I want to talk about us becoming a forgiving church. Many of us have either heard or read something like "if I sinned, I'd rather go to the bar than go to the church". The world is saying - "We are more forgiving that you." We forgive abortion, homosexuals, pre-marital sex, extra-marital sex, drug pushers, murderers, etc.
We need to distinguish between "the church as it is" and "the church as it should be". As it is many have forgiven, but have not grown much in their Christ-likeness. Their forgiveness is not anything like Christ's. Many tend to act like the world or like the Pharisees in John chapter eight. Remember them with the lady taken in adultery? What did they want to do with the woman? (stone her) What did they want to do the man? (ignore it)
Some churches and some of us have handled sin that way; by cutting people off or ignoring sin. Sometimes when the world criticizes, they have a point (even though their way of forgiving is wrong, we have not always provided a good model of forgiveness. What I would like to do tonight is address the way we should be as a church.
I. We Need to be People Who Remember We Have Been Forgiven.
A. Pharisees have forgotten that (may not have been forgiven)
1. They do not say: "he is sinning and I sin also"
(MAT 7:3-4) "AND WHY BEHOLDEST THOU THE MOTE THAT IS IN THY BROTHER'S EYE, BUT CONSIDEREST NOT THE BEAM THAT IS IN THINE OWN EYE? {4} OR HOW WILT THOU SAY TO THY BROTHER, LET ME PULL OUT THE MOTE OUT OF THINE EYE; AND, BEHOLD, A BEAM IS IN THINE OWN EYE?"
2. They forget the immense forgiveness that they have received: Mt. 18:20-35 (billions vs. dollars)
3. They forget: "by the grace of God I am what I am" cf 1 Co. 15:10a
4. They forget the pit from which they were rescued. Cf Ps. 40:1-3
5. They find it possible to pretend they are superior by conforming to simplified outward standards
6. They think: "I don't have to be forgiven of very much after all."
B. We will never be a forgiving church if we don't have a solid understanding of how much we have been forgiven.
1 .That's why Bible study and biblical preaching is so important.
2. We would not think these thoughts on our own!
3. One of the reasons the world says what they do about Christians is because they have experienced Christians who were very judgmental and unforgiving.
C. Congregations at their best:
1. Remember the pit they were rescued from
2. Are neither shocked by another's sin nor feel superior to them
3. When we read of someone who had, in a moment of rage, abused their child because the child wouldn't stop crying what kind of thoughts go through our mind?
a. Do we immediately think - what a wretch, how could anyone hurt a child?
b. Or do we say, "apart from God's grace, that could be me"
c. I am not talking about excusing the sin, but I am talking about standing ready to forgive because we don't have such a high view of ourselves.
II. Is that different form the world? Very different!
A. The world is not a forgiving.
1 Rather they are condoning.
2. Acceptance in the world's view is "unconditional acceptance","I accept you regardless of who you are or what you've done"
3. Forgiveness and condoning/acceptance are 180 degrees apart
4. The world is non-judgmental and accepting of sin, and nothing is ever cleared -no one is ever helped, only hurt.
B. The Believer is to be forgiving.
1. Forgives: judges, calls sin "sin" refuses to condone or ignore
2. But gladly forgives and resolves based upon repentance.
3. Even in the meantime - we tell God:
a. I want to be reconciled
b. I will not bring it up to myself to harm him - or to stew over it.
(MARK 11:26) "BUT IF YE DO NOT FORGIVE, NEITHER WILL YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN FORGIVE YOUR TRESPASSES."
(ROM 12:17-21) "RECOMPENSE TO NO MAN EVIL FOR EVIL. PROVIDE THINGS HONEST IN THE SIGHT OF ALL MEN. {18} IF IT BE POSSIBLE, AS MUCH AS LIETH IN YOU, LIVE PEACEABLY WITH ALL MEN. {19} DEARLY BELOVED, AVENGE NOT YOURSELVES, BUT RATHER GIVE PLACE UNTO WRATH: FOR IT IS WRITTEN, VENGEANCE IS MINE; I WILL REPAY, SAITH THE LORD. {20} THEREFORE IF THINE ENEMY HUNGER, FEED HIM; IF HE THIRST, GIVE HIM DRINK: FOR IN SO DOING THOU SHALT HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD. {21} BE NOT OVERCOME OF EVIL, BUT OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD."
2. Jesus is often wrongly called an if "accepting person".
a. He forgives, but He never ignores, or condones sin.
b. He does not deny the purpose of the incarnation and His work on the cross.
c. Doesn't Jesus hate the sin and love the sinner? Yes.
3. But do not forget the need of repentance.
a. Over whom does the wrath of God hang?
b. Who is punished in hell?
c. Yes Jesus loves sinners, but not to the degree that their sin can be ignored.
4. The sinner has to be in a certain place to receive his love.
a. That is the position of grace through repentance and faith.
b. What would Jesus do? Many folks do not have a clue.
III. It's Easier to Ignore or Condone Than to Forgive
A. Those who choose to ignore and condone sin do not come down on God's side.
B. Those who forgive:
1. Hold him guilty of their offense.
2. They rebuke him and call him to repent/confess.
3. They promise never to bring it up again to his hurt.
4. They seek his good at great cost - stop the hurting
5. They get involved at the point of his sin and often are turned against viciously.
6. Because this is costly, believers often opt for acceptance and condoning.
C. But forgiveness is the right way to deal with sin.
1 . Only then can reconciliation be possible.
2. Only then can embarrassing matters be put to rest.
3. Only then can both offended and offender walk together as if it never happened.
4. Only then are the obstacles to fellowship removed.
D. Nothing is settled by "acceptance'.
1. Deep down - the offenses are still there and still cause hurt.
2. Real fellowship is not possible.
3. The offender still bears the load of guilt/sin because the offended has made no promise not to bring it up to his hurt.
4. The threat that his sin will be used is still there.
A forgiving church is often misunderstood by the world, and by worldy Christians. The world has definitely got their definition of forgiveness confused. We should do all we can to be exercising the true biblical alternative of biblical forgiveness. We must be a forgiving church. That means we must be forgiving people.
Do not be afraid of applying the Word of God in your lives. Do not be deceived by those who would call us 'unforgiving' because we deal with sin biblically. There is hope tonight for the sinner. It is found in Jesus Christ. Do you know His forgiveness? Are we living there tonight?