I. Forgiveness (Review)
A. Readiness To Forgive
1. Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
a. Jesus prayed for them while hanging on the cross
b. Jesus prayed that some day they would be forgiven
2. Jesus’ readiness to forgive them
a. Even though He was wrongly accused
b. Didn’t wait for them to realize their sin or apologize
c. Didn’t wait for the pain to go away
d. Jesus spoke these words so that we would know His heart re. forgiveness
B. Consequences Of Unforgiveness (Matthew 18:21-35)
1. Forgiveness is commanded
2. Forgiveness is reasonable
a. God has forgiven the Christian of so much
b. We ought to forgive one another
3. Jesus warned about unforgiveness
a. If we don’t forgive others, God doesn’t forgive us
b. That sin of unforgiveness comes between us and God
c. It is disobedience to not forgive
d. It leads to “torture” in our lives
i. Our fellowship with God is hindered
ii. We give Satan an opportunity to work against us
iii. Ephesians 4:26,27 “26Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27nor give place (opportunity) to the devil
4. Remedy- Practice “Sermon On The Mount” Christianity
5. Pray for your enemies. Bless them & do good to them
C. Forgiveness- One Definition
1. Forgive – to cancel a debt, to let go, let be, let alone, to give up, to keep no longer
2. It’s a choice that we need to make
II. Restoration
A. Sometimes We Must Separate From Others (Read 1 Corinthians 5)
1. 1 Corinthians 5:5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
a. destruction of the flesh– the external ills & troubles by which the lusts of the flesh are subdued & destroyed
2. 1 Cor. 6b, 7a “6Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?7Therefore purge out the old leaven…”
3. 1 Cor. 5:11 “11But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.”
a. keep company – to mix up together, to be intimate with
4. 1 Cor. 5:13 Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.
B. When To Restore, Reconcile (Read 2 Corinthians 2:1-11)
1. When the goal is accomplished, which is repentance 2 Corinthians 2:6
a. Sufficient – ample, competent, worthy, enough
b. The actions taken against him had brought the desired result
2. Godly sorrow & repentance
a. 2 Corinthians 7:8-11
b. Godly sorrow & repentance is observable
3. Apologies are important & appropriate
4. For such serious issues, there needs to be evidence of repentance
5. Luke 3:8a-10 (John the Baptist) 8Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘9We have Abraham as our father.’ 10So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?” (they realized action was needed)
C. Danger Of Not Restoring 2 Corinthians 2:7
1. Swallowed up with too much sorrow
2. Swallowed – To drink down, gulp, to drown a. The church was not to spare the man from feeling any sorrow
b. He needed to feel some sorrow
i. For his sin against God
ii. For his sin against immediate circle of people
iii. For his sin against the church
3. But there was a danger of experiencing too much sorrow, leading to despair
D. Forgiveness & Restoration
1. Readiness to forgive doesn’t always mean immediate restoration
2. Forgive – aphiēmi (af-ee’-ay-mee) to cancel a debt
3. Forgive – charizomai {khar-id’-zom-ahee} ) to do something pleasant or agreeable, to do a favor, to show one’s self gracious, to give graciously, give freely, bestow
a. Romans 8:32 32He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us (charizomai) all things?
b. This kind of forgiveness freely gives back that place in life that had been lost.
c. It is a forgiveness of restoration and reconciliation
4. Comfort- parakaleo– To come alongside, to encourage, console, exhort
5. Reaffirm your love – Paul doesn’t say, ”Begin to love, or return to loving him”.
a. Their love was to continue throughout the separation
b. The offender’s needed absence prohibited them showing the fullness of love
c. Now they had opportunity to show that love once again
6. Offended Christians must be ready to restore offenders when true repentance taken place. Separation is used to bring repentance, not permanent separation.
III. The Devil
A. Seeks To Separate Man From God.
1. Through the deceitfulness of sin. (Genesis 3)
2. By hopelessness and excessive sorrow after sin
B. Know Satan’s Strategies & Avoid Them
1. Devices – evil schemes, a perception, a disposition, a thought
2. Satan knows how to separate people from God
3. Satan knows how to separate people from the church