Forgiveness

Forgiveness – Ephesians 4:32

I                  Introduction

A                Sin is present, forgiveness is the desired state.

1       There is a plan for our salvation from sin

a       It was established in the beginning

b       It was established to show the glory of God

c       It was established to enable man to stand pure before God

2       The prescribed remedy for sin in the plan of salvation is the blood

a       Life is in the blood

b       Through blood comes forgiveness

c       Through the blood covenant of Christ, God remembers sin no more.

d       If life is not chosen, death is.

3       Requirements of Forgiveness mentioned generally thus far – now more specifically

a       Must seek God – Mat. 7:7

b       Must repent – Acts 17:30

c       Must be in Christ – 2 Cor. 5:21

d       Must stay in Christ – John 8:31-32

·       Fruits of Repentance

B                A Closer Look at Forgiveness and Questions associated with it

II               Forgiveness Questions Group 1

A                What is the need for forgiveness?

1       1 Cor 15:50 - Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

2       Psalms 140:13 – “Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence”

B                Was there forgiveness under the Old Law?

1       Yes (Lev. 4), however, there was an accounting of the year by year.

a       – Day of Atonement

·       Another sacrifice was required for them.

b       The difference under the new covenant is the sins were remembered no more (Heb. 10:17)

2       What does remembering sins no more mean?

a       Does not mean to forget, but rather not to take account of.

·       There is no longer further action to be taken in regard to forgiven sin.

C                Should we remember the sins for which we have been forgiven?

1       I Corinthians 6:9-11

2       I Peter 4:1-3

3       This is common sense in religion! Ex. This is remembering touching the hot stove!

a       Recalling our own sins and those of others enable us to avoid doing them! I Cor. 10:1-11

D                Are we responsible for forgiving others? 

1       Ephesians 4:32

E                What happens when I do not forgive?

1       (Matthew 18) - Unforgiving slave

a       Vs. 32-34, 35

F                How do I know I have forgiven?

1       You know you have forgiven or are prepared to forgive when your behaviors demonstrate you have.

a       Galatians 5:22-23

·       These qualities are characteristic of a proper Christian life.

·       A lack of forgiveness, demonstrates a lack of the fruit of the Spirit.

b       Forgiveness does not mean you have to spend all your time with someone

·       You don’t have to be bosom chums

·       But it does mean your desire is for their spiritual well being.

c       Remember:  It is more than a body with whom you are dealing…

¾    You are interacting with a soul.  Mat. 16:26

¾    This is the critical consideration in all interactions – Riches, looks, social status, enemy

-        Luke 6:27

III            Forgiveness Questions Group 2

A                What if an apology is not real?

1       Ex. “Ya Right!”

a       “Time will tell”?  Not, really, man may stumble in particular areas over and over.

b       I Corinthians 4:3-5 – It is not up to us to judge

B                Must we forgive someone who doesn’t apologize or want forgiveness?

1       Luke 17:3-4

a       When sin occurs, rebuke needs to occur.

b       Forgiveness is extended when repentance occurs.

·       When we do not rebuke and instead declare forgiveness, we are:

¾    Not bringing the sinner to realization they need to make things right with God.

¾    Operating in a manner God has not authorized.

2       Our forgiveness is conditional just as God’s.

a       The whole concept behind the plan of salvation is that man has a choice.

·       He can change from his actions or live in them.

·       If man chooses to live in Christ, a man is forgiven.

3       We can want forgiveness for someone… but it is conditional…

a       2 Pet. 3:9 – God does not want any to perish… so he gives them time.

C                Did Jesus forgive on the cross without repentance? - Luke 23:34

1       That Jesus knows the hearts of men is without doubt (Matthew 9:4)

2       That Jesus forgave sins is also without doubt

a       Luke 5:20, Luke 7:48-50

b       Jesus had the authority to Forgive sins – Luke 5:24, I John 2:12

3       In the account on the cross, Jesus praying to the Father:

a       Tense is tense is 2nd aorist active imperative meaning - "count them as having been forgiven."

b       Christ makes the request knowing these sins are in ignorance, not in defiance of God.

c       Peter convicts the Jews of their sins of ignorance in Acts 2 and Acts 3:17.

·       In both circumstances, Peter declares the repent (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19)

4       The Point:  Jesus had in his heart to be willing to forgive the men and he requested God be willing to forgive the men. 

a       However, the forgiveness was only to be extended with repentance.

·       This is the same way we forgive today.

D                Is remembering and experiencing anger over a past wrong done to you a lack of forgiveness?

1       Ex.  Feelings over adultery?  Feelings over wrong done at school, unkind words.

a       You forgave… you have been kind… but the feelings are back.

b       Colossians 3:8-14

·       Remembering is not wrong as stated previously.

·       Feeling pain is natural as well.

¾    When you have experienced a broken limb… often later you will have aches and pains.

¾    Wounds exist long after the visible damage is done.

·       Righteous anger over sin is not wrong, but anger which causes ungodly behavior is.

2       What is often felt is not a lack of forgiveness, but a temptation that must be avoided.

a       As Christ told Peter in the garden, Peter dozing when he should have been awake…

b       Mat 26:41 - Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

3       Consider those individuals who have had spouses or children murdered.

a       The concept of forgiveness might seem nearly impossible.

·       Yet, God is willing to forgive man though they murdered his son.

·       God was willing to forgive Paul, though he was seeing Christians to their death. (Acts 22:4)

·       We must forgive, to be forgiven.

E                Does Forgiveness mean we stay in an abusive marriage?

1       Ephesians 5:28-30, I Peter 3:7 – God intended for marriages to be built on love.

a       An abusive marriage is not a proper example or godly atmosphere for spouses or children.

·       When such an atmosphere is enabled it harms the family, future families, and the Church.

·       Forgiveness can be given for abuse, but it does not necessitate staying in an abusive situation.

·       Separation is certainly warranted for the abused spouse and children.  Seek counseling.

b       Abuse is not authorization for divorce.  Adultery is the only authorization for divorce.

F                If I am forgiven, why am I still suffering?

1       Forgiveness sets us free of penalties, but not all consequences on earth.

a       King David commits murder of Uriah and adultery with Bathsheba.

·       2Sa 12:13 - And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against Jehovah. And Nathan said unto David, Jehovah also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

b       Two Penalties:

·       Adulterer’s and murderer’s were to die under the law.

·       There is a spiritual penalty of death from transgression of the law.

c       Forgiveness and Consequences

·       God takes away the earthly penalty of the law from David – He would not die.

·       God passed over the Spiritual Sin. 

·       Consequence: Though David’s penalty of death was put away, the consequence of that was his child would die and his son Absalom would give him great trouble.

IV             Forgiveness Questions Group 3

A                Do We Need to Pray for Forgiveness of Sins?

1       Mark ll:25-26

2       Luke 11:2-4 - Christ’s model prayer asks forgiveness

3       Acts 8:22 – Simon

B                Is Confession necessary for forgiveness?

1       Acts 5 – Ananias and Saphira immediately disciplined for lack of confession

2       Matt. 5:23-24 – Brother has something against thee, before altar, make it right.

3       Luke 15:21 – Prodigal son “against heaven and in thy sight”

4       I John 1:9

C                Should elders be called in for prayer and forgiveness?

1       This idea comes from James 5:13-16

2       Context:

a       Two kinds of sickness

·       Physical sickness

·       Spiritual sickness

b       Age of the Miraculous

·       Elders would be called to heal

¾    The anointing would thus be symbolic of the healing

-        Anointing with oils was  common treatment

3       Catalyst:

a       Physical sickness – prayer of faith and miraculous

b       Spiritual sickness – prayer of faith

·       Tying in vs. 16 we see, confession, prayer, and penitence

 D                Should I confess everything publicly?

1       Confession to God, individuals, and groups has been seen already:

a       Simon

b       Ananias and Saphira,

c       The prodigal

2       This would also seem to follow the same pattern  of rebuking sin

a       Matthew 18:15-17 - Individual, group, congregation…

 3       Thus it seems the scriptures authorize confession based upon whom has been sinned against.

4       Public confession for all circumstances may not be good for the congregation:

a       Edification – Some private things brought out in the open would certainly do more harm than good – Volatile family relationships.

·       Romans 14:9

·       I Corinthians 10:23-24

·       I Thess. 5:11

E                What if I Don’t Feel Forgiven?

1       God’s faithfulness is not based on our emotions.

a       Conscience is a good thing, but it is not always right.

b       I Corinthians 4:3-4

c       I John 3:19-20

 F                What if I committed a sin and did not know it?

1       Jesus and Peter acknowledged man needed for forgiveness for such sins.

a       David prayed for his sins of ignorance - Psalm 19:12.

2       When an individual is abiding in Christ these sins are washed away.

V                Forgiveness Questions Group 4

A                Could Apostles forgive sins as God?

1       John 20:22-23

a       Often utilized by the Roman Catholic Church to bestow the ability to forgive sins upon the Pope.

b       On the surface it appears forgiveness by the apostles seems apparent…

2       Wayne Jackson points out the tenses of the Greek make the understanding of the text as follows:

a       “Those whose sins you forgive, have already been forgiven; those whose sins you do not forgive, have not already been forgiven.”

3       The Point:  The apostles were bound to follow the pattern God had set in regard to forgiveness. 

a       That is the sinner must confess and repent.

b       This is exactly the teaching the apostles give throughout the New Testament.

c       No where do they forgive sins upon their own authority, but by authority of the Word.

 B                What about the Unpardonable Sin?  The Sin unto death? 

1       This is identified as blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

2       In the time of Christ and the Apostles, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit were evident.

a       Miracles were performed by the power of the Spirit across the land by those who obeyed God.

·       They confirmed the word, edified the church, and glorified God.

3       During this age, when one denied this was of God after obvious proof…

a       They were guilty of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

·       What more could be done to turn their hearts?

·       This rejection can be seen in (Mark. 3:22-30).

4       Today, this sin of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is evident when:

a       A man refuses the evidences and direction of the Scriptures.

b       Why?

·       The scriptures are the inspiration and power of the Holy Spirit.

c       To not heed these is sin which is unforgiveable.  Why?

·       Because if the scriptures are not followed, then the requirements of forgiveness are not met.

VI             Conclusion 2 Questions:

A                Will God bring every deed to remembrance?

1       Eccl. 12:14, Luke 8:17

2       Galatians 6:7-8 – These verses sum up that God is taking all things consideration when it comes to our salvation. 

a       If through our deeds, we chose not to abide in Christ, it will be known.

·       Abiding in Christ always outweighs the sins we have committed.

·       Mat 7:21 - Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.

·       Luke 6:46 – Why call ye me Lord and do not the things I say?

B                What should our response to forgiveness be? (Joy, Kindness, love, etc)

1       Matthew 13:44-45