One Another - Forgive

OPEN: Customer service poor lately - what do you expect? Jesus did everything, the perfect “customer service” experience.

OR: Time for change. Ready to change? Nobody likes it, like eating healthy...”mud smoothies”

OT: Isaiah 5:4, NT: John 21:25

SERMON - One Another - Forgive

Unity, Love, Humility, Serve

ILLUST:

The Command - Forgive One Another

Ephesians 4:32 NASB95

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Colossians 3:13 NASB95

bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

Need to define forgiveness - To depart, leave behind, abandon, leave alone

James 5:16 NASB95

Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

Let’s also define confess and repent - “say the same things as”, and “turn/change direction”

But today, forgiveness, the act of forgiving.

You’ve been offended, now, you need to forgive

Matthew 6:14–15 NASB95

“For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

One often-used alternative is to hold a grudge, tell others about the issue, and never resolve the matter - “mow the weeds”

Proverbs 17:9 NASB95

He who conceals a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.

Meaning - “conceal” as in not make it known or shown to others, keeping it between you and the other. POINT: If I’ve offended someone, or hurt someone, I really hope they come to me first, so we can resolve it. And I can ask forgiveness, they grant it, and it’s done, “concealed”

Forgiveness requires maturity. Many find growth from having to forgive.

Jesus commands us to be forgiving, forgive one another. We need an example...

The Example - Jesus

Luke 23:34 NASB95

But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.

Jesus asked forgiveness for others, in the worst of circumstance.

Parable - Matthew 18: 21-35 - Unforgiving servant

READ and explain

10,000 talents - enormous debt, borderline of comprehension (millions to trillions)

Talent - highest denomination (like our $100)

10,000, highest number for which Greek had a word (myriad)

The man begs for mercy, making a promise he can’t keep. Can’t repay this.

“Took pity” - see 9:36, 14:14, 15:32, 20:34 - compassion, seen in Jesus’ ministry

SHEER GRACE on display

Then, the man, confronted with being owed 100 denarii - 3 months (ish) wages

Ratio of 10K talents to 100 denarii = possibly 1 million-to-one

Great disparity of debts

Response is completely opposite the king’s generosity

He refused to forgive - made a conscious choice to harden his heart

When he shows he will not forgive, meaning he really doesn’t understand the forgiveness that had been offered to him, he will spend life in jail, since he cannot repay it from there

The How/What etc.

Holy Spirit bothers us about sin, for us to feel convicted, and ask forgiveness

Starts with attitude - REM Phil 2:3 - have this mindset

One who is forgiven, forgives. REM Matt 6:14-15

Not forgiving is a conscious choice to not forgive - CHOICE

(Just like you can make a choice to not be forgiven)

To NOT forgive means to not truly understand forgiveness

(NOT saying it’s always easy, it wasn’t easy for Jesus to go to the cross)

First, let’s understand Biblical repentance, not worldly sorrow; 2 Cor. 7:10

NOT: “I’m sorry” or “I’m sorry you were offended” “I apologize”

Do this: “I’m sorry I hurt you when_____, please forgive me”

OR or I know it upset you when I ______, please forgive me

Then, the forgiving:

NOT: “It’s OK” or “Don’t worry about it” or “Forget about it”

Do this: “I forgive you”

Positional - we still sin, but God forgave us as sinners, so that we are forgiven regarding eternal judgment - Heaven or Hell

Still need to live clean, daily repentance and forgiveness: 1 John 1:9

Forgiving others is also positional - the offense still happened. If the person asks forgiveness, and you forgive, it’s done. There may still be consequences, but forgiveness of one another is not about injustice. There is still justice, repayment, reconciliation, etc.

But forgiveness, that’s about the personal interaction

ASIDE: People here can get offended, some have been, some still are. There is forgiveness needed - not a witch hunt, but an honest gut check

Have you hurt or offended anyone?

Has anyone hurt or offended you?

What do we do with this?

Our church will only get stronger when we are a forgiven people who are forgiving.

HOW? Think about salvation, and God forgiving sin, cleansing us daily:

He doesn’t bring it up again, EVER! And when Satan accuses us, Jesus intervenes. Any doubts? Those are on us.

Romans 8:33–34 NASB95

Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

US: When you forgive, you: (send it away, abandon the offense)

Don’t bring it up again, to the person

Don’t bring it up again, to God

Don’t bring it up again, to yourself (this could be the touch one)

And it’s not brought up to anyone else (of course, Matt 18 has process, 2 or 3)

The world find this foolish. And when we treat forgiveness like “they” do, we don’t show them Christ. When we show them forgiveness, we show them Christ.

When you are offended, and asked to forgive someone, say YES

God was offended when humans sinned. When you sinned, and asked Him to forgive you, He said YES.

He spoke, and He forgave

Think that’s too easy? It’s how He created

CHALLENGE:

Someone today, needs to ask God to forgive them, through Jesus.

Someone today, needs to forgive someone

When we treat these “one anothers” seriously, Biblically:

Unity, Humility, Love, Serving, Forgiving

God is glorified and He helps the church grow strong.

He’s already done everything we need

Jesus died, to forgive you

So you could forgive others

Forgiveness - it is central to the Christian life, and vital for the church. This church.