Goodmorning and welcome in everyone. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that I wanted to share something with you.
When I was in the second grade, there was a boy that a lot of us knew from school. He used to bring a giant cigar box to school in his backpack. Whether he was in gym class or at lunch, as soon as the teacher disappeared from view, he would open up his box. Inside he had a bunch of school supplies such as fancy pencils, pens, and some really big erasers. In my life I always liked big erasers that fit snugly on top of a pencil, so I was quite his customer. Big erasers were perfect for someone like me. I needed big erasers to undo the many mistakes that I so frequently made.
This reminds me of the Christian life.
It has been claimed that the more mistakes that you make in life, the bigger eraser you will need. I eventually found the biggest eraser that I could ever possess, that was completely free. I found it in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
God’s grace is an incredible gift. When we confess our faults, He completely absolves them from His memory, and doesn’t even discuss them anymore. Like a blackboard, the slate is wiped completely clean. He does this so that we can eventually obey Him and do what is right. Many people like to paint or sketch with a pencil, but if you make a mistake you can paint right over them. God’s grace is like a recording artist in the studio, who fails miserably on one of their takes on a solo, but the producer simply starts again, recording over their many failed attempts, until they finally get it right. When God forgives, He completely forgets the past. There are many people who profess Christianity who claim to forgive, but it’s only words because they refuse to forget. The one main issue with that, is that you cannot claim to be a Christian anymore. If you cannot forgive others from the heart and forget their past misdeeds, God will not forgive you. They may appear religious on the exterior, but are cloaked in a coat of bitterness. Bitterness results from somebody who refuses to forgive an apologetic offender, and then their heart becomes defiled. They reject genuine reconciliation, which is as much of a part of forgiveness, just as water is needed to make kool-aid.
Romans 3:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Many people who are not truly spiritual, perceive the story of the prodigal son as a relationship with Earthly relatives, while the true meaning behind the parable is meant to teach us about our own sinfulness, and returning to our relationship with God the Father. It teaches the three main points of the Christian Life, confession, absolution, and complete reconciliation. My children and family have always understood how much I love this parable.
Luke 15:11-25 And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
And he arose, and came to his father.
But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
God forgives and forgets, just as it teaches in this parable of the prodigal son. When you truly forgive someone, it means to not remember their faults anymore, just as the father did toward his son. True forgiveness results in reconciliation, as the story illustrates. Without reconciliation, forgiveness never really happened. If you ever hear someone who professes to be a Christian, but claims reconciliation is not required with others, they are a liar and rejecting the Christian Life. Refusal to reconcile will result in damnation because they openly reject the ministry of reconciliation commanded by the teachings of Christ. Holding these beliefs also shows that they are heretical.
2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Sadly, some people are not going to be forgiven by God because of their refusal to forgive others. I’m sure many of them will be those who professed to be Christian. I’ve always taught Andrew and my family that non-reconciliation is an unforgivable sin, because it goes against everything that Christ stands for, divine love.
Matthew 6:14-15 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
God does not forgive everybody. Forgiveness is withheld from God for those who refuse to forgive in the church. When somebody apologizes, and you have Holy Communion with them, but you continue to bear a grudge against the penitent sinner, you sin against the blood of Christ. When you do so, you drink damnation unto yourself. I’m very thankful each and every day for God’s mercy and forgiveness. Whenever I need grace, I know that I can come boldly to him. I know that if I’m forgiving with others that God will be forgiving with me. I like that, because I have always needed a lot of mercy. I’ve known that, ever since the day that I reached deep down inside..
…..The Cigar Box
Let’s think about these things for right now, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 