FORGIVENESS IN A CHRISTIAN LIFE – Forgiveness Series

FORGIVENESS IN A CHRISTIAN LIFE – Forgiveness Series

I walk through forgiveness as a defining practice of Christian life, showing how Scripture connects God’s divine forgiveness towards us with our responsibility to extend forgiveness to those who have offended or hurt us. I explain Jesus’ authority to forgive sins and also being a perfect example of the character of forgiveness. I close by noting that Christians are called and commanded to forgive daily. 

Chapter Markers
- 0:00 Why Forgiveness Matters
- 1:17 God’s Forgiveness In The Old Testament
- 2:24 Jesus Has Authority To Forgive
- 8:29 Forgiveness Between People
- 9:46 Unforgiveness And Lost Fellowship
- 16:06 Forgiveness As A Command
- 22:12 No Limit To Forgiveness
- 28:44 Reconciliation Through Humility

Transcript

Why Forgiveness Matters

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Forgiveness in a Christian life. When you look at the Bible, it talks about forgiveness throughout the entire scripture from the Old Testament to the New Testament. But the context of forgiveness here today is forgiveness in a Christian life. Where there is sin and where there are relationships, forgiveness is necessary. And forgiveness restores relationships. Look what is stated in Luke chapter 7, verse 47 to confirm that when it comes to forgiveness, there has to be sin. When it comes to forgiveness, we are dealing with human relationships, even our relationship with God. It states in Luke chapter 7, verse 47. Therefore, I say to you, her sins which are many are forgiven. For she loved much, for to whom little is forgiven, the same that loves little.

God’s Forgiveness In The Old Testament

SPEAKER_00 1:17

In the Old Testament, we see that Yahweh is either the one who grants forgiveness or the one who withholds it. Yahweh alone pardons saints and chooses not to. Yahweh can decide to hold the guilty accountable. So in the context of forgiveness, it is God who grants forgiveness to sinners through atonement. And there are several scriptures to highlight this. Lamentations chapter 3, verse 42. We have transgressed and rebelled. Exodus chapter 37, verse 7, it says, keeping mercies for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. By no means clearing the guilt, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and fourth generation. And lastly, Nehemiah chapter 9, verse 17, for you are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and do not forsake them. So these are all verses relating to how God deals with the children of Israel when it comes to forgiveness.

Jesus Has Authority To Forgive

SPEAKER_00 2:24

Now, when we come to the New Testament, Paul talks about forgiveness when it comes to our relationship as believers. Even John the Baptist, who was the forerunner of Jesus Christ, actually preached the baptism of repentance and forgiveness of sin. So we see the importance of forgiveness in the Old Testament and the New Testament. There are two ways we can look at forgiveness is that we have what we call divine forgiveness. Divine forgiveness is forgiveness of sin in relation to God because forgiveness is an actual act of God releasing sinners from guilt, judgment, and condemnation, freeing them from divine penalty of their sin. So when we talk about forgiveness, at times in a generic sense, it's an act of God's grace and mercy extended to us as sinners. That's what we call the divine forgiveness. And there are instances in the Bible where it states that only God can forgive. Luke chapter 5, verse 22-21. When he saw their fate, he said to him, Man, your sins are forgiven you. Now, when you look at the scribes, the religious leaders at that time, they were wondering, Who is this man forgiving sinners? Because the question is, no human being can forgive our sins. We can forgive each other our offenses, but when it comes to sin, I cannot forgive your sin, especially when it's a sin that is against God. So it takes a higher power now to forgive your sin. So the scribes were disputing among themselves, why is Jesus saying to this person, Jesus as a human being, saying that, man, your sins have forgiven you. Verse 21 states that the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this who speaks blasphemy? So they were saying that Jesus, you are speaking blasphemy because only God can forgive. No man can forgive. I mean, that's what we call divine forgiveness. Only God can extend forgiveness on human humanity's sin. But do you know that Christ Himself claimed to have such capacity and authority to forgive? In that same Luke chapter 5, verse 24, Jesus affirmed that he also has the authority to forgive. It states, but that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins. So they were thinking in the Old Testament that, yeah, the only person that can pardon our sin is God Almighty. That's Yahweh. But when it comes to the New Testament, when it comes to Jesus, the Son of God, who's also God, saying that I have the power, I have the authority, I have the jurisdiction to forgive sinners on this earth. So we see that Christ has what it takes to forgive. So we have passed from that atonement of sin, which the Old Testament um um priests were doing, sacrificing lambs and bulls to take away the sins of people. We have passed that stage to Christ, his atonement on the cross as the ultimate official pardon of all humanity's sin. So this divine forgiveness is actually motivated by God's love and compassion, and it's an act of grace and mercy towards sinner, not because of you and I we have done anything interesting or you and I we have done anything holy, it's just out of God's love and compassion for us. And then when it comes to um Paul, how Paul describes um this divine forgiveness, he uses word like redemption, the idea of redemption as you and I been forgiven of our sins. If you look at Acts chapter 5, verse 31, it states, Him God has exalted to his right hand, that is Jesus, to be prince and savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. So this is the same Jesus that the Pharisees, the scribes, and the religious leaders disputed him, saying that who has the right to forgive, that Jesus, you don't have the right to forgive sins. But now, Paul, who is who was a previous religious leader now, is confirming that Jesus is the right hand of God, he is the prince and the savior, has the authority and the power to offer what? Repentance and forgiveness of sins for the Israelites. So in the Old Testament, the general sense of forgiveness of sin is true, atonement, that is blood sacrifice. But guess what happened? That was fulfilled in Christ. So Christ was the atoned blood sacrifice of our forgiveness, the Lamb of God that took away the sins of the world. So that Old Testament way of God allowing people to be forgiven through sacrifice, what we call atonement, was fulfilled in Christ Jesus. That is why you and I, as children of God, we no longer have to offer sacrifices for our sins to be forgiven because Jesus Christ has paid it all. Jesus Christ is the ultimate sacrifice of our sins. So the new testament concept of forgiveness is different from the Old Testament concept of forgiveness. Old Testament is sacrifice, atonement, whereas New Testament is all about Jesus fulfilled that atonement, and you and I now we just have to leave it out as a way to show the world, as a way to show one another that if God has forgiven me, I need to also extend forgiveness to you. Not on the basis of anything else. So the only way we are commanded and called to forgive is because of the accomplished work of Jesus Christ. And then the Bible, when the Bible talks about forgiveness, it also refers to forgiveness offenses between people.

Forgiveness Between People

SPEAKER_00 8:29

So there's forgiveness when it comes to God, there's also forgiveness when it comes to you and I as human beings. So forgiveness can also be given by people to those who have hurt you and wronged you. Because most times when we talk about forgiveness, we're talking about people hurting us, people who have hurt us, and we are required to forgive them. That is the human-to-human forgiveness in that sense. Okay? So forgiveness can be directed as a human act towards one another. And Jesus Christ, one thing I like about Jesus Christ, he emphasized on this human-to-human forgiveness. Because where there is sin, there are human beings. Where there are relationships, forgiveness is necessary. Even to the point where Jesus Christ, in his teaching, in his ministry, gave a parable about the unforgiving slave who refused to forgive another slave. And if you look at the Lord's Prayer, Jesus Christ also emphasized on forgiveness. So what I'm trying to say is that forgiveness is part and parcel of the Christian life. We constantly have to forgive ourselves, we have to forgive one another because God has ultimately forgiven us.

Unforgiveness And Lost Fellowship

SPEAKER_00 9:46

But the question now I want to ask us is that at times when we withhold forgiveness, guess what happens? God will also not forgive us. And as a result of God withholding forgiveness from us, we'll lose fellowship. We don't lose our salvation, but we lose fellowship. Because the Bible state that in Mark chapter 11, verse 25 to 26. And whenever you stand, now this is Jesus Christ. We're not talking about the Old Testament anymore. We are in the New Testament, and Jesus actually talking about forgiveness in the New Testament in Mark chapter 11, verse 25 to 26, saying that whenever you stand praying, when you face God, when you come to God, when you approach God, when you're standing in the presence of God, and if you have anything against anyone, like I said, forgiveness in terms of human relationship, if you have anything against your brother, against your partner, against your child, against your coworker, against your manager. Now I'm trying to be practical. If you have anything against them, forgive him or forgive her. When you do that, guess what happened? That your father in heaven may also forgive you for your sin. But if you choose not to forgive, neither would your father in heaven forgive you for your sin. We're not talking about forgiveness of sin in that generic sense of Christ paid all on the cross. We're talking about the day-to-day human offenses that when he chooses to hold grudges, when he chooses to be resentful, God will also not forgive you. It doesn't mean that you're gonna go to hell, but you will lose certain privileges of fellowship with God. So forgiveness depends on you. When you forgive others, you will also receive forgiveness. And God's desire is for you and I to be like him because the Bible says, Be merciful, for I am merciful. So whatever God is, God is expecting you and I to reflect him. Okay? Now let's look at Christ unforgiveness. Christ has the authority to forgive sins. So we need to know that. Christ has the authority to forgive sin. Have you noticed that there are instances in the Bible? I'm gonna give an example of people that Jesus Christ actually forgave them. And then one of the purpose of Jesus Christ's ministry is to meditate forgiveness to sinners through his blood. So the purpose of Jesus Christ coming on this earth is to forgive our sins through the blood sacrifice. And he also has the authority to forgive our sins. That is why when you and I we confess our sins to Jesus Christ, he pardons us. Because God the Father has given him the authority and the power to forgive us. And there are many instances in the Bible when Jesus Christ was interacting with people, healing people, doing deliverance, casting out demons, talking to people, preaching to people, he will preach on forgiveness. For example, in Luke chapter 23, verse 34, then Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they don't know what you're doing. Wow, even in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, being crucified on the cross, him being beaten, him being molested, him being stripped naked, him being falsely accused, slapped. At the end of the day, Jesus Christ model and a perfect example of a forgiving spirit. So we don't just claim the title of a Christian if we're not like Christ. So if if Christ is a forgiving, if it's a forgiving man, forgiving Lord, forgiving Savior, then you and I as believers, as Christians, we ought to forgive one another. So Jesus is saying that Father, forgive this people that crucify me. The soldiers, the Pharisees, the masses, forgive all of them. I'm not gonna hold anything against them. Let them go, release them from their offenses. There's another example of Jesus Christ showing forgiveness in Luke chapter 7, verse 48 to 49. Then he said to her, Your sins are forgiven. This is to a specific woman, to a specific individual, saying that, woman, your sins are forgiven. And those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, Who is this who even forgives sins? So they were surprised. Like, who are you, Jesus? No man has that audacity to forgive people's sins like that. It takes a process, it takes sacrifices. This woman has to offer a sacrifice to God through bulls, because that's exactly what they were doing in the Old Testament. But Jesus now didn't require anything from this woman. He just said, Woman, your sins are forgiven you. No blood sacrifice, no lamb sacrifice, no animal sacrifice, nothing like that, because I am the ultimate sacrifice, I am the Lamb of God. In Mark chapter 2, verse 5, it says, When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the uh paralytic, Son, your sins are forgiven you. So these are individuals. Jesus Christ is not only healing them, Jesus Christ is not only delivering them, Jesus Christ is also forgiving them, offering them salvation. You know one of the things that scares me? You can receive a blessing from Jesus. You can receive um deliverance from Jesus. But you know what you need to receive from Jesus? Forgiveness of your sin. So those people that Jesus Christ will heal, Jesus Christ will cast out demons, he will also forgive them, offering them the opportunity for salvation. But there are some people that Jesus Christ will heal and know nothing about forgiveness. Which shows that people can come to church, they can pray, they can get their blessings, they can receive healing, they can receive deliverance, but guess what? They will end up going back without their sins being forgiven. So when we talk about the blessings of God, when we talk about um healing people, when we talk about delivering people, child of God as ministers, we need to mention that hey, your sins can be forgiven through the blood sacrifice of Jesus. If you believe in Jesus, you confess your sins, you have a pathway to eternity. We shouldn't forget that. As much as we're healing, we are preaching, we're teaching, we're casting out demons, we need to offer people the opportunity for them to confess their sins to Jesus Christ. That way they can be forgiven. Okay?

Forgiveness As A Command

SPEAKER_00 16:06

Now, we as Christians, we are called and commanded to forgive. You are called to forgive, you have no choice. Forgiveness is not a choice to say, you know what? You know, I can choose not to forgive. No, you are called and commanded to forgive. So you have no choice not to do it. Look what it states in Luke chapter 6, verse 37. Judge not and you should not be judged. Condemn not, you should not be condemned. Forgive, you'll be forgiven. So Jesus Christ is strictly saying that us as believers, we need to forgive. It's not a matter of a choice, it's a commandment by God. Be merciful, for I am merciful, be forgiven, for I am forgiven. So you cannot tell me that you're still gonna hold on to bitterness, you cannot tell me that you're still gonna hold on to resentment, you cannot tell me that you're still gonna hold on to grudges because of something that somebody did to you many, many years ago. You see, one thing I've learned about forgiveness when you forgive, you free yourself. There's freedom attached to forgiveness. Most of us as believers, we are still in bondage not because of demonic entities alone, not because of anything else. At times it could be because of unforgiveness. Unforgiveness can put you in bondage because your heart is not released, and unforgiveness starts in the heart. Same applies to forgiveness. So if you want to forgive somebody, forgive them from the heart, not just you confessing, oh my sister, I forgive you. But deep down your heart, you have not forgiven. So for offering forgiveness is not just a matter of confession, it starts from the heart, the condition of your heart, the state of your heart. Forgiveness is our character traits, it's who we are, it's a lifestyle, it's a habit. You don't put it off today and say, you know what, God, I'm gonna treat people anyhow. I'm gonna make sure my heart, my heart is so hard. Because of all the offenses, nobody's gonna offend me anymore, nobody's gonna use me anymore. No. If you close your heart, how are you gonna receive love? If you close your heart, how are you gonna receive kindness? I know we have been hurt, I know you have gone through pains in life. Don't get me wrong. But God wants to heal your heart. God doesn't want your heart to become like a stone. God wants you to keep on forgiving because that's who you are, that's your character, that's your attribute, that's your trait as a believer. Forgiveness is the characteristics of a sense, it is actually a fundamental condition for our fellowship. In order for us to fellowship, that is why when we start our prayers, we start off by saying that God, we first of all we ask for forgiveness from God because most times we offend God. And then secondly, we ask forgiveness against one another. God, whatever I've done against you, forgive me. God, whatever I've done against Madam Carol, forgive me. God, whatever I've done against Apostle Stephen, forgive me. God, whatever I've done against uh Sister Angel, forgive me. God, whatever I've done against Sister Stella, forgive me. God, whatever I've done against Madam Charity, forgive me. God, whatever I've done against my pastor, forgive me. Stat your heart. Because if there's unforgiveness in your heart, it will restrict you enjoying fellowship and communion. So forgiveness is foundational when it comes to our Christian fellowship. Keep that in mind. Look what it states to confirm that 2 Corinthians chapter 2, verse 7. So that on the contrary, you heard rather to forgive and comfort him, least perhaps such one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. So if in order for us to fellowship and comfort one another, we have to put unforgiveness aside. Because you and I as believers, we are redeemed, so that we are obligated, we have no choice to forgive as we have been forgiven. That is what we have to forgive, because we have been forgiven. So forgiveness is not a matter of choice, it's a command and a call, and it's a trait, it's a character trait for us as believers because we have already been forgiven, and God is expecting us, and we are responsible, obligated to extend forgiveness to anyone, anytime, anywhere. It doesn't matter what happened in your past. I know it's hard, I know it's hard to let go, I know it's hard, but we have to forgive. Colossians chapter 3, verse 13. It states, bearing with one another and forgiving one another. If anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, you must also do. Yes. So Paul keeps emphasizing that you have no choice but just to forgive because Christ has forgiven you too. If somebody has a complaint against you, forgive them. If somebody offended you, forgive them. If somebody hurt you, forgive them. I know, yes, what I'm saying might might seem very simple, but it's not hard to forgive, especially with that pain in your heart. It takes God to work in your heart to let go. So forgiveness is not just something that you can do easily, especially if the wound is so deep and the wound is so severe. You need divine intervention for God to work in your heart, to do something in your heart, for God to release you, to set you free, to extend grace and mercy. It will take time. It will take time, but I just want to press on the idea that I want you to know as a believer that you have been called, commanded to forgive. That is your character. You must forgive your brother from the heart. Yes, forgiveness starts from the hearts. Look what it states in Matthew chapter 18, verse 35. So, my heavenly father also would do to you if each of you from his heart does not forgive his brother his trespasses. So, forgiveness is not just a word of confession, oh, I forgive you. Or just a mental conception. You know what? Yeah, in my mind, I think I'm thinking about you know what? You don't have to, no, it's okay, my sister. No. It starts from the heart. It starts from the heart.

No Limit To Forgiveness

SPEAKER_00 22:12

One of the questions that Peter asked Jesus, because forgiveness is not an easy thing, I'm telling you, it's hard. Peter was saying that okay, maybe there has to be a limit to forgiveness. That was his question. There has to be a limit for forgiveness. Let's read Matthew chapter 18, verse 21 to 22. Then Peter came to him and said, Lord, hmm, how often shall my brother or my sister sin against me and I forgive him or her? Because he was trying to put limits or restrictions on forgiveness. There has to be a limit to forgiveness. Wow. That's why I started off by saying that wherever there's there's human relationships and there's sin, forgiveness is necessary. Because human beings are falling. People are going to offend you. Your pastor is going to offend you. The apostles is going to offend you. The teacher is going to offend you. The believer, the minister is going to offend you. We're going to offend each other. That is why Christ said, You have been called and commanded to forgive. We have to start developing the attitude and the attribute of forgiveness. Or else you owe grudges. You'll be resentful. And guess what happened? You'll be miserable in life. Unforgiveness can make your life ugly. Your face can tell, people can tell on your face that you're so grumpy, you're so bitter. Peter said, God, Jesus, um, how often shall my brother and sister sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times? The man is trying to answer his own question. Okay, you know what, Jesus? You're talking about unforgiveness and forgiveness? Man, this thing is very hard. But you know what, Jesus? Let me ask you a question and let me let me try to see if I can answer my own question. I think up to seven times. I think that's the max. That's the that's the limit. But look at the response of our savior Jesus, verse 22. Jesus said to him, I do not say to you. Wow, wow, wow. So Peter wanted to put a mark. Peter wanted to put a restriction. Peter wanted to put a limit on forgiveness. Jesus said, No, Peter, you got it wrong, man. You got it twisted. He said, No, I did not say to you up to seven times, Peter. No, I didn't say that. You see? So anyone that tells you, you know what, there has to be limit to forgiveness. There have to be, there has to be, you know what? Don't put up with that anymore. No. Sometimes you have to put up with it, my sister. But God will give you the grace to handle the matter. God will give you the grace to have an attitude of forgiveness. So Jesus said, I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to 70 times seven. So he's just saying that there's no limit. The multiplication of forgiveness. You have to keep doing it. You have to keep multiplying forgiveness because that's what God is doing. God, oh my, that's what the Bible says. His mercies are new every morning. A simple offense from your sister. You're holding that offense for how many years? Life has cheated us because of unforgiveness. Unforgiveness can make you to live in the past. Unforgiveness can put you in bondage. So forgiveness is for our own good, child of God. Supposed to be something that we do continually. Never should this cross in your mind that you put a limit on forgiveness. Never. Don't be like Peter trying to put a gap, a limit on forgiveness. No. But you should be happy when opportunities arrive. To say, Noah God, I forgive my mom, I forgive my son, I forgive my wife, I forgive my daughter, I forgive everyone. Luke chapter 7, 17, verse 4. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, wow, wow. Someone sins against you seven times in a day. Someone offended you seven times in a day. I know most of us we are all professionals in the workplace. Our coworker, our manager offends you, customers offending you, your bodies all up, your your tense, you're boiling up like God. I'm gonna pay back. Yes, at times we want to pay back. You know what God? I'm gonna treat that woman the way she treats me. I'm gonna treat my manager the way no no no. Even if an offense, hurt, happen seven times in a day, seven times in a day, child of God, and seven times in a day returns to you saying, I repent, you shall forgive him or her. Hey, hey, this Bible is hard. This Bible, sometimes when you read this Bible, sometimes God convicts you. This Bible is hard. So Jesus is saying that seven times, seven times, can you imagine? Seven times a day, someone offends you and they repent and they confess. Jesus is expecting us as a believer to do what? To forgive. It's hard to forgive, to forgive them. I know it's hard, child of God, to forgive them. To forgive them. Why? Because God has forgiven us. How many times you and I we offend God? How many times you and I we sin against God? How many times God overlooks our offenses? In relationship in church, people leave church because of offenses. Husband and wife don't even talk to each other because of offenses. Parents don't talk to their children because of offenses. We have to learn to forgive.

Reconciliation Through Humility

SPEAKER_00 28:44

And finally, forgiveness reconciles broken relationships. Forgiveness restores broken relationships. I start off by saying that where there is sin and human relationship, unforgiveness will exist and forgiveness is necessary. Why there are broken relationships in our world today? Because of unforgiveness. Broken marriages, broken churches, broken countries, because of unforgiveness. But I'm here to encourage you, child of God, that forgiveness can reconcile broken relationships. And that's exactly what God has done for you and I. Because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, he atoned for us. That is why we are reconciled back to God. Our relationship that we lost in the Garden of Edom is restored because of forgiveness of our sins. If God can reconcile you to himself when our relationship with him was broken, why won't you, child of God, we as Christians, we're not talking to each other because of simple offenses? Why can't we be humble enough and see now what, bro? I know I messed up. Forgive me, please. Let's start all over again. But because of pride can hold you back from forgiveness. Pride can hold us back from forgiveness. Do you know who I am? Do you think you can just act like this? Pride can hold us back from for forgiveness. I've learned recently that when you're humble, when you know that you yourself you don't deserve anything in this life that is better. Everything that you have is because of God. There's something so powerful about humility. Humility will allow you to say, you know what, God, I can wrong Tina, I can wrong Madame Charity, I can wrong Apostle Stephen, I can wrong Sister Stella, I can wrong Musumba, I can wrong anybody immediately when I have that realization that I can wrong people, people can also wrong me. It's easy to forgive and it's easy to ask for forgiveness. If you think you're perfect and you're self-righteous, and you're cocky and proud, I'm here to tell you it will be hard for you to forgive and even ask for forgiveness. Proud people find it very difficult to say I'm sorry. Proud people find it very difficult to admit their wrongs. That's why the Bible states that I will give grace to the humble, but I will resist the proud. So if God resists you, not because God hates you, but because you still have unforgiveness. When you come to God to conclude, if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. That's what the Bible said. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.