OceanSide church of Christ




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SEEKING HIGHER GROUND…

Forgiveness

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    The first act of human evil being committed against another recorded in the Bible is when Cain slew his brother Abel (Gen. 4:8).

 

And Cain talked with Abel his brother:  and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

 

1.      This act was one of finality.  It took the life of his brother.

2.      Cain did not have the ability to apologize for his action.

3.      He would never be able to hear the words:  “I forgive you,” from his brother. 

 

B.      During our lives, all of us have had others sin against us. 

1.      Lies may have been told.

2.      Physical harm may have been experienced.

3.      There may have been broken vows.

4.      Perhaps someone attempted to destroy our character.

5.      Another person may have betrayed us.

6.      Someone may have cheated us or stolen from us.

7.      There are times when others are just ugly and hateful in how they treat us.

 

C.     When others do us wrong, they stand in need of our forgiveness.

1.      Deep within, it is difficult for us to even want to forgive them.

2.      When it comes to the actual act of forgiveness, we often refuse to give it.

 

D.    Our theme for OceanSide for 2021 is:  “Seeking Higher Ground in 2021.”  Today, we want to look at the subject:  “Seeking Higher Ground…in Forgiveness.”

 

I.                   THE BIBLE TEACHES US TO BE FORGIVING

 

A.    Matthew 18:21-22

 

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.

 

B.      Ephesians 4:32

 

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

 

C.     Colossians 3:13

 

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any:  even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

 

II.                FORGIVENESS CAN BE DIFFICULT TO GIVE

 

A.    The person who has hurt us is an enemy.

1.      In II Samuel 2:23, Abner smote Asahel, the brother of Joab.

2.      There was no way Joab was going to forgive this man for his action.

3.      In II Samuel 3:27, Joab got his revenge and slew Abner.

 

B.      The person who has hurt us is a close friend.

1.      All of us have had our Ahithophel’s and our Judas’, close friends or family members, who lifted up their heel against us.

2.      These wounds can run deep.  Forgiveness is the last thing we want to give these individuals.

 

C.     The wound we have received is an extremely deep gash.

1.      The wound can be financial or emotional. 

2.      It would involve the wounding of our good character and name.

3.      How does a Christian forgive a man like Saul of Tarsus who arrested one of your family members and had him/her put to death? (See Acts 9:1-2).

 

D.    The evil desire of the heart is to get even, to see the individual hurt as much as we have been hurt.  (Ex., David against Nabal, I Sam. 25:33).

 

Blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.

 

III.             SEEKING HIGHER GROUND IN FORGIVENESS

 

A.    We must keep in mind that God has commanded us to forgive others.

1.      We want to please God (I Thess. 4:1).

 

Furthermore then we beseech you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us who ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

 

2.      We do not want the consequences of refusing to forgive others (Matt. 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.

 

B.      We must remember that God has forgiven us of a massive debt (Matt. 18:24-27).

 

And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.  Bur 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 the debt.

 

C.     I must follow the example of Jesus who was always forgiving in nature (I John 2:6).

 

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

 

1.      The man who was sick of palsy (Matt. 9:2)

2.      The woman taken in adultery (John 8:11)

3.      The Jews who crucified Him (Luke 23:34).

4.      Peter who betrayed Him (John 21:15-17).

D.    We must seek to have a forgiving spirit instead of a spirit of revenge.

1.      Romans 12:19

 

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath:  for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

 

2.      Examples:

a.      Jesus (Luke 23:34)

b.      Stephen (Acts 7:60)

c.       Paul (II Tim. 4:16)

 

E.      There have been many others people who have forgiven me in the past:  parents, spouse, children, teachers, friends, employers.  If others can forgive me, surely I can forgive others.

 

F.      In the future, there will be times when I will still need the forgiveness of others.

 

IV.             FORGIVENESS BETTER UNDERSTOOD

 

A.    If a person does not develop a forgiving spirit, he will be imprisoned with negative emotions and desires for revenge.  These things do nothing to the person who has wrong us.  They only bring emotional and physical harm to self.

 

B.      True forgiveness is conditional.  The person who has sinned against us has a part to play in his/her forgiveness, namely, to repent (Luke 17:3).

 

Take heed to yourselves:  If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

 

C.     Forgiveness does not mean that a person is exempt from consequences.

1.      David sinned against God and Uriah.

2.      David was forgiven by God (II Sam. 12:13).

3.      He still faced severe consequences for his sins, including the death of his son born to Bathsheba (II Sam. 12:10-11, 14).

 

D.    Forgiveness does not mean a complete return to the past in many cases.

1.      A person may not get a position of leadership restored to him.

2.      A man may never get his wife back after adultery.

3.      A father may always have to be supervised after abuse issues have occurred.

4.      NOTE:  The person may long for complete restoration.  He may argue for it.  But, it does NOT have to occur.  This is another aspect of the consequences of sinful behavior.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    All of us will be sinned against by others. 

 

B.      When this happens, we have decisions to make:  Revenge?  No forgiveness?  Forgiveness?

 

C.     All of us need to Seek Higher Ground…in Forgiveness.

 

D.    Keep in mind:  “I am not, nor will I ever be perfect.”  I, too, will need forgiveness.