Forgiveness | April 30
Forgiveness: Door #3 Freedom for a Combative Culture.
Matthew 9, Luke 19 & 23, John 17
April 30th, 2023
No other resource or philosophy approaches forgiveness like the Bible.
We are freely offered forgiveness of sin through the grace of Christ.
We humbly receive that forgiveness through repentance.
We are spiritually healed through that forgiveness.
We enthusiastically carry this message of forgiveness through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Two Doors of Cultural Engagement
Bow up. FIGHT
Keep our heads down and hope “this” blows over. FLIGHT
Door #3
John 17:15-19 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them
from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the
truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For
them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
We are… “saved from the world, sanctified by the word, sent into the world.”
Door #3
On mission with the message of forgiveness!
2 Corinthians 5:14-21 (The Message) 14-15 Our firm decision is to work from this focused center:
One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his
death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than
people ever lived on their own. 16-20 Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they
have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know.
We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that
anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life
emerges! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him,
and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with
himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God
has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God
uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making
things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s
already a friend with you. 21 How? you ask. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did
anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.
Upside-Down Thinking & Language
Tolerance used to mean “room for differing opinions.” Now tolerance means to stay silent if you hold to a differing opinion/philosophy than prevailing culture.
Upside-Down Thinking & Language
Inclusiveness used to mean drawing a bigger relational circle. Now inclusiveness means to accept everyone by altering your convictions.
Upside-Down Thinking & Language
Equality used to mean equal opportunity. Equality has given way to equity meaning equal outcomes. Equal outcomes are dependent on manipulation and the jettison of a meritocracy.
Upside-Down Thinking & Language
Justice used to mean righting a wrong. Now it means inflicting punitive damage to the alleged person or system responsible for the wrong.
Upside-Down Thinking & Language
To stand for Sanctity of Life is now to stand against women’s reproductive health.
Jesus was born into and walked out His mission of forgiveness in…
an anti-Christ, pluralistic religious context
a pagan social context
a secular political context.
John 1:14 (NIV) The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his
glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus came to everyone full of grace and truth.
Grace: Jesus offers a freedom that couldn’t be earned, obtained or won.
Truth: Jesus is a confronting revelation exposing the lies that consistently lead to disappointment and death.
Jesus offers truth graciously and grace truthfully. He offers Himself as the Gate to forgiveness and life!
Door #3 Upgrade: Be on mission with the message of forgiveness; face to face, full of Grace and truth.
How do we effectively carry a message of forgiveness to a people with whom we are at odds and who don’t think they need or even want the forgiveness of God?
1) Clarify the Mission.
Clarity of mission disarms our cultural combative tendencies and empowers a Grace & Truth posture to those in our immediate sphere of influence.
1) Clarify the Mission.
2) Drop the Fence.
To reach the people we are around, we have to drop our fences or we won’t be able to see people as clearly as Jesus saw people.
Jesus Glasses
Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV) 35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their
synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
[TURTH] 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed
and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is
plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers
into his harvest field.” [GRACE] Jesus saw them as harassed and helpless – result was
compassion.
Jesus Glasses
Luke 19:41,42 (NIV) 41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over
it 42 [GRACE] and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you
peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. [TRUTH] Jesus saw their ignorance to who He was
– result, tears.
Jesus Glasses
Luke 23:33,34 (NIV) 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there,
along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive
them, [GRACE] for they do not know what they are doing. [TRUTH]” Jesus saw their actions as
ignorance – result forgiveness/ no offence.
We can extend Grace & Truth only when we drop our fence and see people as clearly as Jesus does.
Clarify the Mission.
Drop the Fence.
Flip the Script.
Romans 12:14-21 (AMP) 14 Bless those who persecute you [who cause you harm or hardship];
bless and do not curse [them]. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others’ joy], and weep
with those who weep [sharing others’ grief]. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be
haughty [conceited, self-important, exclusive], but associate with humble people [those with a
realistic self-view]. Do not overestimate yourself. 17 Never repay anyone evil for evil. Take thought
for what is right and gracious and proper in the sight of everyone. 18 If possible, as far as it
depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the
way open for God’s wrath [and His judicial righteousness]; for it is written [in Scripture],
“VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. 20 BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF
HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR BY DOING THIS YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS
HEAD.” 21 Do not be overcome and conquered by evil, but overcome evil with good.
The overcoming good is replacing curses and conflict with blessings and peace!
Acts 7:54-60 (NIV) 54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and
gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the
glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven
open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 At this they covered their ears and,
yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began
to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on
his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell
asleep.
Choose Door #3
Door #3 Upgrade: Be on mission with the message of forgiveness; face to face, full of grace and truth.
Clarify the Mission.
Drop the Fence.
Flip the Script.