiveness becomes more difficult.

(1) Forgiveness is not a cover-up, or a game of “let’s pretend.” Or, pretend the offense was “no big deal.”

(2) Forgiveness is not teeth-gritting determination to keep going, no matter what.

Sheer willpower to overlook or minimize an offense will never achieve forgiveness. Such an approach often creates bitterness instead, especially when the other person fails to respond as desired.

(3) Forgiveness is not passive resolve to wait the problem out, hoping that time will heal all wounds.

(4) Forgiveness is not excusing people who offend our personal preferences or who annoy us by their selfish choices.

In , Paul wrote,

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Personal definitions of fairness are set aside. In fact, self is set aside altogether. The focus becomes Christ. However real the offenses or injustices against us, however justified our hurt, we must view it from Calvary. True forgiveness rises from a deep-rooted trust in Jesus Christ and in the values of his kingdom.

Forgiveness is the pardoning and blotting out of offenses. God forgives humans for their sins and commands humans to forgive each other (, ; ).

Paul gave his testimony before King Agrippa (vv.1-3)

A very strict Life(vv.4-5)

taken to Jerusalem for his education at a very early age

he was educated in Jewish Law

he was under the greatest Jewish Teacher (Gamaliel)

he was reared a Pharisee, a strict religionist one of the strictest religionists ever known in history

A very orthodox life (vv.6-8)

the hope of the Messiah and of the resurrection from the dead

A very Hostile: a bitter enemy of Jesus(vv.9-11)

he persecuted Jesus and Christian believers (voted against the Christians)

A very changed life (v.12-18) Paul life was totally changed, he had been converted, completely turned around from what he had been.