Josh McGuire - Forgiveness | Austin CFC | 2022-05-08
Summary
The sermon emphasizes that forgiveness is central to our relationship with God, drawing heavily from Matthew 6:12-15. Jesus taught that we must ask for forgiveness in the same measure that we forgive others; failing to forgive others means our Heavenly Father will not forgive us. The speaker uses parables and scripture passages (Matthew 18) to stress that unforgiveness can bring a person's past sins back before God.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Looking at three passages on forgivenessThe speaker directs the congregation to focus on three specific scriptural passages regarding forgiveness, starting with Matthew chapter 6.
What does the Lord's Prayer teach us about forgiveness?Jesus teaches His disciples to pray for forgiveness while holding themselves to the standard of having already forgiven others.
Unforgiveness as a dangerous trapUnforgiveness creeps in during trials and builds bitterness, making it a critical issue that believers must take seriously.
How often should we forgive?Peter asks if he should forgive up to seven times, but Jesus responds with seventy times seven and tells the parable of the king and his slaves.Matthew 18:21–35
Comparing ten thousand talents to a hundred denariiThe immense debt of ten thousand talents represents the unpayable sin debt paid by Christ's blood, making any offense against us look small by comparison.
Leaving no unforgiveness behindUnlike David, who held onto grievances on his deathbed, believers are called under the new standard to let go of all bitterness and be completely clean.
How Jesus handled forgiveness on the crossLooking at Luke 23, we see Jesus forgiving those who crucified Him, stole His garments, sneered, and mocked Him.Luke 23:33–39
Considering Him who endured hostilityThe writer of Hebrews encourages believers to look to Jesus, noting that we have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in our struggle against sin.
Giving others the benefit of the doubtJust as Jesus prayed that His tormentors did not know what they were doing, we can choose to release offenses by assuming the best of others.
Forgiveness is a matter of the will, not memoryRemembering a hurt does not mean you have failed to forgive; forgiveness is a conscious determination of the will.
The best test for true forgivenessA reliable test of whether you have truly forgiven someone is how you react when something good or bad happens to them.
The fellowship of Christ's sufferingsPaul expressed a desire to know Christ and the fellowship of His sufferings, calling believers to emulate Jesus' forgiving spirit even under intense pain.Philippians 3:10
Clearing the parking brake of unforgivenessUnforgiveness acts like a parking brake on a car, hindering our spiritual growth and preventing us from moving forward in God's purpose.
Guarding against two extremes in the Christian lifeBelievers must avoid either demanding God to change someone else before forgiving or struggling with unbelief after having already been forgiven.
