Yeah Forgiveness is good, But…

1. Yeah, But what about Justice?

- A Day is Coming…

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

Romans 12:18-19

- Justice Now

For the one in authority is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

Romans 13:4

- The Cross: God cares about Justice

2. Yeah, But what about when there's No Repentance?

- Unpicking what we mean:

i. Forgiveness

o Vertical and Internal

· I'm a sinner, forgiven by God.

· Naming the wrong

· Counting the cost

· Paying the debt

· Praying

ii. Reconciliation

o Horizontal

o Not completely under your control

- Let's not moosh them together!

· We're called on to forgive, not to make reconciliation happen.

· We don't need to be held captive by the other person's lack of repentance.

- Forgiveness without Reconciliation

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

Mark 11:25

- The messiness of Reconciliation

Yeah, But I Feel really Hurt

- A decision to make a start

(An act of the will, rather than emotion.)

- An expensive gift bought on credit:

o Given in a moment

o Paid for over time

3. Yeah, But how do I live this?

i. Expect Sin

o Just stop counting!

Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."

Matthew 18:22

ii. Logs and Splinters

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,

but the LORD weighs the heart.

Proverbs 21:2 (ESV)

iii. Wisdom and a Bit of Gospel Grit

o Sometimes we may need to confront.

o A LOT of times:

· Covering over sins

Hatred stirs up strife,

but love covers all offenses.

Proverbs 10:12 (ESV)

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8 (ESV)

· Bearing with one another

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Colossians 3:13

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Ephesians 4:2

Conclusion

We CAN forgive one another, BECAUSE GOD IN CHRIST HAS FORGIVEN US

Forgiveness is hard!

So WHY do it?

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Colossians 3:13

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Matthew 6:12

Drinking Deeply from the Fountain

- A debt we cannot pay. (Matthew 18:18-26)

- A King who pays the debt (Matthew 18:27)

o Because debts don't just disappear

o Justice and mercy

Outrageous UNforgiveness (Matthew 18:28-31)

An Angry King (Matthew 18:32-35)

- Non-negotiable forgiveness

- A parable about WILLINGNESS (Matthew 18:21-22)

Why is Forgiveness Hard?

A Definition: Forgiveness is to renounce revenge and be open to reconciliation.

Tim Keller

You're not alone!

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:14-16

A 3-part series on 2 Peter by Fiona Millar from the Darling Downs Christian Women's Convention

Part 1 - Knowing Jesus 2 Peter 1:1-11

Part 2 - Remember Jesus, trust God's Word 2 Peter 1:12-2:22

Part 3 - Growing in Jesus 2 Peter 3

A 3-part series on 2 Peter by Fiona Millar from the Darling Downs Christian Women's Convention

Part 1 - Knowing Jesus 2 Peter 1:1-11

Part 2 - Remember Jesus, trust God's Word 2 Peter 1:12-2:22

Part 3 - Growing in Jesus 2 Peter 3

A 3-part series on 2 Peter by Fiona Millar from the Darling Downs Christian Women's Convention

Part 1 - Knowing Jesus 2 Peter 1:1-11

Part 2 - Remember Jesus, trust God's Word 2 Peter 1:12-2:22

Part 3 - Growing in Jesus 2 Peter 3