11.1.09 - Walk in Purity - Forgiving One Another

Walk in purity - Forgiving one another

Daniel Patz, Lead Pastor

Grace Church, Sunday Worship

Ephesians 4:31-32

November 1st, 2009

Begin with Jesus’ parable to Peter:

Matthew 18:21-35 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 times seven. (23) "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. (24) When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. (25) And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. (26) So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' (27) And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. (28) But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.' (29) So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' (30) He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. (31) When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. (32) Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. (33) And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' (34) And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. (35) So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

Paul writes to the church:

Ephesians 4:31-32 (31) Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. (32) Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Comment on this passage.

I want to make 4 observations this morning about forgiveness:

1. True Christians are Forgiven Sinners by God’s gracious kindness and compassion through the death of Jesus Christ according to God’s plan.

“as God in Christ forgave you” (end of 32)

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

Colossians 1:13-14 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, (14) in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 2:13-15 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, (14) by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. (15) He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

1 John 2:12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.

2. Forgiveness means that the cost and penalty of our infinite debt because of sin was absorbed and paid for by another, namely Jesus, and we were made children of God.

Romans 4:25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Jesus’ parable.

3. Forgiven sinners are now children of grace who are given the inward power to absorb the lesser debts owed to them by others and forgive based on God’s forgiveness and so glorify God’s grace.

Forgiveness means that we not only cancel a debt but we also absorb it.

- We refuse to bring it up to others as leverage.

- We refuse to bring it up to others in slander.

- We refuse to bring it up to ourselves and dwell on it.

Lane’s points on Forgiveness:

- Forgiveness involves canceling a debt. (we absorb the cost)

- Forgiveness is costly, but not forgiving is more costly

- Failure to forgive will change you

- Forgiveness is a process not an event (Forgiveness is both a past event and an ongoing process into the future. It is a past promise you keep in the future.)

- Forgiveness is not forgetting

“(32) Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Colossians 3:13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

2 Peter 1:3-7 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, (4) by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (5) For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, (6) and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, (7) and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

Ephesians 1:16ff

4. Grasping the profound nature of our joyful indebtedness to God’s forgiveness of us in Christ is vital to overcoming the self-destructive attitudes and actions of bitterness and anger and to freeing us to become generous, tender-hearted forgivers.

Matthew 6:11-15 Give us this day our daily bread, (12) and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (13) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (14) For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, (15) but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Luke 7:36-50 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. (37) And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, (38) and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. (39) Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner." (40) And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he answered, "Say it, Teacher." (41) "A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. (42) When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?" (43) Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt." And he said to him, "You have judged rightly." (44) Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. (45) You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. (46) You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. (47) Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven--for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." (48) And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." (49) Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?" (50) And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

From Lane and Tripp:

The king in Jesus' parable absorbs the loss of thousands of dollars. What a generous king! Imagine if you owed $100,000 or even several million dollars in back taxes to the government. You would most likely be facing a serious prison sentence. Now, suppose a wealthy person offered to pay your debts and leave you with enough money to live like a billionaire. You would be overcome with gratitude toward this person. He would be constantly on your mind, and you would probably share this story with everyone. With your new wealth, you would likely be a very generous person, helping others who were in trouble, even those who had taken advantage of you. Not to respond in this way would raise serious questions about the condition of your soul!