GOD'S WORK OF LOVE INCLUDES FORGIVENESS

GOD’S WORK OF LOVE INCLUDES FORGIVENESS

Monday, September 15, 2014

 

The following is written from notes taken and thoughts provoked during Pastor Paul’s yesterday morning sermon.

 

Mat 18:21  Then Peter came to Him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Until seven times?

Mat 18:22  Jesus said to him, I do not say to you, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.

Mat 18:23  Therefore the kingdom of Heaven has been compared to a certain king who desired to make an accounting with his servants.

Mat 18:24  And when he had begun to count, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.

Mat 18:25  But as he had nothing to pay, his lord commanded that he, and his wife and children, and all that he had, be sold, and payment be made.

Mat 18:26  Then the servant fell down and worshiped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me and I will pay you all.

Mat 18:27  Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.

Mat 18:28  But the same servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. And he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me what you owe.

Mat 18:29  And his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, Have patience with me and I will pay you all.

Mat 18:30  And he would not, but went and cast him into prison until he should pay the debt.

Mat 18:31  So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry. And they came and told their lord all that was done.

Mat 18:32  Then his lord, after he had called him, said to him, O wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.

Mat 18:33  Should you not also have pitied your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you?

Mat 18:34  And his lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors until he should pay all that was due to him.

Mat 18:35  So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also to you, unless each one of you from your hearts forgive his brother their trespasses.

Romans 14:1-12 And receive him who is weak in the faith, but not to judgments of your thoughts. …

 

  Initial thought: Have we really accepted God’s love, His forgiveness, if we are not forgiving others as does He?

  In the time of the apostles the church was hardly heaven on earth. There was plenty of friction over law versus grace, law and grace; diet, day of worship, circumcision, and lots more.

  Today most consider these issues passé, even laughable, but we in the contemporary church also have issues. Some of which are minor, some major, too often with chosen result of angry unforgiveness.

  Another thought: Forgiveness and excuse-ability can be poles apart. We must not confuse the two.

  To grasp import of forgiveness, it’s essential to understand The Parable of the Talents presented by Jesus in response to Peter’s question.

• 7x70. Are we to compute stats on forgiving?
• Then what is the point of 7x70 criteria?
• 25 million dollars is a lotta moola!!
• But not as important as forgiveness.
• God treats us as we treat others.
      And then there’s the fact that unforgiveness leaves us vulnerable to the roaring lion that seeks whom he may devour. (1Pet.5:8) 
    Final thought: Is it possible to please and honor God if I am unforgiving?  EBB4