The Power of Forgiveness

Message by Dr. David Drake

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Series: “Inside / Out”

Living Today The Life Of Jesus

A study through The Sermon On The Mount

Matthew 5-7

 

The Power of Forgiveness

Matthew 5:21-26

Matthew 5:21-26 (NASB)
21  “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’
22  But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
23  Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24  leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
25  Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
26  Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.

 

 

Alexander Pope: “To err is human, to forgive divine.”

 

The book, Apples of Gold: “Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that crushed it.”

 

 

1. Forgiveness … Needed

Matthew 5:21-22

Temporary Forgiveness … from man

Eternal Forgiveness … from God

 

2. Forgiveness … Given

Matthew 5:23-26

Forgiveness is an act BEFORE we worship … vs. 23

Forgiveness is an act OF our worship … vs. 24

Forgiveness is an act BEYOND our worship.

 

 

Three Truths of Forgiveness

1. Impede

You IMPEDE (slow, hinder) the activity of worship with unforgiveness.

2. Imitate

You IMITATE Christ by giving / extending forgiveness.

3. Instruct

You INSTRUCT others in the power of forgiveness … ref. Matthew 18:22

Matthew 18:22 (NASB)
22  Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

 

 

Forgiveness … Practical and Applied

 

F … Forfeit your right to be right

Ephesians 4:32 (NASB)
32  Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

O … Offer forgiveness in order to obtain forgiveness

Matthew 5:23-25 (NASB)
23  Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24  leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
25  Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.

R … Restore the person to the place of fellowship

James 5:14-16 (NASB)
14  Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
15  and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
16  Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

G … Give forgiveness freely

Luke 6:38 (NASB)
38  Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure””pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”

I … Imitate the spirit of Jesus Christ

Luke 23:34 (NASB)
34  But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

V … Victory awaits all, the forgiven & the forgiver

Matthew 6:12 (NASB)
12  ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

E … Eternity is at stake

Matthew 6:14-15 (NASB)
14  For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15  But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

 

 

(Illustration: The common bond between those who ride motorcycles)

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