January 12, 2025
Looking unto Jesus #
Forgiveness #
Introduction
I want to preach on the topic of Forgiveness in accordance to our theme, "Looking unto Jesus" and considering his forgiveness. Given the current circumstances we find our self in, there is a great opportunity to learn what God expects. Furthermore, I believe there is a great deal of unforgiving that goes on in christianity in general. I'm not aware, and am not insinuating that anyone here has harbored un-forgiveness. Honestly, I don't know of any. It can be well hidden, and maybe only you know about it.
I have heard of christians that have held grudges against a brother in Christ in the same church, and would not talk to them.
Two things every single one of us must understand:
1. Someone has offended you. If you are human, and have feelings, and you are not a robot, you have feelings, and those feelings have been hurt, and will be hurt!
2. You have offended someone. If you are human, and live in the world, you are going to offend someone. I live in the mountains in my cabin all by myself, and don't see anyone. You have offended someone, because they are excluded from your life. We try not to be offensive, and we should try NOT to be offensive, but we are going to offend people.
How do we handle these two inevitable things in our life?
Colossians 3:12-15, 13-14*
I. Forbear (Col 3:13) #
A. Definition: #
- forbear - to treat with consideration or indulgence (considering others before yourself).
1. forbearance is a two way street in which I put up with a brother's faults, and he puts up with mine. #
2. When a person offends us, we are to forbear them. #
B. Repeated #
Ephesians 4:1–2 “^1\ ^I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, ^2\ ^With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;”
1. It is clearly mentioned in the Bible twice... so it is important. #
2. Humility is required for forbearing. #
M. Henry “It becomes those who are holy towards God to be lowly and loving towards all men.”
3. vs 12 - holy (like God), merciful (like God), kind (like God), humble (like Jesus), meek (like Jesus) longsuffering (like God). #
II. Forgive (Col 3:13) #
A. Quarrels happen #
- quarrel - 1. To violate concord or agreement; to have a difference; to fall out; to be or become antagonistic. 2. to dispute angrily, or violently; to wrangle, to scold, to fight.
1. Everyone offends! #
2. Learn to disagree, and get along! #
B. Forgiveness doesn't happen #
C. Forget it... give it to God! #
Psa. 119:165 ¶ Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
III. Forgiven (Col 3:13) "even as Christ forgave you" #
A. Recognize your sin against God #
Rom. 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
1. Well... pastor, I wasn't that bad! #
Eph. 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
B. Recognize Christ's Forgiveness! #
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
How often?
Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
1 Peter 2:21-25