Sermon Text: Matthew
18: 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I
forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
Sermon Title: Playing
Hurt: You Can Count On It
Unforgiveness is a sin mentioned
fairly often in the Bible. Why?
1) Unforgiveness
is more subtle than most
sins.
2) It’s
also more common than most
sins.
3) It’s
also more dangerous
Jesus told a long story about it in
Matthew 18, comparing it to prison. Also
there is –
- Colossians
3:13 - Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have
against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
-
Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each
other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
-
Luke 11:4 - Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against
us. And lead us not into temptation.’ "
-
Matthew 6:14-15 - For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your
heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their
sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
-
Mark 11:25 - And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone,
forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
-
Matthew 18:35 - "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you
unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
Luke
6:37-38 - "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and
you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven… For with the
measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Why are we to forgive? Why is it so
important? Several reasons:
1) to be like our forgiving
Father
2) to help us understand all that we’ve been forgiven of
3) because it’s better for our souls.
God tells us to forgive for our own
good, more than anyone else’s.
It does three things for us:
1) Forgiveness brings freedom. Matt.18:27 – the master let him go. Unforgiveness is a ball-and-chain of
our own making.
2) Forgiveness brings closure. We can close the door on our past
hurts, even if the memory still exists.
3) Forgiveness brings life.
Watch this verse. I had never seen it this way until this week. Colossians 2:13 – “When you were dead in
your sins and in the uncircumcision of your (or our) sinful nature, God made
you (or us) alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.”
Are you in prison? Are you keeping
someone else prisoner?
Turn the key and let both of you go
free.
