Boomerang

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.

All of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  Some of us have sinned more, some less, but if you have only sinned just one time, you are as big a sinner as everyone else.  Some people feel that they are better than others because they only stole the milk money at school.  The truth is, it only takes one sin to keep you out of heaven.  If they have stolen, they are also an adulterer or a murderer because all sin reaps the same reward, the lake of fire.

James 2:10-13  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.  For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.  So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

In the Christian Church we are under the law of liberty, which means we can access forgiveness with God.  To stand in judgment over a penitent brother in the church, refusing to forgive them from your heart, only condemns yourself.  If you cannot forgive others after asking God for forgiveness for your sins, it’s going to boomerang right back at you because God will show you no mercy at the judgment.  They expect mercy from God, but they refuse to reconcile and show mercy to others.  That is a complete denial of everything that Christ did for us on the cross.  Jesus severe warnings about being unforgiving with penitent offenders.

Matthew 18:21-35  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.  And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.  But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.  The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.  Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.  And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.  And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.  So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

When somebody wrongs you it certainly doesn’t feel good, but if they apologize, if they say I repent, you must forgive and reconcile with them, otherwise you risk damnation to your own soul.  Biblical forgiveness will cease to hold any resentment against the offender, completely forgetting the wrongs that were committed, wiping them clean from their memory. True forgiveness results in reconciliation. Imagine one of your own children doing something wrong to you, but they regrefully apologize.  What are you going to do?  Throw them out the front door and tell them not to come back, or will you give them a big hug and completely forgive them?  Some people will treat their children this way, but treat adults in the church completely differently.  This shouldn’t be so.

It’s a hard and unmerciful heart that refuses to extend grace to others who request it.  Instead of forgetting the past as God does with us, they simply cannot get over it.  This results in bitterness and a malicious disposition.  Genuine forgiveness and reconciliation can only take place, if the offended party possesses charity in their heart.  It is charity that covers a multitude of sins.  Without charity, merciful kindness cannot take place.  It is replaced by animosity, resentment, and hatred towards the penitent offender.  Everybody makes mistakes and needs grace from time to time in the church, otherwise the Apostles would have never taught the church to be forgiving with each other.  The problem is, people don’t want to forgive others because in their own mind, they are better than them.  Lofted up in pride, they feel that they can do no wrong themselves.  It’s the same attitude that the proud Pharisee possessed, exalting himself over others, when the truth was that he was just as guilty as everybody else.

When someone refuses to forgive a confessor, a bitter grudge develops.  A grudge is deep-seated and/or long-term animosity or ill will about something or someone, due to a past bad deed or mistreatment.  Even though they apologized, they refuse to forgive and forget as God does with them.  Keeping a grudge goes against everything in the Christian faith because it is completely opposite of forgiveness.  If we confess our faults, God can forgive us. If you can’t forgive others, you condemn yourself.  God will punish that behavior.  It’s a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

James 5:9  Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

Leviticus 19:18  Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

Bearing a grudge is the result of an unforgiving and bitter heart towards a confessor.   

Ephesians 4:31-32  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. 

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;

When someone is bitter, they are hateful and hostile, cynical and resentful.  The love and charity that they once possessed, is removed far from them because they refuse to forgive the penitent.  There are no blessings for such people, only God’s wrath, because they have allowed their heart to become defiled, void of divine charity.  If they choose to be unmerciful, God will surely be unmerciful towards them.  Their lack of forgiveness with others is going to to return right back on them just like a……

…….. Boomerang.

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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