Forgiving As We ve Been Forgiven

Transcription

1 Forgiving As We ve Been Forgiven Lesson 3: Forgiveness and Repentance In week one Aaron started us out explaining that forgiveness is at the heart of the Gospel. While we were still sinners Christ died for our sins so that we could be in fellowship with Him. God s unconditional love and his generosity towards unrepentant sinners is an example of the love and forgiveness he desires us to show others. Today we are continuing the series titled Forgiving As We ve Been Forgiven. Today we will be learning about how repentance relates to forgiveness. Our resources for this series are Forgiven As We ve Been Forgiven by Celestin Musekura and L. Gregory Jones, and When Forgiveness Doesn t Make Sense by Robert Jeffress.I also recommend both of these books.

2 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 (ESV) 2 The anthem for the series is Ephesians 4:32. (READ VERSE) This verse sums up beautifully how Christ-centered communities are supposed to function. It presumes a need for forgiveness and reconciliation, especially among the people of God, b/c of the mercy we ve been shown.

3 The difference between another person s sin against you and your sin against God is the difference between sixteen dollars and five billion dollars! In Jeffress book, he states that Forgiveness is the obligation of the forgiven. We are called to forgive those who have done us wrong. In Matthew 18:23-35 the King forgave his servant and freed him from his debt. The King showed his servant compassion and forgave him just as God through Christ did for us. That same servant that the King just forgave, went to a fellow servant and demanded that he pay him the money he owed him. Instead of treating him with kindness and compassion, he showed him no mercy and had him thrown in jail. The wicked servant could not comprehend how much he had been forgiven by the King. We so often focus on what our offender owes us and forget our great debt that Jesus died for, which is our sin. Jeffress puts it this way. (READ QUOTE) Wow! I ve never thought about my sin toward God in that way. Our sin against God outweighs any sin we commit to one another.

4 The heart of the argument is really quite simple. If God requires us to acknowledge our sin before He forgives us, and we are to forgive others in the same way God has forgiven us, then it seems to follow naturally that we should require our offender to repent before we forgive them. Robert Jeffress 4 Is repentance a requirement for granting forgiveness to others? In Jeffress book he explains that there is division among forgiveness experts about the need for repentance prior to forgiveness. Jeffress explains it like this: (read)

5 Can you forgive someone who: a. Is unaware that he or she hurt you? b. Is unmoved by the fact that he or she has offended you? c. Is unwilling to admit their mistake? d. Is unable to ask for your forgiveness because of illness or death? 5 In other words can you forgive someone who...(read list) These are some tough questions. Let s first look at the definition of repentance.(read)

6 Repentance Repentance means to change one s mind. To have regret for one s past action. It is followed by changing our behavior. 6 Or..next slide.

7 7 Read This sums it up nicely. Thank you, Pinterest!

8 Can I forgive when there is no repentance? 8 Let s look at some scenarios from the book that put this in perspective. The first one is about a family that recently moved to a new neighborhood. The mother was concerned that her children would have a difficult time making new friends. Over time they made lots of friends. The mother was pleased until she found out that her children were not invited to a slumber party that the other neighborhood kids had gone to. She was very hurt by this. She wanted to know why they did not invite her kids but was unsure of how to address the subject. She was wanting the other parents to acknowledge their wrongdoing and ask for forgiveness. Would she be able to forgive them if they did not say, I m sorry? Another story has to do with a business partner s anger toward the other partner. The two men had different view points on a contract they were working on together. One of the partners allowed his anger toward his partner to get the best of him in front of their employees. The other partner was humiliated by his action. Clint, who was the target of his partner s anger, approached the other partner and expressed the embarrassment and hurt that he caused him. He was hoping that his partner would acknowledge his mistake and they would be able to get back to business.

9 Instead, his partner quickly became angry and informed him that he was part owner of the company and therefore he could talk to anyone how he wanted to. Could Clint ever forgive his partner knowing that he refused to acknowledge his mistake? Would there relationship ever be the same?

10 Table Discussion 1. Referring to the two examples, have you experienced something similar in your own life? What was the outcome? 2. What is the problem with demanding that our offender earn our forgiveness? 9 Let s go to our table discussion. Read questions. I will give you 8 min.

11 3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, I repent, you must forgive him. Luke 17:3-4 (ESV) Now let s look at what the Bible says about forgiveness.

12 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9 (ESV) In Jeffress book he list s four instances where repentance is vital. 1) Repentance is essential to receiving God s forgiveness. It is vital that we confess our sins to God so that we can receive His forgiveness. God is the only one who can restore our hearts.

13 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. 12 John 13:35 (ESV) 2) Repentance is essential to reconciliation with another person. God requires us to forgive those who do us harm, but we are not required to continue in a relationship that will allow that person to harm us again. However, God desires Christians to reconcile with one another, when possible. Without it we are not living our lives as God instructed us to. (read) We are called to be God s hands and feet. Therefore we need to show the world that we are faithful to God. Without reconciliation we are giving the evil one an opportunity to sow a seed of division in the body.

14 21 Then Peter came up and said to him, Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times? 22 Jesus said to him, I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21-22 (ESV) 3) Repentance is essential to restoration to a position. (read) In the parable of the unforgiving slave, the unlimited, unilateral, and unconditional nature of forgiveness is shown.

15 3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up [a] as by the heat of summer. Psalm 32:3-4 (ESV) Repentance is essential in order to be free from guilt. (read) Guilt is your clue that something is wrong. If this guilt you feel is left alone it will grow into bitterness

16 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart. Matthew 18:35 (ESV) 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:25 (ESV) 34 And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. [a] And they cast lots to divide his garments. Luke 23:34 (ESV) 15 Unconditional forgiveness is Biblical In Matthew 18:35, Jesus is saying that true forgiveness comes from the heart. In Matthew 11:25, Jesus command to us is to forgive. Luke 23:34 is when Jesus was on the cross

17 Renee Napier Mother who lost her daughter to a drunk driver. She forgave her daughter s killer and became the inspiration for Matthew West s song Forgiveness. The today s video is the story of Renee Napier who lost her daughter, Meagan, to a drunk driver in Meagan was not the only casualty. Her friend Lisa, was also a victim. Eric Smallridge, who was the drunk driver, was sentenced to 22 years in prison. Here is their story.

18 Unconditional forgiveness provides a way we can let go of the wounds of the past inflicted by those who are incapable of repentance. Robert Jeffress 17 Unconditional forgiveness is practical and beneficial. Jeffress states that, (read) There are times when our offender refuses to repent or is no longer around, so they cannot repent. Therefore, our forgiveness frees us from a lifetime of bitterness and guilt. It also allows us to separate ourselves from our offender.

19 7 minutes. 18

20 4:25

21 You may now go into prayer time. Once your table has finished praying, please leave the room. Thank-you.