Forgiveness Comes With Forgiveness

Matthew 6:14-15

Introduction.

  1. On Wednesday, June 17, 2015, 13 people were having a Bible study.

    1. One young man walked in carrying a fanny pack.

    2. He asked for the minister and sat by him.

    3. He listened to the discussion to start with.

    4. At some point, he started disagreeing with what they were saying on Scripture.

    5. He then waited until they bowed their heads in prayer.

    6. He reached into his fanny pack and pulled out a handgun (Glock 41, .45 caliber).

    7. He shot and killed 9 people.

    8. This was the Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC.

    9. At the shooter’s bond hearing, the survivors and relatives of the victims spoke to him.

    10. In tears and anger, they said they were praying for him, forgave him, and urged him to repent, saying that hate would not win.

  2. Forgiveness is one of the most difficult things for us to put into practice.

  3. It is sobering to think that such evil and hate could be in this world.

  4. It causes us to stop and think about whether we could forgive something like that ourselves.

  5. Forgiveness, however, is not an optional thing, but a command (Matt. 6:12).

  6. Preview: Benefits of Forgiveness, Consequences of not Forgiving.

Body.

  1. Benefits of Forgiveness (Matt. 6:14).

    1. We will be more Christ-like (Luke 23:34).

      1. Our goal in our attitude and conduct should be to be like Christ, a Christ-ian (1 Cor. 11:1).

      2. We have an example in His suffering that we “should follow His steps” (1 Pet. 2:21).

      3. While He was suffering so terribly on the cross, what did He say, “Father forgive them” (Luke 23:34).

    2. We will be at peace internally, possibly externally (Matt. 5:9; Rom. 12:18).

      1. Forgiveness helps us to live at peace (“Blessed are the peacemakers … ”).

      2. Paul wrote that we should “live peaceably with all men.”

      3. We cannot do that unless we forgive them!

    3. We will have our sins forgiven (Matt. 6:14).

      1. Paul tells Christians not to sue fellow Christians, but to take it to wise men in the church – better option is to forgive them. Why? Because Christ forgave you! (1 Cor 6:7-11)

      2. Jesus goes into the Parable of an Unforgiving Servant after explaining to His disciples to forgive brethren 70 x 7 times (Matt 18:23-35).

        1. To be more forgiving, we need patience. “Have patience with me.” – slow to anger (Prov. 19:11; 14:29; 15:18).

        2. To be more forgiving, we need compassion. “Move with compassion.” – show empathy (1 Pet. 3:8-9).

        3. To be more forgiving, we need to be merciful. “I had mercy on you.”

  2. Consequences of not Forgiving (Matt. 6:15).

    1. Hatred will consume us (2 Sam. 13).

      1. Amnon violated his virgin half-sister Tamar.

      2. Absalom, Tamar’s full brother, stewed in anger for two full years.

      3. He waited for his chance to kill Amnon.

      4. Finally that time came, and he had him killed.

      5. Hatred consumed Absalom, and it can consume us.

    2. We will be tempted to sin and take vengeance (Rom. 12:19).

      1. As Absalom took vengeance upon his brother, we too will be tempted to do this.

      2. Paul tells us that vengeance belongs to God, no one else.

      3. We ought not take vengeance upon our enemies, but be kind to them (Rom. 12:20-21).

      4. Perhaps then they will become our friends.

    3. Our sins will not be forgiven (Matt. 6:15).

      1. Recall, the penalty for not forgiving a fellow servant was death in Jesus’ parable.

      2. If we cannot forgive here on earth, we cannot expect forgiveness in heaven.

      3. That includes holding grudges against people.

      4. Blessed are those who are merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matt. 5:7).

Conclusion.

  1. I pray we see the importance of forgiving those who have wrong us.

  2. Our souls depend on our willingness to do this most difficult task.

  3. Let us strive to forgive others so that God will forgive our sins.