And When You Pray | And Forgive Us As We Forgive (Part 8.5) Embracing God's Heart on Forgiveness Excuse-Proof Forgiveness - 05/30/2021

May 30, 2021 “…And When You Pray” And Forgive Us As We Forgive #3B Matthew 6:12; 14 & 15 Embracing God’s Heart on Forgiveness: Excuse-Proof Forgiveness Romans 5 5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us (when we were neither good nor righteous), in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Matthew 6:12; 14 & 15 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 1 Matthew 6:14 & 15 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 14 Colossians 3: 12 – 14 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. START HERE: 2 Did you know that God has made it possible for all believers to forgive every type of offense or violation suffered by them (and vice versa)? He alone did all the work to get us (Believers) to a place where we would be capable of forgiving others just as Christ forgave us. His command says, “even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do”. Col. 3:13b. That is the crux of today’s message which is entitled: [SLIDE] Embracing God’s Heart on Forgiveness: Excuse-Proof Forgiveness. Our text is found in Romans Chapter 5: verses 1& 2 and 6-11. Listen to how it reads: [SLIDE] Romans 5:1 & 2; 6-11 5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us (when we were neither good nor righteous), in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by 3 His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. So, how has God made it possible for believers to be forgiving and to forgive every type of offense or wrong suffered by them? The key is in understanding Christ’s finished work on the cross. It is that work that gets us to the place where we can meet God’s commandment of -- just as Christ forgave us, we MUST forgive other – free of all ifs, ands buts excuses. In this morning’s message, I want to build on last week’s message by homing in on forgiveness as seen from God’s perspective. This message is intended to give us God’s perspective on forgiveness and to show us why He requires and expects of us “excuse-free forgiveness”. Right off the bat, it is important for all people to understand that only Believers, those who are Born Again, can pray and completely fulfill Jesus’ command to forgive. . . In the Lord’s Model Prayer, Jesus said for us to pray: 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And again, in Matthew 6:14 & 15, He reemphasized (as if to say, in case you didn’t hear me: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 14 4 God, through Christ, is saying that only Believers can and must obey His command to forgive others as He has forgiven them. [SLIDE] Is there a time or circumstance that Believers should not “forgive”? The answer would be NO! There is no violation or anything that occurs in our lives that is beyond God’s forgiveness, or the ability He gives to us once Christ becomes the head of our lives. The overarching principle here is that an unregenerate person can’t completely forgive another until he or she has experienced Christ’s forgiveness for themselves. So, the commandment to forgive is really directed at Believers. [SLIDE] Now, “Does God ask or command His children to do something He hasn’t prepared them for, or equipped them to do?” The answer is “NO”. He isn’t telling us to “exercise or extend forgiveness” to those who have wronged us without first showing us what forgiveness is all about. [SLIDE] As we come into a clearer understanding of God’s forgiveness principle, then we also come to realize how He loads us with accompanying wisdom, knowledge and understanding on how to apply and live out His forgiveness command. [The more we grow in knowledge of Jesus’ saving grace in our lives, the more we are expected to master knowing how to forgive.] 5 Our first taste of true forgiveness comes from God at salvation. Without, no man would understand how to forgive or be forgiven. Above all, God first fortifies us with a personal experience of His forgiveness, that is, He grants us complete forgiveness of our original sin through the blood of Christ. Romans 5 gives us a picture of how He does it. [SLIDE] Romans 5:1 & 2; 6-11 5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us (when we were neither good nor righteous), in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. 5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access 6 by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. [God’s justification of us puts us at peace with Him. Justification here means that God, like a judge, steps in and forgives us of our sin and its penalty based on Jesus’ shed blood and death on the cross. He doesn’t judge us based on what we deserve but based on Jesus’ justifying work on the cross. Christ died in Our Place. By this, we are at peace with God. Before accepting Christ as our Savior, God declared Himself to be at war with every human being because of man’s sinful rebellion against Him and His laws. But the first great result of justification is that the sinner’s war with God is ended forever. The Bible refers to the end of this conflict as a person’s being reconciled to God. In verses 6-11, we learn the gory details and circumstances through which God placed forgiveness at our fingertips. Here’s what it says: 6 For when we were still without strength [totally helpless and spiritually dead], in due time [God’s perfect time] Christ died for the ungodly [the most rotten of sinners – us]. 7 For scarcely [rarely] for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare [take a chance] to die. [This is saying under rare circumstances somebody might put their life on the line for a righteous or good person; but the takers are scarce, if at all.] 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us (when we were neither good nor righteous), in that while we were still sinners [totally undeserving], Christ died for us. 7 [The proof of God’s amazing love is this: that it was while we were still dirty unconcerned sinners that Christ died for us. 9 [But Now] Much more then, having now been justified [declared righteous] by His blood [after accepting Christ as our personal Savior], we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies [against God before salvation] - we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved [and forgiven] by His life. [First forgiveness, then reconciliation. To be reconciled means God has granted forgiveness of sin and thus reunited the repentant sinner to Himself based upon accepting Christ’s death as payment. Every human being has this this privilege at their disposal, but not everyone will accept it in their lifetime. But to those who do, this experience [is supposed] (2 Peter 1:9) to become their unforgettable testimony of Christ’s priceless, complete and undeserved forgiveness of their sin. It is this gift of forgiveness that Christ hopes and expects will become our anchor in extending forgiveness to others – even as Christ has forgiven us. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Christ paid an insurmountable price to grant us our first taste of complete, undeserved forgiveness of sin. Without His unselfish ransom payment with His life for the ungodly, we would be doomed and without hope. Ultimately, forgiveness and reconciliation leads to 2 Cor. 5: 16-21 8 16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. [Our priority as Believers should be to meet people’s spiritual needs. So, like Paul we are called to no longer evaluate or regard Christ or people, in general, according to external, human worldly standards. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Jesus first forgave every believer of an immeasurable debt of sin. It is that initial forgiveness of sin that we should never ever forget or lose sight on. The forgiveness bestowed upon us at salvation came with a price. That price was the life of an innocent Savior. Our ability and need to forgive flows out of our understanding of Christ’s willingness to forgive us. When we reflect on His unselfish sacrifice of dying for us, even when we were yet sinners, and yet not even considerate or respectful of His determination to die for us – it 9 should lead us to never hold grudges or to withhold from others the unlimited supply of forgiveness Christ has transferred upon us. Unless Christ’s suffering and death is recognized, appreciated, and embraced as the thrust behind our forgiveness – then, I’m afraid true forgiveness will be a foreign concept in our Christian walk. If we see forgiveness from Christ’s perspective, then it is near certain that we’re going to apply it as Christ requires. But, if we refuse to see forgiveness as Christ commands, then neither will it ever be demonstrated toward others. Our ability to forgive hinges on our knowledge and understanding of Jesus’ forgiveness. Understanding that Jesus first forgave us is the beginning of our extending complete forgiveness to others. True forgiveness begins with Jesus. Everyone who has truly forgiven unconditionally, got their start from Jesus. [SLIDE] What is true forgiveness? First, it is complete forgiveness. It is a conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you, regardless of whether they deserve your forgiveness. Forgiveness does not mean forgetting, nor does it mean condoning or excusing offenses. [The measure of forgiveness we receive from God is driven by the measure of forgiveness we extend to others. Yet, we have to be aware 10 that there is no such thing as limited or partial forgiveness – only complete forgiveness. Limited forgiveness will never do. Complete forgiveness is required if you and I are to know personally and fully that God is our loving heavenly Father, and if we are ever to reach our personal destiny in this life. The only thing that will get us to the place of receiving God’s forgiveness is forgiving others. Forgiving others is the measure by which we will be forgiven. [SLIDE] Jesus did more than that. Romans 5:8 says . . . But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. True forgiveness on our behalf begins when our practice of forgiveness is driven by an understanding of Christ’s forgiveness of us. If you never fully understand Christ’s forgiveness in your life, then neither will you appropriate or understand the significance of forgiveness. It is Christ who sets in motion the need to be forgiven in our lives. It is God who gives us the capacity to forgive self and others. Without Him and a perspective of His priceless forgiveness demonstrated toward us, I don’t think we possess the ability to forgive completely. At best we would fall into a category of May the Lord watch between me and thee. believe 11 Forgiveness doesn’t belong to us, it belongs to God. It is His alone to share, legislate and bestow upon whomever and/or whatever He elects to apply it. I consider forgiveness a gift from God in which He loads man with an unsurmountable supply to divvy out freely on others based upon his constant remembrance of Christ’s love and forgiveness of his personal sin. [SLIDE] James 1:16-18 NKJV says 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. I’m closing with this passage because it talks about gifts – good gifts and perfect gifts. The Apostle James emphasizes that every one of these good and perfect type gifts are from above which means they are divine gifts from God. I believe the virtue of “forgiveness” is a gift from God bestowed upon every Believer as constant reminder of our Lord’s forgiveness of us. Every time we forgive, He forgives. And every time we forgive, we experience God’s heart on reconciliation and forgiveness. Equal to this, I believe God gives every Believer an abundant supply of forgiveness to administer wherever a need for forgiveness exists. The supply God provides to each of us is so generous that there is never a need or time to withhold or skimp on lavishing it upon those who have violated us or with whom we have an indifference. 12 Keep in mind, the gift of forgiveness is from God and comes from above. He is the owner and originator of it. It is not ours to handle selfishly or with bias, but rather to treat unselfishly and generously – just as He has freely poured it out upon us. Just know that there is nothing that occurs in our life that is beyond God’s forgiveness – whether it me or you in need or someone one like Apostle Peter alluded to in his desire to limit his forgiveness of them to seven times. But Jesus made it clear, we have unlimited capacity to forgive up to 70 time 7 or 490 times for the same infraction. Embracing God’s Heart on Forgiveness: Excuse-Proof Forgiveness END 13