Forgiveness

Concerning forgiveness that we need

(Mark 2:1-12), “And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts.  Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”–He said to the paralytic, I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Notice in the text – the men who brought the one who was paralyzed were very concerned that this man’s body would be healed. In so much that they took the roof off to get the man to the Lord Jesus. But the Lord teaches us here, we are to be first concerned about people’s souls being healed.

Can you imagine – carrying that man all that way – pressing through the crowd, hoisting him up on top of the roof, pulling off the roof, lowering the man down before the Lord Jesus, the Lord looks and says, “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” And here you are, holding the ropes – thinking, “Wait! Wait a minute, Lord. We went through all this so this man’s body would be healed.”

The first thing the Lord wants us to be concerned about is forgiveness of sins, (for ourselves and for others).

The text shows us that our God is most concerned about forgiving our sins. It is one of the major themes in God’s Word.

The following is a powerful example of how all of us should desperately feel when we are in need of forgiveness;

(Luke 7:36-50), “Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.” “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Then He said to her, “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?” Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

What is so wonderfully amazing about what we just read, is that God promises that He will forgive all our sins if we confess, repent and are truly sorry for having committed them.

(Isaiah 1:18), “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.”

(Psalm 103:11-12), “For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

(1 John 1:9,7b), “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness…. and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Like the woman in Luke chapter seven, only when we realize the damage that our sin has caused in our relationship with God, can we truly be in awe of God forgiving us for what we have done. Keeping all this in mind, let’s now consider the following;

Concerning the forgiveness we are to have for those who offend us

A serious as God is about forgiving us, He wants us to be just as serious and concerned about forgiving others.

How Many Times Should We Forgive a Person?

(Matthew 18:21-22), “Then Peter came to Him and said, “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.”

490 times! You say, ‘Wow! That is a lot!’ But watch “how much” the Lord has forgiven you, who have come to Him for forgiveness!

(Matthew 18:23-27), “Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.”

10,000 Talents: As of January 2024, one talent of gold is worth $2,218,772 (U.S.). This times 10,000 is $22,187,720,000!!! The idea is, God has forgiven us more than we can ever pay Him!

How Does Our Lack of Forgiveness Affect Our Relationship with God?

• It causes lack of compassion from God

(Matthew 18:28-35), “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

• God will not forgive us;

(Matthew 6:14-15), “”For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Please take forgiveness seriously. Never hesitate to reach out to God for His forgiveness. His arms are always wide open. And, never forget how much you have been forgiven and always be just as generous with your forgiveness towards others as God has been to you.

“…even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” (Colossians 3:13)