This is the manuscript of the sermon delivered at Christ Church Los Angeles, March 16, 2025.
Scripture
Matthew 18:21-35 NIV [21] Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” [22] Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. [23] “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. [24] As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. [25] Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. [26] “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ [27] The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. [28] “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. [29] “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ [30] “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. [31] When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. [32] “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. [33] Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ [34] In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. [35] “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Text
Matthew 6:14-15 NIV [14] For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. [15] But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
We live in a world that often teaches us to hold onto grudges, to nurse our wounds, and to demand retribution. We are told that forgiveness is weakness, that it allows injustice to prevail.
But the truth, as revealed in the scriptures, is radically different. Forgiveness is not a sign of weakness; it is a demonstration of the strength that comes from faith.
The two things that greatly enhance our ability to find peace and overcome life's difficulties are faith and forgiveness; they work together to cause a transformative change in our lives.
Faith as the Foundation:
Faith in God, faith in His promises, and faith in His power to heal and restore is our firm foundation. Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Life is filled with uncertainties.
But, faith in God provides an anchor, a source of stability. When we are faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, our faith in God gives us hope, reminding us that God is still in control and capable of working miracles.
Knowing that God is our source of strength gives us the power to persevere through difficult times, even when we feel weak and inadequate.
Faith in God gives us a sense of purpose and meaning, giving our lives direction and grounding us in something greater than ourselves.
Trusting God provides a level of peace that surpasses understanding.
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV says [6] Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [7] And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
As I have said several times before, our faith is not blind. It is rooted in our understanding of God's character: His love, His mercy, and His unwavering commitment to our well-being. When we truly believe that God is in control, that He works all things together for good, we can begin to release the burdens of resentment and anger.
Romans 8:28 NIV [28] And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Think about what Jesus said in Matthew 6:14-15 when He gave His disciples the pattern for prayer
Matthew 6:14-15 NIV [14] For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. [15] But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
This is a powerful reminder that forgiveness is not optional. It is a requirement for a thriving relationship with God. It’s a reflection of the forgiveness we have received through Christ's sacrifice.
The Burden of Unforgiveness
On the other hand, unforgiveness is a heavy weight. It ties us to the past, poisons our present, and robs us of our future. Unforgiveness breeds bitterness, resentment, and even physical illness. It creates a barrier between us and God, and between us and others.
Jesus told a parable in which he pointed out the consequence of unforgiveness. Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving, unmerciful servant is in Matthew 18:21-35. James read it this morning to summarize it; There was a servant, who had been forgiven a huge debt by his master. That servant then refused to forgive a fellow servant who owed him a small debt.
The servant’s unforgiving heart revealed a lack of understanding of the mercy he had received.
Here’s what Jesus said at the end of this parable.
Matthew 18:32-35 NIV [32] “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. [33] Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ [34] In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. [35] “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Just like the unmerciful servant, holding onto unforgiveness results in our own suffering. We end up trapped by our pain, caught in a loop of negative thoughts and feelings of despair.
The Healing Power of Forgiveness
Forgiveness, on the other hand, is liberating. It releases us from the chains of resentment and allows us to move forward. It brings healing to our hearts and restores broken relationships.
Forgiving does not mean condoning wrongdoing. It does not mean forgetting the pain that was inflicted. It means choosing to release the offender from the debt they owe us, just as God has released us from our debt of sin.
Colossians 3:12-14 NIV [12] Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. [13] Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. [14] And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
I know that forgiveness can sometimes be a long journey. In some instances it requires patience, prayer, and sometimes even professional help to fully let go of pain and resentment. Despite the difficulty, forgiveness is possible when guided by God. When we trust in His goodness and grace, we can start to release the burdens that weigh us down, and we can discover the freedom and peace that forgiveness brings.
Let me give you a real world example of forgiveness that has made a tremendous impact on me. I have talked about it a couple of times in our Bible study so those of you that have heard this please bear with me. I am going to read a section of a book that I read several years ago, titled “The Christian Atheist:Believing in God but Living as if He Doesn't Exist”, which was written by Greg Groeschel who is the pastor of a megachurch in Oklahoma. In his book he writes about a time in his life when he didn’t want to forgive someone and how with God’s help he was able to forgive although it took many years.
The background here is that Greg’s sister had been molested for years by a close family friend and although he knew that God says we should forgive he just couldn't. Here’s the except from the book;
“My heart was stone hard. And only God could soften it to the point that I could even consider forgiving this molester. Miraculously, that’s what God did. To this day, I don’t know exactly how or when it happened. But it did. By God’s grace, I had forgiven Max for his sin and abuse. With God’s help I’d done the humanly impossible, and I felt as though a spiritual weight had been lifted. The Bible became clearer. God seemed nearer. My heart was purer.
One Christmas, when I was visiting my parents, I decided to write Max a letter expressing my forgiveness. The task wasn’t easy, but that’s often par for the course. In the letter, I explained how much God had forgiven me. I told Max the story of Jesus and his love for us. I explained that I had forgiven him and that God could as well. I included a short prayer he might pray, asking Jesus to heal his heart and forgive his sins.
I didn’t realize that Max’s sickness had advanced. He was losing the battle with muscular dystrophy. In fact, at the time he received the letter, Max was under the care of a hospice nurse, waiting for inevitable death.
Months after Max passed away, his nurse sent us a letter asking if she could talk to us. When we agreed, she told us about the last days of Max’s life, believing we needed to know. The caregiver explained that Max’s eyesight had deteriorated and that he had asked her to read him my note. Although she wasn’t aware of what he had done (and I never told her), it was obvious to her that he had done something grievously wrong. According to the nurse, he listened with tears streaming down his face. He asked her to pray the prayer with him. She recalled that his whole countenance changed as he asked Christ to forgive him and make him new. He died a few days later.
We Christians, can find in God the sheer strength to battle through the feelings of anger, hatred, and bitterness, and fight our way back to the cross. That’s where Christ forgave us. And that’s where, by faith, we can find the ability to forgive those who’ve wronged us.
So the question for us today is How do we Cultivate Forgiveness
Acknowledge your pain: Don't deny or minimize the hurt you have experienced.
Pray for the person who hurt you: This may seem counterintuitive, but it can soften your heart.
Reflect on God's forgiveness: Remember how much you have been forgiven.
Choose to release the burden: Make a conscious decision to let go of the anger and resentment.
Remember, forgiveness is for you: It's not about the person who wronged you. It's about your own peace and freedom.
Today let’s embrace the power of faith and forgiveness. Let’s break free from the shackles of resentment and walk in the light of God's love. Let’s extend to others the same mercy and grace that we have received. And let’s trust that God, in His infinite wisdom, will bring healing and restoration to our hearts and our relationships.
Let us bow our heads in prayer.
Heavenly Father, we are humbled by your grace and awed by your love. We thank you for the powerful reminder that faith and forgiveness are the keys to transformative change in our lives. Lord, we confess that we often struggle with both these things. We hang on to our hurts, and we find it difficult to trust in your promises when life throws us curves.
Lord, strengthen our faith. Help us to truly know that you are in control, that you work all things for good, and that your peace surpasses all understanding. When doubt creeps in, remind us of your unwavering love and your commitment to our well-being.
Father, we also ask for the courage to forgive. Help us to release the heavy burdens of unforgiveness that weigh us down. Show us how to extend to others the same mercy and grace that you have so freely given us. Help us to see those who have wronged us through your eyes of compassion.
We thank you, Lord, for the example of Greg’s story, a testament to your ability to soften even the hardest of hearts. We thank you for the power of your word, which guides us on the path of faith and forgiveness.
Now, Lord, as we leave this place today, may we carry your love and your grace with us. May we be instruments of your peace and reconciliation in the world. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment