Words From the Resurrected Christ Part 3
Words from the Resurrected Christ Part 3 • Sermon • Submitted
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Commissioned to Forgive
Commissioned to Forgive
19 That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said.
20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!
21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”
22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Jesus enters into our FEAR and commissions us...
A reminder that the Resurrected Christ proclaims peace and reminds us of our purpose.
There is a Great Commission in EVERY Gospel...
Matthew 28:18-20
Mark 16:15-16
Luke 24:45-49/Acts 1:8
John 20:21-23
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
15 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.
16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.
45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
46 And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day.
47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’
48 You are witnesses of all these things.
49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”
22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
This commissioning is defined/described as a mission of forgiveness...
Jesus modeled forgiveness....
To the Paralytic - Your sins are forgiven (Matthew 9:1-13)
1 Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town.
2 Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.”
To the woman caught in adultery - Go and sin no more (John 8:1-11)
9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.
10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
You are probably saying, Yeah, but those people didn’t do anything PERSONALLY to Jesus. Ok, so what about when he was crucified and he offered forgiveness to those who crucified him and to those who scoffed him and to those who caused him to be sentenced to be crucified?
33 When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
This is the forgiveness Jesus commissions us to model. And, it is NOT easy!
Before Jesus commissions His followers to be people of forgiveness He commands we receive the Holy Spirit. We need a supernatural power to help us with this SUPERNATURAL commission. Forgiveness is NOT NATURAL! That is why we need the Holy Spirit.
Why is forgiveness so difficult?
Story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4)
Abel didn’t do anything to Cain, Cain’s beef was with God who accepted Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s. However, Cain decided to harbor bitterness towards his brother. God speaks to Cain and warns Cain, but even still, Cain murders his brother. Although this isn’t exactly about forgiveness, the story DOES highlight how we would rather harbor bitterness, anger, upsetness, and all that at those who have done us wrong!
Jesus teaches a different way…
21 “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’
22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.
23 “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you,
24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.
25 “When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison.
But, this way is not natural for us now… it just doesn’t seem to fit.
The headlight that wouldn't fit...
What do you do? Go to the factory and get the exact fit!
So it is with us. We need to return to our factory settings from the Creator and allow the Holy Spirit to enable us to live a different life.
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
The Holy Spirit grows, and blossoms within us, the NEW WAY!
This New Way blossoms into a life of forgiveness - NOT by our power - but by the Power of Christ Through the Holy Spirit within us!
May we allow the Holy Spirit to breath upon us so we can be renewed, and recreated, as a people willing to be different - a people who model forgiveness
Who needs your forgiveness?
Who do you need to ask forgiveness from?
How can God's power allow you to forgive?
As we live this life of forgiveness we are models of Christ, light in a dark land, showing and demonstrating a NEW WAY of LIVING!