Good morning 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 tell you a little story.
Have you ever owned a conversion van? Many years ago, our family had one that we used to travel across the country during vacations. We ran many gallons of gas through that vehicle, but one of the nicest features was that it had two large twin tanks, so that you wouldn’t have to constantly stop at the gas station every few hours on your trip.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
In my own mind, I’ve always felt that forgiveness is very similar to filling up your gas tanks. Sometimes we can require quite a bit, but we all need to gas up our hearts, and be merciful with each other. Some vehicles require more gas than others, but the point being, is that our hearts need to be just as full, they need to be filled to the rim, with grace and compassion. The thing that keeps the church together, and gets us further down that spiritual road, is being merciful and forgiving with others, in their time of need.
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.
Bitterness can develop when apologies are given, but someone refuses to forgive the offender from their heart. Grace and mercy is what keeps the church together, and needs to be granted when needed or required. If you truly forgive someone, reconciliation will immediately take place. We learn this in the parable of the prodigal son.
Luke 15:20-23 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:
Once again, I want you to notice that divine grace results in immediate reconciliation. When the son admitted his fault, his Dad quickly forgave him. He never kept a bitter grudge, but completely let it go. For one reason, that’s not love, and for the second reason, scripture has serious warnings from God about that kind of behavior. It can result in condemnation.
James 5:9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
Genuine Christian love is displayed in the actions of the prodigal son. He admitted fault and apologized, and the dad completely forgave Him, and they went on with their lives together. This is why it’s called the gospel of reconciliation. Many people are preaching a false gospel of non-reconciliation forgiveness. They have been teaching for many years that somehow you can forgive someone from your heart, and not reconcile with them again. The reason why they do this, is they don’t want to suffer with the pain that somebody else committed against them, while the truth is, Jesus took the pain and the nails and suffered unto death on the cross for them. These actions are highly offensive to the Lord.
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.
A bitter grudge results in a defiled and unmerclful heart.
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;
Romans 3:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
The Lord Jesus taught one of His Apostles about how forgiving to be with others.
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.
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.
All of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and we each need portions of grace at certain times in our lives. This is why we need to be so merciful with each other, being good stewards of God’s manifold grace.
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Colossians 3:12-13 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Just as we need gas to get down the highway, each of us are going to need grace to get to heaven. Think about how you treat each other, because when it comes to forgiveness, I think that all of us in the church need to fill up our……
…….Twin Tanks
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching tlkjbc, or by going to hipcast, buzzsprout or amazon, or by going to our blog at tlkjbc.com, or I suppose, you can find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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