God’s People Know How To Forgive

Matt. 18:15-22

Introduction:

1. If you ask people what makes them love Jesus, more often than not they will say they love him because of his mercy, grace and forgiveness

2. When I think of how I have sinned, and how he forgave me—it makes me want to love Him all the more.

3. Do you think we would love Jesus as much, if we had never received forgiveness?

I. God Demands That We Forgive

1. Matt. 6:14,15 "For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”

2. Matt. 18:21,22 Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

3. John Oglethorpe once told John Wesley, “I never forgive, and I never forget.” Wesley replied, “Then, Sir, I hope that you never sin.”

4. A man who was telling his friend about an argument he’d had with his wife said, “Oh how I hate it, every time we have an argument; she gets historical.”

The friend said, “You mean hysterical.”

“No,” he insisted, “I mean historical. Every time we argue she drags up everything from the past and holds it against me.”

This is not forgiveness; forgiveness does not hold against—forgiveness is not forgetting; it is forgetting against!

4. “I don’t get mad, I get even!” is not Christian

5. Rom. 12:19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.

6. Eph. 4:32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

II. How Did Jesus Forgive?

1. John 8:1-11 the unwillingness to condemn a guilty woman

2. Luke 15:20-24 the love of a Father for the prodigal son

3. Luke 23:33,34 And when they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.

a. Jesus had gone through an amazingly unfair trial and condemnation

b. Jesus was proclaimed by Pilate an innocent man (4 times)

c. Jesus had been beaten, shamed, humiliated, stripped and crucified

d. while all of this was happening—he was praying for their forgiveness

e. their forgiveness was more his focus than his pain, because their souls were more of value to Him than His body

f. Jesus had compassion on the consequences of sin on the sinner

g. When I think of the hurts I may have experienced—they seem altogether very small compared to the cross

4. How Did Jesus Forgive You?

a. can you think of the worst sins you ever committed—the things of which you are most ashamed—Jesus forgave them

b. can you think of the least sins you ever committed—things you don’t think are so bad but which offend God—Jesus forgave them too.

c. everyone of those sins—worst or least—were sins whose wages is death

d. where would you be without the blood of Jesus, His forgiveness and grace?

e. 1 Tim. 1:12-16 there are times when we too feel as Paul

III. How You Should Forgive

1. Realize that when you have been treated unfairly, done wrong, you can have compassion on the sinner and the consequences he faces

2. Overlook everything you can overlook—1 Pet. 4:8 “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.”

3. What if I cannot overlook it? Matt. 18:15-17 "And if your brother sins, go and reprove him in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. "And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax-gatherer.”

a. If you go, go in love, go in humility, go willing to forgive, wanting reconciliation

b. do any of us have so many brethren we can afford to lose one?

c. the thing we must never do is start figuring out ways to hurt the one who hurt us

· tell everyone you know what he/she said or did to offend you

· bring up faults of the other person so as to embarrass

· say you’ve forgiven but never forget the offense

· Conquering an enemy is not the work of swords or guns or editorials. Conquering an enemy is not to humiliate them or make them surrender to a superior power, bravery. Conquering an enemy is to convert him into a friend.

4. What if I have done the wrong? Matt. 5:23 "If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. "Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, in order that your opponent may not deliver you to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. "Truly I say to you, you shall not come out of there, until you have paid up the last cent.

5. Many reconciliations have broken down because both parties have come prepared to forgive but unprepared to be forgiven.

6. Everyone in an argument needs to step back in humility and ask—is this really worth losing a brother? A sister? Or my soul? Or the souls of my family?

Conclusion:

1. Luke 23:33,34 And when they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.

2. If Jesus could forgive the people who unjustly tried and crucified Him, can you forgive?

3. Do you need forgiveness?