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.
Over the years, I’ve worked with many young children who would at certain times have a spat with each other, while playing on the playground. One of the children would fault the other for doing something that hurt their feelings, or performing something that they didn’t really appreciate. But when the offending child asked the other to humbly forgive them, by apologizing for their fault, The other child would walk off refusing to forgive from their heart.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
The problem is that with this philosophy, the next time that you make a mistake during your life, you will not be forgiven by God. If you cannot forgive someone else when they apologize, you are preventing your own salvation with God. We cannot undo certain sins that we have committed, but they can be forgiven and washed away through the blood of Christ, never to be remembered or spoken of again. In my own mind, this is one of the most serious issues in the scriptures that needs to be pondered on deeply. Without God’s grace, none of us would get to heaven, and neither will you, if you simply stand in judgment over others, and refuse to forgive them from your heart.
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.
The Bible is clear that all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and the only way that anyone will be able to access eternal life is through God’s mercy found in Jesus Christ. James is warning the church about standing in judgment over others, because each of us are in the exact same boat together. Refusing to kindly and quickly extend mercy to others who ask for it, is to reject the teachings of the Christian Life. Apologies happen within the church, so that grace can be given, so reconciliation can take place.
The moment you stand in judgment against others, without even offering them grace, the next point in your life when you make a mistake, you only condemn yourself. If you have made just one little mistake in your life, then you are just the same as everybody else, a sinner in need of God’s mercy. Self-righteousness is a killer. We learn that in the parable of the proud Pharisee. He stood in judgment over his fellow man, exalting himself, but he missed out on something that he needed more than anything else, forgiveness with God. It’s the,..I’m better than you attitude. No one kept the law in the sight of God. We are not justified by the works of the law, but through the faith of Jesus Christ. This is the reason why you had better be merciful with others, if you want to be shown mercy from God.
If you are truly a Christian, and have ever asked God to forgive you for something, and then you stand in judgment over others who have asked for mercy from you, you only condemn yourself, because you come under the judgment of God. You violate God’s law of Liberty, which is the law of forgiveness. Mercy always rejoices against judgment, because mercy can cover the multitude of sins.
Luke 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
This is why the church is commanded to be so forgiving with each other. Sometimes people make mistakes, and do things that they regret. All of us have. We’re imperfect people who can be made perfect when we walk in God’s grace. This is why the refusal to reconcile with others and forgive the penitent brother, (as God Himself does)….that kind of false teaching violates all that we learn in the Christian Life. Warnings for this behavior will surely follow.
Matthew 18:23-35 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.
Being merciful is to be forbearing with others, and to extend to them compassion. It is to show them pity in the same manner that the Lord has shown pity to you. It is to be reconciled with them in the same way that we are reconciled to God through Christ Jesus. We are to be reconciled with them just as the prodigal son was with his dad. His dad didn’t resent him, but when he confessed his faults he simply forgave him. People in the church need to be that forgiving, if you are truly gonna call yourself a follower of Christ. The facts of the matter are these. There are going to be times that you make mistakes in your life. If you want God’s mercy to be shown to you, then you had better show it to others, otherwise, you will be dealing with God’s wrath.
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.
Our God is very merciful.
James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Make sure, that you are not one of those, who are only….
……Acting Like Children.
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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