WEBVTT

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 How difficult is it for you to forgive people?

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 I'm talking about when somebody really hurts you,

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 sins against you, intentionally.

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 How would you describe the way you go about forgiving?

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 Is your forgiveness based on your emotions?

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 Is it according to how you feel at the time toward that person?

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 Or is your forgiveness based on a commitment to forgive

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 regardless of how you really feel about it?

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 I want you to think about this one.

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 Is your forgiveness conditional or unconditional?

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 And then does your forgiveness,

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 does it include restoring the relationship?

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 Once they have sought your forgiveness,

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 you tell them you've forgiven.

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 Does your idea carry you to be reconciled?

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 Or restore the relationship to where it was before the problem arose?

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 We're going to answer those questions this morning

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 as we look at how Paul describes forgiveness in Colossians chapter 3.

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 Forgiving people is one of the ways that we are to live in this world

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 as God's special people.

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 We've been looking at that the last couple of weeks

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 in Colossians chapter 3, verses 12 through 14 in particular.

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 We've been talking about how all of this

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 showing compassion,

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 being patient with people,

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 bearing with people,

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 and today forgiving people.

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 This all really falls under the umbrella of loving people.

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 If we have the love of Christ within us,

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 we'll be compelled by the Spirit of God who lives in us

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 to live this way,

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 to treat people this way.

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 Well, today we're going to spend all of our time

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 looking at how we are to forgive others

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 based on the way God has forgiven us

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 as explained in Colossians chapter 3, verse 13,

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 and a very similar verse

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 in Ephesians chapter 4, verse 32.

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 I'm going to put both verses on the screen.

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 Here's the first one.

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 If one has a complaint against another,

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 forgiving each other,

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 as the Lord has forgiven you,

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 so you also must forgive.

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 And then Ephesians 4, verse 32.

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 Be kind to one another,

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 tenderhearted,

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 forgiving one another,

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 as God in Christ forgave you.

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 It's real clear, isn't it,

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 that Paul's telling us

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 that we should forgive others

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 in the same way that God forgives us.

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 So what we need to do to start with

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 is think about,

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 look at what the Bible says about

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 how God forgives us.

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 Let's do that.

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 First, God's forgiveness is gracious,

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 but it's costly.

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 Let's look at what that means.

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 God's forgiveness is gracious.

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 That means it's undeserved.

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 Grace is God's undeserved favor.

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 We have all sinned against God.

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 We've disobeyed His commandments.

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 We've not lived life

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 the way that He's told us to,

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 or we've lived life

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 the opposite of how He's told us to.

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 Well, the Bible says

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 it's a penalty for sin.

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 Sin is breaking God's commandments.

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 The Bible says

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 that the penalty for sin is death,

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 and ultimately that is

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 separation from God

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 for all eternity in hell.

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 So,

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 that's what we deserve.

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 From God's perspective,

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 and He's real clear in the Bible,

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 we have sinned by disobeying Him,

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 breaking His commandments.

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 And He has declared

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 that the penalty for sin

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 is death.

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 So,

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 God would be just.

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 He would be right.

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 He would be fair

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 from His perspective,

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 which is the ultimate

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 and the right perspective.

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 God would be just

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 and right and fair

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 to just say,

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 you've always wanted to live

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 your way

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 instead of my way.

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 So,

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 after we die,

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 He just sort of says,

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 well,

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 you just continue on

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 living life your way

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 instead of my way.

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 And that's hell.

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 Living apart from God.

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 Now,

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 God would be just

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 in doing that.

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 It'd be like sort of

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 we reap what we've sown.

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 But God didn't just sit back

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 and let us reap

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 what we've sown

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 in this way.

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 He didn't just sit back

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 and let justice run its course.

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 God chose

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 to be gracious

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 and provide a way

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 for us to be forgiven

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 of our sins

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 and not have to be punished.

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 I want you to look at

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 two of the verses,

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 two verses that point out

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 how God provided a way

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 by grace,

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 undeserved totally,

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 for us to be forgiven.

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 Look at Ephesians 2, 8.

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 For by grace

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 you've been saved

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 through faith.

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 And this is not

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 your own doing,

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 it's the gift of God.

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 And then in Romans 3.

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 For all have sinned

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 and fall short

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 of the glory of God

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 and are justified

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 by His grace

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 as a gift

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 through the redemption

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 that is in Christ Jesus.

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 Here's what we're

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 trying to think about.

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 How does God forgive?

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 Well,

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 God's forgiveness

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 is gracious

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 it is totally undeserved.

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 Keep that in mind.

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 But it doesn't mean

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 that God ignores our sin.

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 It doesn't mean

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 that God says,

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 ah, it really doesn't matter,

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 just let it go.

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 No, God's forgiveness

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 is very costly.

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 God so loved

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 people like us

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 that He sent His Son

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 into this world

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 to pay the penalty

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 for our sins

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 through His death

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 on the cross.

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 Look at how John

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 describes this.

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 In this is love.

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 Not that we have loved God

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 but that He loved us

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 and sent His Son

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 to be the propitiation

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 for our sins.

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 That word propitiation

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 is never used

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 outside of the Bible,

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 is it?

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 And a lot of translations

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 translate it a different way.

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 The NIV calls it

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 atoning sacrifice.

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 Well, here's what it means.

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 Jesus experienced

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 the full wrath of God

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 as He hung on the cross.

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 Look at it.

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 For our sins.

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 We've sinned against God.

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 The penalty for sin

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 is death.

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 Ultimately,

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 it's separation from God.

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 As Jesus hung on the cross,

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 God unleashed

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 His just

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 and righteous wrath

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 against sin.

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 And Jesus cried out,

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 My God, my God,

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 why have you forsaken me?

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 He was experiencing

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 that wrath.

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 He was experiencing God

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 as the wrath giver,

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 not His Father

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 at that time.

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 That's why He cried out,

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 My God, my God,

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 why have you forsaken me?

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 A little bit later on

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 from the cross,

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 He cried out,

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 It is finished.

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 Which means He

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 took the wrath

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 fully.

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 He completely

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 paid the penalty

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 for our sins.

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 It's over

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 and done with.

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 God graciously

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 offers

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 this costly forgiveness

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 to all

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 who will accept it

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 on His terms.

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 That's the second thing

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 we need to see

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 about God's forgiveness.

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 God's forgiveness

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 is conditional.

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 We must first

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 repent of our sin

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 and trust Jesus

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 as our Savior and Lord.

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 If God's forgiveness

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 is unconditional,

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 it means everybody's safe.

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 That's universalism.

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 You don't believe that.

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 You wouldn't be here today.

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 The reason to be here today,

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 if you believe

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 everybody is saved

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 because God's

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 just a good guy

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 and He just decides

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 to say,

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 don't worry about sin

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 and rebellion

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 and evil

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 and wickedness,

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 just let it go.

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 No.

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 God is gracious,

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 but His forgiveness

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 is costly.

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 It costs the death

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 of His Son.

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 It is offered to us

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 as a gift

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 on the condition

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 that we repent,

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 turn from our sin

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 and trust Jesus

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 as our Savior and Lord.

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 Unfortunately,

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 repentance

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 is not always emphasized

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 as it should be

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 in explaining the gospel,

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 but repentance

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 is essential.

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 I want you to note

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 how Jesus began

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 His public ministry.

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 In the first chapter

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 of Mark,

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 Mark says

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 that Jesus came

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 into Galilee

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 proclaiming the gospel

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 of God and saying

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 the time is fulfilled

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 and the kingdom

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 of God is at hand,

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 repent and believe

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 in the gospel.

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 Paul gave a statement

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 in Acts chapter 20.

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 He was talking

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 to the leaders

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 of the church

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 at Ephesus

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 and he was explaining

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 what he had been preaching

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 throughout his ministry.

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 He explained

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 how he had called people

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 to look at it,

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 repent and believe.

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 Look at this

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 from Acts chapter 20.

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 Paul says,

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 I have declared

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 to both Jews

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 and Greeks

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 and as he wrote that,

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 what he meant was

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 to everybody

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 under the sun.

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 I have declared

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 to both Jews

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 and Greeks

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 everywhere I've ever preached

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 that they must turn

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 to God in repentance

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 and have faith

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 in our Lord Jesus.

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 Salvation

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 and forgiveness

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 of sin

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 are freely offered

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 to all

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 who will

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 meet

00:10:19.240 --> 00:10:21.019
 God's condition.

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 Repentance

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 and faith.

00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:25.860
 They go together

00:10:25.860 --> 00:10:26.700
 like two sides

00:10:26.700 --> 00:10:27.700
 of one coin.

00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:29.779
 We must repent

00:10:29.779 --> 00:10:30.460
 of our sin

00:10:30.460 --> 00:10:32.360
 in order to be saved.

00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:33.659
 I want you to look

00:10:33.659 --> 00:10:35.639
 at how this is explained,

00:10:35.740 --> 00:10:36.379
 the word repentance

00:10:36.379 --> 00:10:37.320
 by Wayne Grudem.

00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:38.320
 A great definition,

00:10:38.680 --> 00:10:39.919
 comprehensive definition

00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:40.799
 that explains

00:10:40.799 --> 00:10:41.680
 really what it is.

00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:42.680
 Repentance

00:10:42.680 --> 00:10:43.919
 is a heartfelt sorrow

00:10:43.919 --> 00:10:44.559
 for sin,

00:10:45.500 --> 00:10:46.500
 a renouncing

00:10:46.500 --> 00:10:47.139
 of it,

00:10:47.579 --> 00:10:48.959
 and a sincere commitment

00:10:48.959 --> 00:10:50.139
 to forsake it

00:10:50.139 --> 00:10:51.439
 and walk

00:10:51.439 --> 00:10:52.279
 in obedience

00:10:52.279 --> 00:10:53.419
 to Christ.

00:10:54.419 --> 00:10:55.939
 The idea is

00:10:55.939 --> 00:11:00.000
 when we hear

00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:00.679
 the gospel,

00:11:01.939 --> 00:11:02.479
 whether it's

00:11:02.479 --> 00:11:03.659
 through preaching,

00:11:03.860 --> 00:11:04.179
 somebody,

00:11:04.319 --> 00:11:05.039
 through a personal

00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:05.759
 conversation,

00:11:06.279 --> 00:11:07.139
 read the Bible

00:11:07.139 --> 00:11:07.659
 or whatever,

00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:10.679
 when we

00:11:10.679 --> 00:11:12.139
 understand

00:11:12.139 --> 00:11:13.240
 who Jesus is

00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:14.000
 and what He's done,

00:11:14.139 --> 00:11:15.180
 how we can be saved,

00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:17.879
 God works

00:11:17.879 --> 00:11:18.799
 in us

00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:20.060
 to give us

00:11:20.060 --> 00:11:20.680
 the desire

00:11:20.680 --> 00:11:22.220
 to repent

00:11:22.220 --> 00:11:22.779
 of our sin

00:11:22.779 --> 00:11:23.360
 like this.

00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:26.100
 If you're

00:11:26.100 --> 00:11:26.480
 a Christian

00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:27.019
 right now,

00:11:27.019 --> 00:11:29.379
 you have

00:11:29.379 --> 00:11:30.159
 a desire

00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:32.580
 to turn

00:11:32.580 --> 00:11:33.159
 from sin,

00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:34.740
 to renounce

00:11:34.740 --> 00:11:35.120
 it,

00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:36.779
 to want to live

00:11:36.779 --> 00:11:38.080
 life as a

00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:38.580
 follower,

00:11:38.899 --> 00:11:39.759
 obedient follower

00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:40.340
 of Jesus

00:11:40.340 --> 00:11:42.200
 and not a rebel

00:11:42.200 --> 00:11:42.960
 against God.

00:11:43.240 --> 00:11:44.259
 That's a work

00:11:44.259 --> 00:11:44.680
 of the Spirit

00:11:44.680 --> 00:11:45.139
 of God.

00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:46.820
 He gives us

00:11:46.820 --> 00:11:47.440
 the ability,

00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:48.259
 the desire

00:11:48.259 --> 00:11:49.659
 to repent,

00:11:50.779 --> 00:11:51.620
 turn from our sin,

00:11:52.500 --> 00:11:53.240
 hate our sin,

00:11:53.960 --> 00:11:54.759
 and then

00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:56.080
 trust Jesus

00:11:56.080 --> 00:11:57.680
 as our Lord

00:11:57.680 --> 00:11:59.259
 and our Savior.

00:12:00.060 --> 00:12:00.419
 And I want us

00:12:00.419 --> 00:12:00.740
 to understand

00:12:00.740 --> 00:12:01.860
 that saving faith

00:12:01.860 --> 00:12:03.399
 is an

00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:05.440
 obeying faith.

00:12:06.220 --> 00:12:07.460
 We love Jesus.

00:12:07.620 --> 00:12:08.440
 We trust Jesus.

00:12:08.560 --> 00:12:09.419
 We want to follow Him.

00:12:09.580 --> 00:12:10.600
 We want to be like Him.

00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:11.799
 We want to please Him.

00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:13.699
 It's like He died

00:12:13.699 --> 00:12:14.219
 for us,

00:12:14.259 --> 00:12:15.019
 so we want to live

00:12:15.019 --> 00:12:15.519
 for Him.

00:12:15.740 --> 00:12:16.699
 It's a way of expressing

00:12:16.699 --> 00:12:17.479
 our gratitude

00:12:17.479 --> 00:12:18.719
 and our love.

00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:20.559
 So God's forgiveness,

00:12:21.359 --> 00:12:22.500
 we're talking about

00:12:22.500 --> 00:12:23.319
 we forgive like God

00:12:23.319 --> 00:12:23.659
 forgives.

00:12:23.979 --> 00:12:24.799
 God's forgiveness

00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:26.519
 is conditional.

00:12:27.859 --> 00:12:28.459
 It requires

00:12:28.459 --> 00:12:29.079
 repentance

00:12:29.079 --> 00:12:30.359
 as well as

00:12:30.359 --> 00:12:31.079
 faith in Jesus.

00:12:31.879 --> 00:12:32.059
 Now,

00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:33.439
 the next aspect

00:12:33.439 --> 00:12:34.419
 of God's forgiveness

00:12:34.419 --> 00:12:37.399
 is very comforting.

00:12:37.399 --> 00:12:39.480
 And some of you,

00:12:40.740 --> 00:12:41.600
 this may be something

00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:42.439
 you just need to

00:12:42.439 --> 00:12:44.139
 take and embrace

00:12:44.139 --> 00:12:45.639
 and thank God for.

00:12:45.819 --> 00:12:46.279
 Look at it.

00:12:46.699 --> 00:12:47.480
 God's forgiveness

00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:48.819
 includes a commitment

00:12:48.819 --> 00:12:50.259
 that He will no longer

00:12:50.259 --> 00:12:51.439
 hold our sins

00:12:51.439 --> 00:12:52.379
 against us.

00:12:54.079 --> 00:12:55.819
 He expresses this

00:12:55.819 --> 00:12:56.759
 in several places

00:12:56.759 --> 00:12:57.259
 in Scripture

00:12:57.259 --> 00:12:58.139
 in terms of

00:12:58.139 --> 00:12:59.399
 not remembering

00:13:00.059 --> 00:13:01.139
 our sins.

00:13:02.139 --> 00:13:03.079
 Look at it.

00:13:03.080 --> 00:13:04.780
 When God forgives,

00:13:05.379 --> 00:13:06.220
 He promises

00:13:06.220 --> 00:13:07.040
 to remember

00:13:07.040 --> 00:13:07.879
 our sins

00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:08.540
 no more.

00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:10.300
 The book of Hebrews

00:13:10.300 --> 00:13:11.580
 records this twice.

00:13:11.980 --> 00:13:12.580
 Look at it.

00:13:13.580 --> 00:13:14.720
 For I will forgive

00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:15.680
 their wickedness

00:13:15.680 --> 00:13:17.060
 and will remember

00:13:17.060 --> 00:13:17.800
 their sins

00:13:17.800 --> 00:13:18.360
 no more.

00:13:19.100 --> 00:13:20.280
 And then the second quote

00:13:20.280 --> 00:13:21.220
 is a

00:13:21.220 --> 00:13:23.120
 word-for-word quote

00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:24.480
 from Jeremiah 31,

00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:25.400
 verse 34.

00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:27.000
 Their sins

00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:28.940
 and lawless acts

00:13:28.940 --> 00:13:30.080
 I will remember

00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:32.379
 no more.

00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:33.960
 Now,

00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:36.899
 let's think about

00:13:36.899 --> 00:13:37.720
 what that means.

00:13:38.500 --> 00:13:39.740
 If I tell you

00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:40.519
 that I don't remember

00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:40.899
 something,

00:13:41.460 --> 00:13:42.840
 I don't remember it.

00:13:44.100 --> 00:13:45.019
 And it's embarrassing

00:13:45.019 --> 00:13:45.700
 sometimes

00:13:45.700 --> 00:13:47.200
 you may have

00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:48.240
 told me something

00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:50.059
 maybe a few months ago.

00:13:50.519 --> 00:13:51.080
 Let's be honest,

00:13:51.159 --> 00:13:52.200
 maybe a few weeks ago.

00:13:53.559 --> 00:13:55.500
 And it comes back up

00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:56.460
 and there's just

00:13:56.460 --> 00:13:57.299
 some things

00:13:57.299 --> 00:13:59.240
 I just don't remember.

00:14:00.179 --> 00:14:01.120
 It's embarrassing.

00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:01.679
 I hate it.

00:14:02.379 --> 00:14:03.500
 But I don't.

00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:05.759
 That never happens

00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:06.220
 to God.

00:14:08.019 --> 00:14:09.399
 God always remembers.

00:14:09.659 --> 00:14:10.799
 He can't not

00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:13.279
 know something

00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:13.919
 past,

00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:14.639
 present,

00:14:14.759 --> 00:14:15.480
 or future.

00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:17.500
 So when the scripture

00:14:17.500 --> 00:14:19.159
 says that God says

00:14:19.159 --> 00:14:20.220
 I will remember

00:14:20.220 --> 00:14:20.899
 no more,

00:14:21.899 --> 00:14:22.539
 that means

00:14:22.539 --> 00:14:23.439
 he chooses

00:14:23.439 --> 00:14:25.460
 to forget,

00:14:26.460 --> 00:14:28.179
 to lay it aside,

00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:29.879
 leave it alone,

00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:32.039
 and not bring it

00:14:32.039 --> 00:14:32.779
 back up

00:14:32.779 --> 00:14:34.120
 in our lives.

00:14:34.679 --> 00:14:35.580
 That's how God

00:14:35.580 --> 00:14:36.399
 forgives you.

00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:39.080
 If you are a Christian,

00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:41.939
 God has forgiven you

00:14:41.939 --> 00:14:42.720
 of your sin.

00:14:44.580 --> 00:14:45.700
 You may have done

00:14:45.700 --> 00:14:47.039
 something that is so

00:14:47.039 --> 00:14:48.460
 terrible,

00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:50.000
 awful,

00:14:50.200 --> 00:14:51.460
 hurtful to someone,

00:14:51.460 --> 00:14:53.840
 so embarrassing,

00:14:54.060 --> 00:14:54.879
 humiliating,

00:14:55.259 --> 00:14:55.700
 shaming,

00:14:55.700 --> 00:14:57.920
 that you just

00:14:57.920 --> 00:14:59.220
 have a hard time

00:14:59.220 --> 00:15:00.320
 letting it go.

00:15:00.400 --> 00:15:00.780
 Well, I want you

00:15:00.780 --> 00:15:01.180
 to understand

00:15:01.180 --> 00:15:02.200
 God doesn't.

00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:04.960
 He forgives.

00:15:05.379 --> 00:15:05.980
 He leaves it

00:15:05.980 --> 00:15:06.639
 in the past.

00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:08.620
 You need to do that.

00:15:10.519 --> 00:15:11.540
 If you have truly

00:15:11.540 --> 00:15:12.080
 come to him

00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:12.720
 in repentance,

00:15:13.660 --> 00:15:14.580
 turned from that sin,

00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:15.440
 leave it

00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:16.460
 in the past.

00:15:17.460 --> 00:15:18.019
 Don't

00:15:18.019 --> 00:15:19.180
 recall it,

00:15:19.340 --> 00:15:20.220
 relive it,

00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:21.580
 and don't

00:15:21.580 --> 00:15:22.620
 carry on

00:15:22.620 --> 00:15:24.040
 more guilt

00:15:24.040 --> 00:15:25.460
 because of it.

00:15:25.780 --> 00:15:26.680
 God forgives.

00:15:27.040 --> 00:15:28.180
 He cleanses you.

00:15:28.900 --> 00:15:29.519
 He sets you

00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:30.580
 free from

00:15:30.580 --> 00:15:31.220
 the guilt

00:15:31.220 --> 00:15:31.840
 and the penalty

00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:32.500
 for that sin.

00:15:32.920 --> 00:15:33.639
 Let yourself

00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:34.480
 be that way

00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:35.379
 and listen to this.

00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:35.879
 We'll look at it

00:15:35.879 --> 00:15:36.240
 in more detail

00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:36.680
 in a moment.

00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:38.460
 You've got to do

00:15:38.460 --> 00:15:39.420
 the same for other people.

00:15:40.800 --> 00:15:41.540
 But this is not

00:15:41.540 --> 00:15:42.120
 the best part

00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:42.500
 of forgiveness.

00:15:42.620 --> 00:15:43.500
 Look at what's next.

00:15:44.060 --> 00:15:44.759
 God's forgiveness

00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:45.720
 results in his

00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:47.000
 reconciling us

00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:47.560
 to himself.

00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:49.639
 When God forgives us,

00:15:49.980 --> 00:15:51.160
 he restores us

00:15:51.160 --> 00:15:52.300
 to a right relationship

00:15:52.300 --> 00:15:53.100
 with himself.

00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:54.279
 He makes us

00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:55.259
 his children.

00:15:56.460 --> 00:15:56.800
 That's what

00:15:56.800 --> 00:15:57.800
 reconciliation's

00:15:57.800 --> 00:15:58.360
 all about,

00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:01.080
 restoring a right

00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:01.759
 relationship.

00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:03.700
 The Apostle John

00:16:03.700 --> 00:16:04.560
 comforts us

00:16:04.560 --> 00:16:05.300
 by stressing

00:16:05.300 --> 00:16:07.420
 our relationship

00:16:07.420 --> 00:16:08.000
 to God

00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:08.759
 is a relationship

00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:09.420
 between

00:16:09.420 --> 00:16:11.399
 the father

00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:13.500
 and children.

00:16:13.920 --> 00:16:14.500
 Look at it.

00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:16.540
 See what kind

00:16:16.540 --> 00:16:16.860
 of love

00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:17.259
 the father

00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:17.759
 has given

00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:18.580
 to us

00:16:18.580 --> 00:16:19.660
 that we should

00:16:19.660 --> 00:16:20.480
 be called

00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:22.200
 children of God

00:16:22.200 --> 00:16:24.620
 and so we are.

00:16:26.180 --> 00:16:26.940
 When God

00:16:26.940 --> 00:16:27.860
 saves us,

00:16:28.680 --> 00:16:29.680
 forgives us,

00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:31.360
 he draws us

00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:32.080
 to himself.

00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:34.540
 He makes us

00:16:34.540 --> 00:16:36.379
 his children.

00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:37.440
 Now,

00:16:37.680 --> 00:16:39.060
 as Christians,

00:16:39.500 --> 00:16:40.220
 children of God,

00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:41.360
 we still sin,

00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:41.860
 don't we?

00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:43.379
 We still

00:16:43.379 --> 00:16:43.879
 disobey.

00:16:44.740 --> 00:16:45.419
 We still

00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:47.019
 don't do

00:16:47.019 --> 00:16:47.659
 everything we

00:16:47.659 --> 00:16:48.500
 know to do

00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:49.740
 to please God.

00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:51.060
 When that happens,

00:16:51.899 --> 00:16:53.139
 it breaks

00:16:53.139 --> 00:16:54.080
 our fellowship

00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:54.980
 with God,

00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:56.720
 but it does

00:16:56.720 --> 00:16:57.519
 not destroy

00:16:57.519 --> 00:16:58.399
 our relationship.

00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:00.419
 God has promised

00:17:00.419 --> 00:17:01.200
 in his word,

00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:02.600
 I will never

00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:03.259
 leave you

00:17:03.259 --> 00:17:04.220
 nor forsake you.

00:17:04.220 --> 00:17:06.220
 God makes

00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:07.900
 us his,

00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:08.539
 we are

00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:09.319
 eternally

00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:10.279
 his.

00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:11.539
 We can

00:17:11.539 --> 00:17:12.039
 count on

00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:12.380
 that,

00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:14.079
 but

00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:15.880
 when we

00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:16.299
 sin,

00:17:16.860 --> 00:17:17.680
 it does

00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:18.200
 interrupt

00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:19.079
 the closeness

00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:19.860
 of our

00:17:19.860 --> 00:17:20.259
 fellowship.

00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:21.200
 Sometimes

00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:21.740
 it just

00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:22.240
 shatters

00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:23.319
 our fellowship

00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:23.980
 when we sin

00:17:23.980 --> 00:17:24.299
 and rebel

00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:24.960
 against him.

00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:27.220
 Here's what

00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:27.480
 we need to

00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:27.880
 understand.

00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:29.480
 Even if you

00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:30.120
 have rebelled

00:17:30.120 --> 00:17:30.819
 against God,

00:17:31.380 --> 00:17:31.819
 maybe you're

00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:32.380
 in that condition

00:17:32.380 --> 00:17:32.860
 right now,

00:17:33.560 --> 00:17:34.540
 you can be

00:17:34.540 --> 00:17:35.100
 forgiven

00:17:35.100 --> 00:17:36.060
 and have

00:17:36.060 --> 00:17:36.800
 that fellowship

00:17:36.800 --> 00:17:37.560
 restored.

00:17:38.280 --> 00:17:38.640
 One of the

00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:39.240
 most helpful

00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:39.940
 verses of

00:17:39.940 --> 00:17:40.800
 scripture in

00:17:40.800 --> 00:17:41.100
 the whole

00:17:41.100 --> 00:17:42.300
 Bible is

00:17:42.300 --> 00:17:42.860
 1 John

00:17:42.860 --> 00:17:43.640
 chapter 1

00:17:43.640 --> 00:17:44.280
 verse 9.

00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:45.280
 We all

00:17:45.280 --> 00:17:45.760
 need to

00:17:45.760 --> 00:17:46.540
 know that

00:17:46.540 --> 00:17:47.020
 verse,

00:17:47.800 --> 00:17:48.660
 be thankful

00:17:48.660 --> 00:17:49.040
 for that

00:17:49.040 --> 00:17:49.420
 verse.

00:17:50.280 --> 00:17:50.800
 Look at it.

00:17:51.100 --> 00:17:51.760
 If we confess

00:17:51.760 --> 00:17:52.480
 our sins,

00:17:52.600 --> 00:17:53.300
 he is faithful

00:17:53.300 --> 00:17:53.880
 and just to

00:17:53.880 --> 00:17:54.440
 forgive us

00:17:54.440 --> 00:17:55.120
 our sins

00:17:55.120 --> 00:17:56.200
 and to

00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:57.520
 cleanse us

00:17:57.520 --> 00:17:58.900
 from all

00:17:58.900 --> 00:17:59.940
 unrighteousness.

00:17:59.940 --> 00:18:02.279
 as his

00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:02.759
 children,

00:18:03.120 --> 00:18:03.420
 we come

00:18:03.420 --> 00:18:03.720
 to him

00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:04.400
 in confession.

00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:04.740
 It means

00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:05.259
 we agree

00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:05.740
 with him

00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:06.140
 about our

00:18:06.140 --> 00:18:06.400
 sin.

00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:07.740
 He carries

00:18:07.740 --> 00:18:08.039
 with it

00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:08.660
 the idea

00:18:08.660 --> 00:18:09.559
 of repentance

00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:10.120
 as well.

00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:10.660
 We turn

00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:11.200
 from it

00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:12.940
 and when

00:18:12.940 --> 00:18:13.600
 that happens,

00:18:13.660 --> 00:18:14.019
 when we do

00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:14.320
 that,

00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:15.400
 God forgives,

00:18:15.539 --> 00:18:16.519
 God cleanses

00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:17.019
 us.

00:18:18.620 --> 00:18:19.279
 He gives

00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:19.820
 us a fresh

00:18:19.820 --> 00:18:20.299
 start.

00:18:22.420 --> 00:18:22.600
 Now,

00:18:24.100 --> 00:18:24.660
 genuine

00:18:24.660 --> 00:18:25.460
 confession

00:18:25.460 --> 00:18:28.420
 will include

00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:29.380
 turning from

00:18:29.380 --> 00:18:29.920
 our sin.

00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:31.340
 So what I

00:18:31.340 --> 00:18:31.640
 want us to

00:18:31.640 --> 00:18:32.040
 see here

00:18:32.040 --> 00:18:32.500
 is that

00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:33.820
 in all

00:18:33.820 --> 00:18:34.460
 cases where

00:18:34.460 --> 00:18:34.900
 we sin

00:18:34.900 --> 00:18:35.620
 against God,

00:18:36.620 --> 00:18:37.600
 our forgiveness

00:18:37.600 --> 00:18:38.820
 is always

00:18:38.820 --> 00:18:39.680
 conditional.

00:18:42.120 --> 00:18:42.880
 We've got to

00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:43.540
 confess it,

00:18:44.380 --> 00:18:44.840
 agree with

00:18:44.840 --> 00:18:45.500
 God about it.

00:18:46.080 --> 00:18:46.820
 We've got to

00:18:46.820 --> 00:18:47.140
 repent,

00:18:47.460 --> 00:18:47.900
 change your

00:18:47.900 --> 00:18:48.300
 mind,

00:18:48.660 --> 00:18:49.220
 grieve over

00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:49.340
 it,

00:18:49.380 --> 00:18:49.700
 hate it,

00:18:49.980 --> 00:18:50.620
 turn from

00:18:50.620 --> 00:18:50.860
 it.

00:18:50.860 --> 00:18:53.200
 If you are

00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:53.820
 separated from

00:18:53.820 --> 00:18:54.480
 God right now

00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:55.220
 by your sin,

00:18:56.360 --> 00:18:57.000
 I want you to

00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:57.560
 know that

00:18:57.559 --> 00:19:00.000
 God desires

00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:00.559
 to forgive

00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:00.899
 you.

00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:03.460
 No matter

00:19:03.460 --> 00:19:04.159
 what has

00:19:04.159 --> 00:19:04.539
 happened,

00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:05.720
 if you're

00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:06.059
 not a

00:19:06.059 --> 00:19:06.419
 Christian,

00:19:08.099 --> 00:19:10.240
 turn from

00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:10.679
 your sin,

00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:11.539
 change your

00:19:11.539 --> 00:19:12.079
 mind about

00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:12.319
 it.

00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:13.299
 And if God's

00:19:13.299 --> 00:19:13.859
 working in your

00:19:13.859 --> 00:19:14.059
 heart,

00:19:14.139 --> 00:19:14.519
 He'll give you

00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:15.099
 the desire

00:19:15.099 --> 00:19:16.000
 to do this.

00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:16.819
 He'll cause

00:19:16.819 --> 00:19:17.379
 you to hate

00:19:17.379 --> 00:19:17.599
 it,

00:19:18.359 --> 00:19:19.000
 to not want

00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:19.279
 to live

00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:19.839
 that way.

00:19:21.879 --> 00:19:22.480
 Put your

00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:22.940
 faith in

00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:23.240
 Jesus,

00:19:23.940 --> 00:19:24.139
 that He

00:19:24.139 --> 00:19:24.700
 paid the

00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:25.099
 penalty for

00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:25.500
 your sin

00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:25.779
 when He died

00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:26.000
 on the

00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:26.319
 cross.

00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:27.440
 Call upon

00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:27.779
 Him to

00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:28.220
 save you

00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:28.519
 now.

00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:29.940
 If you

00:19:29.940 --> 00:19:30.299
 are a

00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:30.539
 Christian,

00:19:30.639 --> 00:19:30.859
 but you're

00:19:30.859 --> 00:19:31.139
 out of

00:19:31.139 --> 00:19:31.379
 fellowship

00:19:31.379 --> 00:19:31.920
 with God

00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:32.980
 this moment,

00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:34.660
 you don't

00:19:34.660 --> 00:19:35.220
 have to go

00:19:35.220 --> 00:19:36.099
 another moment

00:19:36.099 --> 00:19:37.339
 living that

00:19:37.339 --> 00:19:37.740
 way.

00:19:39.579 --> 00:19:40.039
 Confess

00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:40.639
 your sin.

00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:43.099
 Turn from

00:19:43.099 --> 00:19:43.359
 it.

00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:45.079
 God will

00:19:45.079 --> 00:19:45.799
 forgive you

00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:46.319
 now.

00:19:47.779 --> 00:19:48.339
 He'll

00:19:48.339 --> 00:19:49.379
 cleanse you

00:19:49.379 --> 00:19:49.899
 now.

00:19:51.099 --> 00:19:51.819
 He'll draw

00:19:51.819 --> 00:19:52.339
 you close

00:19:52.339 --> 00:19:52.759
 to Himself

00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:53.259
 now.

00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:55.200
 He will

00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:56.039
 give you

00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:56.640
 a fresh

00:19:56.640 --> 00:19:57.359
 start as

00:19:57.359 --> 00:19:57.839
 you leave

00:19:57.839 --> 00:19:58.440
 here today

00:19:58.440 --> 00:20:00.140
 as His

00:20:00.140 --> 00:20:00.980
 child living

00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:01.460
 in close

00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:01.900
 fellowship

00:20:01.900 --> 00:20:02.879
 with Him.

00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:04.559
 Now,

00:20:05.400 --> 00:20:05.940
 in light of

00:20:05.940 --> 00:20:06.599
 what we know

00:20:06.599 --> 00:20:07.200
 about God's

00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:07.559
 forgiveness,

00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:09.660
 let's look at

00:20:09.660 --> 00:20:10.700
 how we are

00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:11.339
 supposed to

00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:12.440
 forgive others.

00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:13.480
 How are we

00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:13.859
 to forgive?

00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:14.480
 Number one,

00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:15.200
 we are to

00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:16.680
 forgive graciously

00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:17.879
 just as God

00:20:17.879 --> 00:20:18.379
 forgives.

00:20:18.379 --> 00:20:20.599
 Since God

00:20:20.599 --> 00:20:21.379
 doesn't require

00:20:21.380 --> 00:20:22.160
 that we be

00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:22.760
 deserving

00:20:22.760 --> 00:20:24.420
 in order for

00:20:24.420 --> 00:20:24.660
 Him to

00:20:24.660 --> 00:20:25.360
 forgive us,

00:20:25.900 --> 00:20:26.700
 we cannot

00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:28.220
 require that

00:20:28.220 --> 00:20:29.200
 another person

00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:31.080
 be deserving

00:20:31.080 --> 00:20:32.860
 of our

00:20:32.860 --> 00:20:33.280
 forgiveness.

00:20:34.100 --> 00:20:35.100
 That means we

00:20:35.100 --> 00:20:35.760
 can't write

00:20:35.760 --> 00:20:36.660
 anyone off

00:20:36.660 --> 00:20:36.940
 with the

00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:37.340
 attitude,

00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:39.680
 they have

00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:40.380
 hurt me so

00:20:40.380 --> 00:20:40.880
 bad,

00:20:41.380 --> 00:20:41.860
 the wounds

00:20:41.860 --> 00:20:42.760
 are so deep,

00:20:43.760 --> 00:20:45.260
 I just

00:20:45.260 --> 00:20:46.060
 could never

00:20:46.060 --> 00:20:47.020
 ever bring

00:20:47.020 --> 00:20:47.580
 myself to

00:20:47.580 --> 00:20:48.200
 forgive them.

00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:51.059
 if that's,

00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.440
 if you're a

00:20:52.440 --> 00:20:52.799
 Christian,

00:20:53.580 --> 00:20:54.680
 you cannot

00:20:54.680 --> 00:20:56.539
 think that

00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:57.039
 way and be

00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:57.480
 right with

00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:57.779
 God.

00:20:58.680 --> 00:20:59.960
 You can be

00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:01.080
 wounded deeply,

00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:02.660
 hurt terribly,

00:21:02.840 --> 00:21:03.680
 and find it

00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:04.279
 very, very

00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:04.920
 difficult to

00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:05.380
 even think

00:21:05.380 --> 00:21:06.120
 about forgiving.

00:21:07.559 --> 00:21:08.059
 If you're a

00:21:08.059 --> 00:21:08.440
 Christian and

00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:08.880
 dwell by the

00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:09.220
 Spirit of

00:21:09.220 --> 00:21:09.600
 God,

00:21:09.600 --> 00:21:12.600
 you can

00:21:12.600 --> 00:21:13.799
 show

00:21:13.799 --> 00:21:14.819
 grace.

00:21:14.819 --> 00:21:17.319
 that person,

00:21:17.659 --> 00:21:18.439
 you never

00:21:18.439 --> 00:21:19.200
 say they're

00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:19.700
 worthy.

00:21:20.419 --> 00:21:20.819
 You don't

00:21:20.819 --> 00:21:21.419
 pretend they're

00:21:21.419 --> 00:21:22.480
 not what

00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:23.119
 they are,

00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:24.480
 haven't done

00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:24.899
 what they

00:21:24.899 --> 00:21:25.339
 did,

00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:26.819
 but if they

00:21:26.819 --> 00:21:28.079
 come seeking

00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:29.359
 genuinely your

00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:29.879
 forgiveness,

00:21:31.859 --> 00:21:32.399
 show them

00:21:32.399 --> 00:21:32.939
 grace.

00:21:34.339 --> 00:21:35.240
 Show them

00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:37.419
 grace like

00:21:37.419 --> 00:21:38.619
 God showed

00:21:38.619 --> 00:21:39.319
 you.

00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:40.939
 But like

00:21:40.939 --> 00:21:41.299
 God's

00:21:41.299 --> 00:21:41.679
 forgiveness,

00:21:42.679 --> 00:21:44.259
 our forgiveness

00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:45.779
 is not

00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:47.460
 unconditional.

00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.299
 We're to

00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:49.940
 forgive those

00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:50.960
 who express

00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:51.839
 repentance.

00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:53.539
 This is

00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:54.000
 probably the

00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:54.920
 most misunderstood

00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:56.539
 part of

00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:57.019
 forgiveness,

00:21:57.579 --> 00:21:59.160
 but it

00:21:59.160 --> 00:21:59.819
 shouldn't be.

00:22:00.859 --> 00:22:01.460
 If we're to

00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:01.740
 forgive,

00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:02.259
 think about it,

00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:02.660
 if we're to

00:22:02.660 --> 00:22:03.019
 forgive as

00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:03.660
 God forgives

00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:04.059
 us,

00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:05.680
 our forgiveness

00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:06.420
 is not

00:22:06.420 --> 00:22:07.079
 automatic.

00:22:08.140 --> 00:22:08.819
 God's forgiveness

00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:09.180
 is not

00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:09.579
 automatic.

00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:11.879
 God's forgiveness

00:22:11.879 --> 00:22:12.680
 is dependent on

00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:13.160
 a person

00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:14.900
 repenting.

00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:16.460
 So our

00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:17.200
 forgiveness is

00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:19.120
 dependent on

00:22:19.120 --> 00:22:19.860
 the person who

00:22:19.860 --> 00:22:20.420
 has wronged

00:22:20.420 --> 00:22:22.100
 us expressing

00:22:22.100 --> 00:22:23.420
 repentance.

00:22:24.320 --> 00:22:25.200
 Jesus taught

00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:26.000
 the necessity

00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:26.880
 of repentance

00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:28.900
 in personal

00:22:28.900 --> 00:22:30.400
 relationships in

00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:31.060
 order forgiveness

00:22:31.060 --> 00:22:31.740
 to be granted.

00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:32.279
 I want you to

00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:32.740
 look at Luke

00:22:32.740 --> 00:22:33.720
 chapter 17.

00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:35.820
 Luke 17.

00:22:37.380 --> 00:22:38.240
 Jesus says,

00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:39.759
 pay attention

00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:40.839
 to yourselves.

00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:42.259
 If your

00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:43.359
 brother sins,

00:22:43.940 --> 00:22:44.700
 rebuke him.

00:22:45.120 --> 00:22:45.559
 And if he

00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:46.200
 repents,

00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:47.519
 forgive him.

00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:48.819
 If he sins

00:22:48.819 --> 00:22:49.599
 against you

00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:50.480
 seven times

00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:51.059
 in the day

00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:51.920
 and turns to

00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:52.700
 you seven times

00:22:52.700 --> 00:22:53.039
 saying,

00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:54.420
 I repent,

00:22:55.880 --> 00:22:56.339
 you must

00:22:56.339 --> 00:22:56.859
 forgive him.

00:22:58.799 --> 00:23:00.220
 Jesus emphasizes

00:23:00.220 --> 00:23:02.039
 that they

00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:02.839
 repent

00:23:02.839 --> 00:23:05.120
 before you

00:23:05.120 --> 00:23:05.440
 forgive.

00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:05.640
 forgive.

00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:07.200
 There's a

00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:08.000
 similar passage

00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:08.680
 in Matthew

00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:09.920
 chapter 18.

00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:11.640
 And in

00:23:11.640 --> 00:23:12.440
 Matthew 18,

00:23:12.580 --> 00:23:13.240
 Jesus describes

00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:13.580
 what a lot of

00:23:13.580 --> 00:23:14.220
 people refer to

00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:15.380
 as the way

00:23:15.380 --> 00:23:15.840
 of church

00:23:15.840 --> 00:23:16.440
 discipline.

00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:17.660
 But Jesus

00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:18.240
 just basically

00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:18.519
 said,

00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:18.960
 if someone

00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:19.680
 sins against

00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:20.019
 you,

00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:21.539
 go to him,

00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:22.140
 point out

00:23:22.140 --> 00:23:22.680
 the error

00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:23.080
 of his

00:23:23.080 --> 00:23:23.519
 way.

00:23:24.660 --> 00:23:24.960
 And if

00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.640
 he'll listen,

00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:27.559
 if he'll

00:23:27.559 --> 00:23:28.900
 repent,

00:23:29.660 --> 00:23:30.799
 if he'll seek

00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:31.220
 to make

00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:31.759
 amends,

00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:32.740
 you've won

00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:33.120
 your brother

00:23:33.119 --> 00:23:33.419
 over,

00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.019
 Jesus says.

00:23:34.159 --> 00:23:34.519
 If he

00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:35.039
 doesn't,

00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:35.979
 take two

00:23:35.979 --> 00:23:36.279
 or three

00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:36.859
 with you.

00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:37.959
 Try to get

00:23:37.959 --> 00:23:38.339
 it worked

00:23:38.339 --> 00:23:39.359
 out between

00:23:39.359 --> 00:23:39.879
 the two

00:23:39.879 --> 00:23:40.239
 or three

00:23:40.239 --> 00:23:40.619
 of you

00:23:40.619 --> 00:23:41.000
 and the

00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:41.459
 offender.

00:23:42.459 --> 00:23:42.719
 But if

00:23:42.719 --> 00:23:43.119
 he says

00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:43.459
 no,

00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:44.500
 then you

00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:44.879
 take the

00:23:44.879 --> 00:23:45.259
 matter to

00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:45.839
 the church

00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:46.339
 and if

00:23:46.339 --> 00:23:46.799
 he's still

00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:47.559
 hard-hearted

00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:48.079
 and refuses

00:23:48.079 --> 00:23:48.719
 to deal

00:23:48.719 --> 00:23:49.719
 properly with

00:23:49.719 --> 00:23:50.219
 what the

00:23:50.219 --> 00:23:51.039
 offense he's

00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:51.939
 sinned against

00:23:51.939 --> 00:23:52.519
 you about,

00:23:54.099 --> 00:23:54.979
 Jesus said

00:23:54.979 --> 00:23:56.479
 he put him

00:23:56.479 --> 00:23:56.779
 out.

00:23:58.079 --> 00:23:58.779
 You look at

00:23:58.779 --> 00:23:59.319
 him as a

00:23:59.319 --> 00:24:00.500
 Gentile and a

00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.319
 tax collector,

00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:02.079
 literally is what

00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:02.500
 he said,

00:24:02.779 --> 00:24:03.399
 which means

00:24:03.399 --> 00:24:03.899
 you just

00:24:03.899 --> 00:24:04.500
 write him

00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:07.639
 off because

00:24:07.639 --> 00:24:08.039
 he's not

00:24:08.039 --> 00:24:09.220
 repented.

00:24:09.799 --> 00:24:10.199
 He's not

00:24:10.199 --> 00:24:11.039
 sought forgiveness.

00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:11.619
 He's not

00:24:11.619 --> 00:24:13.059
 sought reconciliation.

00:24:13.859 --> 00:24:14.079
 Now,

00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:15.299
 if you're

00:24:15.299 --> 00:24:15.460
 going to go

00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:15.799
 to sleep,

00:24:15.899 --> 00:24:16.179
 don't go

00:24:16.179 --> 00:24:16.460
 to sleep

00:24:16.460 --> 00:24:16.740
 now.

00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:19.799
 Don't just

00:24:19.799 --> 00:24:20.480
 hear that

00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:21.159
 and say,

00:24:21.419 --> 00:24:21.859
 yes,

00:24:23.059 --> 00:24:23.500
 there's some

00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:24.079
 people that

00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:24.819
 will not,

00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:25.879
 they've wronged

00:24:25.879 --> 00:24:26.339
 me and they

00:24:26.339 --> 00:24:26.899
 don't care.

00:24:27.159 --> 00:24:27.819
 I hate their

00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:28.619
 guts and he's

00:24:28.619 --> 00:24:29.759
 just affirmed I

00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:30.439
 can hate their

00:24:30.439 --> 00:24:30.819
 guts.

00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:31.419
 No.

00:24:32.079 --> 00:24:34.220
 If you

00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:34.460
 say,

00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:35.019
 I said that,

00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:35.339
 I'm going

00:24:35.339 --> 00:24:35.779
 to look at

00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:36.059
 you and say,

00:24:36.119 --> 00:24:36.519
 you are a

00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:36.839
 liar.

00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:39.199
 Hear me

00:24:39.199 --> 00:24:39.980
 clear because

00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:40.519
 somebody's going

00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:42.099
 to take this

00:24:42.099 --> 00:24:43.220
 and say,

00:24:43.579 --> 00:24:44.240
 I don't have

00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:44.879
 to worry about

00:24:44.879 --> 00:24:45.399
 it anymore.

00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:47.000
 You do.

00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:48.720
 You can't

00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:49.339
 just write

00:24:49.339 --> 00:24:50.199
 someone off

00:24:50.199 --> 00:24:50.799
 even if they

00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:52.000
 don't repent.

00:24:54.339 --> 00:24:55.059
 There is

00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:56.079
 no license

00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:58.079
 for Christians

00:24:58.079 --> 00:24:58.839
 mistreating

00:24:58.839 --> 00:25:00.179
 other people.

00:25:01.459 --> 00:25:01.699
 I want you

00:25:01.699 --> 00:25:01.899
 to look at

00:25:01.899 --> 00:25:02.379
 how Paul

00:25:02.379 --> 00:25:03.859
 describes how

00:25:03.859 --> 00:25:04.319
 we must

00:25:04.319 --> 00:25:05.959
 respond to

00:25:05.959 --> 00:25:06.659
 people who

00:25:06.659 --> 00:25:07.519
 have wronged

00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:08.859
 us and the

00:25:08.859 --> 00:25:09.679
 implication is

00:25:09.679 --> 00:25:10.139
 and they

00:25:10.139 --> 00:25:10.720
 don't care.

00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:12.279
 They wronged

00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:12.879
 us and meant

00:25:12.879 --> 00:25:13.379
 to and they're

00:25:13.379 --> 00:25:14.079
 not sorry.

00:25:14.899 --> 00:25:15.319
 Look at what

00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:15.819
 Paul says.

00:25:15.899 --> 00:25:16.419
 It's in Romans

00:25:16.419 --> 00:25:17.220
 chapter 12,

00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:18.059
 one of the

00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:18.799
 great passages

00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:19.319
 in all the

00:25:19.319 --> 00:25:19.500
 scripture,

00:25:19.659 --> 00:25:20.220
 Romans 12,

00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:20.579
 the whole

00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:22.059
 chapter about

00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:23.500
 living a

00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:24.099
 Christian life,

00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:24.720
 living a life

00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:25.559
 to please God.

00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:26.000
 Here's what

00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:26.379
 he says.

00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:28.139
 Repay no one

00:25:28.139 --> 00:25:29.059
 evil for evil

00:25:29.059 --> 00:25:30.919
 but give thought

00:25:30.919 --> 00:25:31.879
 to do what is

00:25:31.879 --> 00:25:33.319
 honorable in the

00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:33.980
 sight of all.

00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:36.079
 If possible,

00:25:36.679 --> 00:25:37.539
 so far as it

00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.419
 depends on you,

00:25:38.859 --> 00:25:39.779
 live peaceably

00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:40.440
 with all.

00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:41.339
 Beloved,

00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:42.819
 never avenge

00:25:42.819 --> 00:25:44.079
 yourselves but

00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:44.500
 leave it to the

00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:45.179
 wrath of God.

00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:45.940
 For it is written,

00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:47.220
 vengeance is mine,

00:25:47.299 --> 00:25:48.159
 I will repay,

00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:48.899
 says the Lord.

00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:50.240
 To the contrary,

00:25:50.659 --> 00:25:51.460
 if your enemy is

00:25:51.460 --> 00:25:53.099
 hungry, feed him.

00:25:53.879 --> 00:25:55.299
 If he is thirsty,

00:25:55.299 --> 00:25:55.940
 give him something

00:25:55.940 --> 00:25:56.519
 to drink.

00:25:56.919 --> 00:25:57.700
 For by doing so,

00:25:57.779 --> 00:25:58.159
 you will heap

00:25:58.159 --> 00:25:59.200
 burning coals on

00:25:59.200 --> 00:25:59.680
 his head.

00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:00.759
 Do not be

00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:01.799
 overcome by evil

00:26:01.799 --> 00:26:03.220
 but overcome

00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:05.299
 evil with good.

00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:07.759
 That's even

00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:08.779
 towards your enemy,

00:26:09.659 --> 00:26:11.279
 the one who

00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:12.359
 doesn't care if

00:26:12.359 --> 00:26:13.119
 they've hurt you.

00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:15.839
 If someone

00:26:15.839 --> 00:26:16.919
 wrongs us

00:26:16.919 --> 00:26:18.379
 and refuses

00:26:18.379 --> 00:26:19.279
 to repent,

00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:21.639
 we are not

00:26:21.639 --> 00:26:22.579
 obligated to

00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:23.359
 forgive them

00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:25.000
 and act as if

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:26.279
 everything is

00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:26.819
 okay,

00:26:26.819 --> 00:26:28.859
 act as if

00:26:28.859 --> 00:26:29.220
 it doesn't

00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:29.559
 matter.

00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:31.380
 We're not.

00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:33.400
 But at the

00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:34.319
 same time,

00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:35.900
 we're not

00:26:35.900 --> 00:26:36.339
 allowed to

00:26:36.339 --> 00:26:37.119
 mistreat them.

00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:40.160
 Even if they're

00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:40.680
 unrepentant,

00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:41.259
 we've got to be

00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:42.160
 ready and willing

00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:43.180
 to forgive them

00:26:43.180 --> 00:26:45.500
 if at some

00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.480
 point they do

00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:47.319
 repent.

00:26:48.420 --> 00:26:49.400
 But until

00:26:49.400 --> 00:26:49.859
 them,

00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:51.819
 you don't have

00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:52.200
 to pretend

00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:53.000
 everything's okay

00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:54.880
 because it's

00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:55.200
 not.

00:26:56.420 --> 00:26:56.980
 But what we

00:26:56.980 --> 00:26:57.400
 do have to

00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:58.859
 do is just

00:26:58.859 --> 00:26:59.839
 trust God

00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:01.480
 to deal with

00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:01.599
 them.

00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:03.299
 This seems to

00:27:03.299 --> 00:27:04.359
 be Paul's

00:27:04.359 --> 00:27:05.019
 response to

00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:05.779
 someone who

00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:06.839
 wronged him

00:27:06.839 --> 00:27:07.960
 and did not

00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:08.299
 repent.

00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:08.940
 I want you to

00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:09.380
 look at this.

00:27:09.579 --> 00:27:10.359
 The Apostle Paul

00:27:10.359 --> 00:27:11.039
 writing to

00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:11.420
 Timothy.

00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:14.660
 He's about to

00:27:14.660 --> 00:27:15.700
 be executed,

00:27:15.900 --> 00:27:16.420
 Paul is.

00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:18.700
 The last letter,

00:27:19.779 --> 00:27:20.420
 he knows it's

00:27:20.420 --> 00:27:20.759
 coming.

00:27:21.380 --> 00:27:21.900
 And in this

00:27:21.900 --> 00:27:22.279
 letter, he

00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:22.700
 says,

00:27:23.360 --> 00:27:24.160
 Alexander the

00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:25.660
 coppersmith did

00:27:25.660 --> 00:27:27.539
 me great harm.

00:27:28.440 --> 00:27:29.340
 The Lord will

00:27:29.340 --> 00:27:30.380
 repay him

00:27:30.380 --> 00:27:31.539
 according to

00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:32.580
 his deeds.

00:27:32.580 --> 00:27:33.720
 Does that sound

00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:34.539
 like somebody who

00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:35.660
 wronged Paul and

00:27:35.660 --> 00:27:36.440
 was repentant?

00:27:38.120 --> 00:27:39.200
 Obviously not.

00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:40.700
 He did me great

00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:41.100
 harm.

00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:43.000
 The Lord will

00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:44.279
 repay him according

00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:45.300
 to his deeds.

00:27:45.880 --> 00:27:46.640
 And then he tells

00:27:46.640 --> 00:27:47.060
 Timothy,

00:27:47.539 --> 00:27:48.519
 beware of him

00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:49.900
 yourself for he

00:27:49.900 --> 00:27:51.319
 strongly opposed

00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:52.279
 our message.

00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:53.940
 Paul didn't

00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:54.460
 think about

00:27:54.460 --> 00:27:55.319
 Alexander the

00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:56.259
 coppersmith and

00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:56.819
 say, well,

00:27:57.960 --> 00:27:59.660
 it'll be okay.

00:28:00.740 --> 00:28:01.119
 No.

00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:02.940
 He's writing to

00:28:02.940 --> 00:28:04.819
 Timothy and

00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:06.099
 saying, this guy

00:28:06.099 --> 00:28:07.000
 did me wrong.

00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:09.259
 God's going to

00:28:09.259 --> 00:28:10.039
 take care of him.

00:28:11.400 --> 00:28:12.680
 Don't you trust

00:28:12.680 --> 00:28:13.279
 him either.

00:28:14.660 --> 00:28:16.099
 You be aware of

00:28:16.099 --> 00:28:16.359
 him.

00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:17.639
 He is opposed to

00:28:17.640 --> 00:28:18.940
 me, you, and

00:28:18.940 --> 00:28:19.580
 the gospel.

00:28:19.940 --> 00:28:20.860
 He's opposed to

00:28:20.860 --> 00:28:21.860
 God and God's

00:28:21.860 --> 00:28:22.700
 word, God's

00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.140
 truth.

00:28:24.440 --> 00:28:25.460
 So you watch

00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:25.780
 out.

00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:29.700
 Now, before we

00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:32.759
 move on, don't

00:28:32.759 --> 00:28:33.400
 forget what we

00:28:33.400 --> 00:28:34.280
 started out saying.

00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:36.340
 If someone wrongs

00:28:36.340 --> 00:28:38.140
 you and they do

00:28:38.140 --> 00:28:39.160
 repent, they do

00:28:39.160 --> 00:28:40.320
 seek forgiveness,

00:28:41.320 --> 00:28:42.460
 you've got to

00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:42.860
 forgive them.

00:28:42.859 --> 00:28:46.199
 we're obligated to

00:28:46.199 --> 00:28:47.359
 choose to forgive

00:28:47.359 --> 00:28:48.299
 them regardless of

00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:49.879
 how we feel about

00:28:49.879 --> 00:28:50.139
 it.

00:28:51.579 --> 00:28:53.059
 Now, let's look at

00:28:53.059 --> 00:28:53.699
 the next way we

00:28:53.699 --> 00:28:54.839
 must forgive as God

00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:55.279
 forgives.

00:28:55.679 --> 00:28:56.539
 We're to forgive and

00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:57.579
 no longer hold the

00:28:57.579 --> 00:28:58.679
 person's sin or

00:28:58.679 --> 00:28:59.839
 wrongdoing against

00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:00.179
 them.

00:29:01.639 --> 00:29:02.719
 Think about this.

00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:04.719
 Forgiving someone

00:29:04.719 --> 00:29:05.559
 does not mean that

00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:06.079
 we'll be able to

00:29:06.079 --> 00:29:07.059
 forget what happens.

00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:07.200
 us.

00:29:09.679 --> 00:29:10.419
 Forgetting does

00:29:10.419 --> 00:29:11.859
 not mean, or

00:29:11.859 --> 00:29:12.539
 forgiving rather

00:29:12.539 --> 00:29:13.319
 does not mean we

00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:14.460
 will have warm

00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:15.179
 feelings for

00:29:15.179 --> 00:29:17.000
 someone, someone

00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:17.859
 who hurt us,

00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:18.919
 wronged us.

00:29:20.879 --> 00:29:24.059
 The Bible, in

00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:24.539
 talking about

00:29:24.539 --> 00:29:25.279
 Christian living,

00:29:25.399 --> 00:29:25.759
 talking about

00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.519
 everything, but in

00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:26.859
 talking about

00:29:26.859 --> 00:29:27.659
 Christian living, the

00:29:27.659 --> 00:29:28.559
 Bible never tells us

00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:29.599
 to pretend anything.

00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:32.559
 There are some

00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:33.519
 people who may have

00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.859
 so hurt you, wounded

00:29:34.859 --> 00:29:35.940
 you, sinned against

00:29:35.940 --> 00:29:40.220
 you, that there is

00:29:40.220 --> 00:29:41.840
 pain to just think

00:29:41.840 --> 00:29:42.380
 about them.

00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:46.279
 You don't want to

00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:47.259
 even look at them.

00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:53.799
 But if they come to

00:29:53.799 --> 00:29:56.620
 you and seek your

00:29:56.620 --> 00:30:00.460
 forgiveness, as

00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:02.740
 Christians, we are

00:30:02.740 --> 00:30:05.140
 obligated to grant

00:30:05.140 --> 00:30:06.160
 forgiveness.

00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:09.720
 Forgiveness is a

00:30:09.720 --> 00:30:10.200
 commitment.

00:30:11.600 --> 00:30:13.040
 It's undeserved.

00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:18.560
 It's hard, but it's

00:30:18.560 --> 00:30:19.500
 what God calls us to.

00:30:20.640 --> 00:30:22.400
 Now, forgiveness is a

00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:23.900
 commitment that we

00:30:23.900 --> 00:30:26.500
 make that we will

00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:27.460
 respond to someone

00:30:27.460 --> 00:30:28.160
 like this.

00:30:29.640 --> 00:30:32.020
 I will not bring up

00:30:32.020 --> 00:30:34.180
 their wrongdoing to

00:30:34.180 --> 00:30:34.940
 them again.

00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:38.500
 If you really

00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:40.680
 forgive your

00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:41.480
 spouse, this is

00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:41.960
 where a lot of

00:30:41.960 --> 00:30:42.580
 this comes up.

00:30:43.580 --> 00:30:44.400
 If you really

00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:44.960
 forgive your

00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:48.420
 spouse, when you

00:30:48.420 --> 00:30:51.000
 get mad or in the

00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:51.700
 heat of an

00:30:51.700 --> 00:30:54.240
 argument, you

00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:55.480
 can't throw up

00:30:55.480 --> 00:30:56.920
 what's already been

00:30:56.920 --> 00:30:58.680
 forgiven and be

00:30:58.680 --> 00:30:59.440
 right with God.

00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:00.400
 That's not playing

00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:00.920
 fair.

00:31:00.920 --> 00:31:04.120
 That's not how we

00:31:04.120 --> 00:31:05.880
 as God's people can

00:31:05.880 --> 00:31:06.500
 treat people.

00:31:09.180 --> 00:31:10.100
 Forgiveness is a

00:31:10.100 --> 00:31:10.900
 commitment that says

00:31:10.900 --> 00:31:11.560
 I'm not going to

00:31:11.560 --> 00:31:12.640
 dwell on, think

00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:13.900
 about, keep on

00:31:13.900 --> 00:31:14.940
 rehearsing what they

00:31:14.940 --> 00:31:15.360
 did.

00:31:15.480 --> 00:31:15.940
 I'm going to let it

00:31:15.940 --> 00:31:16.180
 go.

00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:19.259
 Forgiveness is a

00:31:19.259 --> 00:31:22.300
 commitment that says

00:31:22.300 --> 00:31:23.340
 I will not allow

00:31:23.340 --> 00:31:26.180
 their wrongdoing to

00:31:26.180 --> 00:31:29.600
 prevent us from being

00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:30.599
 reconciled.

00:31:31.240 --> 00:31:31.859
 And that's the next

00:31:31.859 --> 00:31:32.179
 point.

00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:33.639
 We are to forgive and

00:31:33.639 --> 00:31:34.779
 be reconciled to the

00:31:34.779 --> 00:31:35.199
 offender.

00:31:35.959 --> 00:31:36.779
 Forgiving as God

00:31:36.779 --> 00:31:37.719
 forgives does not

00:31:37.719 --> 00:31:38.679
 allow us to forgive

00:31:38.679 --> 00:31:40.299
 someone and then

00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:41.279
 avoid them for the

00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:42.119
 rest of our lives.

00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:44.000
 When we truly

00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:44.759
 forgive as God

00:31:44.759 --> 00:31:47.099
 forgives, we will

00:31:47.099 --> 00:31:48.699
 seek to be reconciled

00:31:48.699 --> 00:31:49.379
 to the one who

00:31:49.379 --> 00:31:50.319
 wronged us.

00:31:51.319 --> 00:31:53.199
 We will seek with

00:31:53.199 --> 00:31:55.000
 God's help to have

00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:55.779
 our relationship

00:31:55.779 --> 00:31:56.519
 restored.

00:31:56.519 --> 00:31:58.539
 Now, there are some

00:31:58.539 --> 00:31:59.359
 situations where

00:31:59.359 --> 00:32:02.019
 reconciliation will

00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:03.180
 not result in

00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:04.519
 restored closeness.

00:32:05.559 --> 00:32:06.180
 Let me give you one

00:32:06.180 --> 00:32:07.000
 example and you can

00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:08.240
 take it and apply it

00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:08.940
 to other situations.

00:32:10.660 --> 00:32:11.700
 Suppose a man and

00:32:11.700 --> 00:32:13.240
 woman, husband and

00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:15.980
 wife, they go through

00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:17.019
 a bitter divorce.

00:32:18.920 --> 00:32:21.579
 One deeply wounded and

00:32:21.579 --> 00:32:22.740
 wronged to the other

00:32:22.740 --> 00:32:22.980
 one.

00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:24.779
 They divorce.

00:32:25.920 --> 00:32:26.579
 They go their

00:32:26.579 --> 00:32:27.319
 separate ways.

00:32:27.460 --> 00:32:28.740
 They each remarry.

00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:30.640
 Well, somewhere down

00:32:30.640 --> 00:32:31.960
 the road, the one who

00:32:31.960 --> 00:32:34.660
 was, who did the, who

00:32:34.660 --> 00:32:36.039
 broke the heart, who

00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:37.900
 did the wrong, gets

00:32:37.900 --> 00:32:38.819
 convicted of it.

00:32:39.579 --> 00:32:40.860
 They've sinned and they

00:32:40.860 --> 00:32:41.880
 seek God's forgiveness

00:32:41.880 --> 00:32:43.339
 and they go to their

00:32:43.339 --> 00:32:46.339
 ex-spouse and admit

00:32:46.339 --> 00:32:47.360
 their wrong and seek

00:32:47.360 --> 00:32:48.160
 their forgiveness.

00:32:48.160 --> 00:32:48.360
 forgiveness.

00:32:50.759 --> 00:32:52.440
 They better not get

00:32:52.440 --> 00:32:54.540
 back together as close

00:32:54.540 --> 00:32:55.440
 as they were when they

00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:56.259
 were married again.

00:32:58.700 --> 00:32:59.660
 They can be

00:32:59.660 --> 00:33:02.660
 reconciled, but their

00:33:02.660 --> 00:33:04.060
 relationship will not be

00:33:04.060 --> 00:33:04.500
 restored.

00:33:04.660 --> 00:33:05.320
 They're already

00:33:05.320 --> 00:33:05.960
 married.

00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:10.120
 Forgive, grant

00:33:10.120 --> 00:33:12.920
 forgiveness, have no

00:33:12.920 --> 00:33:15.300
 bitterness, but go your

00:33:15.300 --> 00:33:16.019
 separate ways.

00:33:16.019 --> 00:33:17.980
 There may be some

00:33:17.980 --> 00:33:21.799
 situations where you

00:33:21.799 --> 00:33:22.240
 forgive.

00:33:24.099 --> 00:33:25.579
 You let it go.

00:33:26.859 --> 00:33:28.079
 You forgive as God

00:33:28.079 --> 00:33:28.700
 forgives.

00:33:29.700 --> 00:33:30.960
 But the situation is

00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:33.019
 such where it would not

00:33:33.019 --> 00:33:35.240
 be healthy emotionally,

00:33:35.519 --> 00:33:36.660
 spiritually, or even

00:33:36.660 --> 00:33:39.079
 physically for the

00:33:39.079 --> 00:33:39.980
 relationship to be

00:33:39.980 --> 00:33:41.519
 restored to what it was

00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:43.279
 before, the abuse.

00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:46.079
 for an example that

00:33:46.079 --> 00:33:46.759
 took place.

00:33:47.720 --> 00:33:48.839
 But as a general rule,

00:33:49.619 --> 00:33:51.019
 when we forgive someone,

00:33:51.980 --> 00:33:53.200
 our goal needs to be

00:33:53.200 --> 00:33:53.920
 that our relationship

00:33:53.920 --> 00:33:55.220
 with them is restored.

00:33:56.299 --> 00:33:57.619
 It may take a lot of

00:33:57.619 --> 00:33:58.059
 time.

00:33:58.960 --> 00:34:00.019
 It may take a lot of

00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:00.440
 prayer.

00:34:01.579 --> 00:34:02.639
 It may take a lot of

00:34:02.639 --> 00:34:04.440
 effort on our part.

00:34:06.779 --> 00:34:08.199
 But full forgiveness

00:34:08.199 --> 00:34:11.279
 includes reconciliation.

00:34:11.280 --> 00:34:12.000
 reconciliation.

00:34:14.460 --> 00:34:15.860
 That's how God forgives.

00:34:16.860 --> 00:34:18.240
 Now, quickly, when it

00:34:18.240 --> 00:34:19.320
 comes to the subject of

00:34:19.320 --> 00:34:20.900
 forgiving others, some

00:34:20.900 --> 00:34:22.380
 people need to be reminded

00:34:22.380 --> 00:34:24.560
 that it's not good or

00:34:24.560 --> 00:34:26.160
 healthy to be a person who

00:34:26.160 --> 00:34:27.640
 is easily offended.

00:34:30.019 --> 00:34:31.840
 It's not good or healthy

00:34:31.840 --> 00:34:35.019
 for you to walk around and

00:34:35.019 --> 00:34:38.180
 just expect people to hurt

00:34:38.179 --> 00:34:40.219
 your feelings, to offend

00:34:40.219 --> 00:34:40.619
 you.

00:34:41.519 --> 00:34:42.699
 The least little thing

00:34:42.699 --> 00:34:43.579
 bothers you.

00:34:45.359 --> 00:34:47.460
 In fact, if everywhere you

00:34:47.460 --> 00:34:49.119
 go in life, if at church,

00:34:49.679 --> 00:34:51.039
 in family gatherings, among

00:34:51.039 --> 00:34:52.399
 your friends at work, if

00:34:52.399 --> 00:34:53.940
 everywhere you go in life,

00:34:54.119 --> 00:34:55.599
 you just feel like, I'm a

00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:55.960
 victim.

00:34:56.739 --> 00:34:59.179
 I'm always being wronged.

00:34:59.519 --> 00:35:01.440
 Most likely, you are the

00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:01.839
 problem.

00:35:04.279 --> 00:35:05.599
 Here's an important verse

00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:07.019
 for every single one of us,

00:35:07.019 --> 00:35:09.679
 but especially if you walk

00:35:09.679 --> 00:35:10.699
 around with this chip on

00:35:10.699 --> 00:35:11.199
 your shoulder.

00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:12.340
 Look at this.

00:35:12.599 --> 00:35:14.719
 Above all, keep loving one

00:35:14.719 --> 00:35:16.920
 another earnestly since love

00:35:16.920 --> 00:35:19.239
 covers a multitude of sins.

00:35:20.699 --> 00:35:21.900
 There's a lot of things that

00:35:21.900 --> 00:35:23.239
 takes place between you and

00:35:23.239 --> 00:35:24.259
 your spouse, you and your

00:35:24.259 --> 00:35:25.480
 friend, you and people you

00:35:25.480 --> 00:35:26.300
 work with, people you go to

00:35:26.300 --> 00:35:26.739
 school with.

00:35:26.940 --> 00:35:27.800
 There's a lot of things that

00:35:27.800 --> 00:35:29.759
 happen that sort of bother

00:35:29.759 --> 00:35:31.539
 you, but you just need to let

00:35:31.539 --> 00:35:32.000
 it go.

00:35:33.199 --> 00:35:34.400
 Because it's really not a big

00:35:34.400 --> 00:35:34.840
 deal.

00:35:36.039 --> 00:35:37.039
 The person probably didn't

00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:38.200
 even think about what they

00:35:38.200 --> 00:35:39.240
 were saying or doing.

00:35:41.840 --> 00:35:43.920
 Love covers a multitude of

00:35:43.920 --> 00:35:44.360
 sins.

00:35:47.860 --> 00:35:49.559
 I'm thankful I've lived in a

00:35:49.559 --> 00:35:51.619
 home where my wife practices

00:35:51.619 --> 00:35:53.680
 love covering a multitude of

00:35:53.680 --> 00:35:54.019
 sins.

00:35:54.019 --> 00:35:57.840
 I'd have more scars on me than I

00:35:57.840 --> 00:36:00.180
 have right now if she didn't.

00:36:00.179 --> 00:36:02.339
 And I'm going to guess by the

00:36:02.339 --> 00:36:03.179
 looks on some of y'all's

00:36:03.179 --> 00:36:05.119
 face, you've experienced the

00:36:05.119 --> 00:36:06.179
 same thing in your house.

00:36:07.279 --> 00:36:08.659
 We need that.

00:36:08.960 --> 00:36:09.779
 It's healthy.

00:36:10.719 --> 00:36:12.599
 But when we are wronged or

00:36:12.599 --> 00:36:13.739
 sinned against in a serious

00:36:13.739 --> 00:36:16.779
 way, we are called as God's

00:36:16.779 --> 00:36:20.339
 people to forgive others just

00:36:20.339 --> 00:36:23.179
 as God has forgiven us.

00:36:25.179 --> 00:36:26.379
 Let's pray about it.

00:36:26.380 --> 00:36:30.300
 Father, I pray for people in

00:36:30.300 --> 00:36:33.579
 this room right now who do not

00:36:33.579 --> 00:36:34.920
 have a relationship with you.

00:36:38.160 --> 00:36:39.740
 People who are not Christians

00:36:39.740 --> 00:36:41.440
 and they know it.

00:36:43.720 --> 00:36:48.619
 Help them to understand that you

00:36:48.619 --> 00:36:51.400
 are a gracious and loving God and

00:36:51.400 --> 00:36:53.099
 in spite of their sin, their

00:36:53.099 --> 00:36:55.440
 rebellion, their indifference.

00:36:56.440 --> 00:36:58.339
 You sent Jesus into this world to

00:36:58.339 --> 00:36:58.880
 die for them.

00:36:59.059 --> 00:37:00.179
 While they were still sinners,

00:37:00.799 --> 00:37:03.000
 Christ died for them, your word

00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:03.380
 says.

00:37:05.539 --> 00:37:08.679
 Call them to trust Jesus, to turn

00:37:08.679 --> 00:37:10.619
 from their sin, to truly repent.

00:37:13.119 --> 00:37:15.299
 Call them to embrace Jesus as their

00:37:15.299 --> 00:37:16.679
 Lord and Savior right now, I pray

00:37:16.679 --> 00:37:17.159
 to your God.

00:37:19.539 --> 00:37:20.920
 Father, if there are Christians in

00:37:20.920 --> 00:37:23.840
 this room who, for whatever

00:37:23.840 --> 00:37:27.400
 reason, there's sin in their

00:37:27.400 --> 00:37:29.880
 life that has caused a disruption

00:37:29.880 --> 00:37:32.599
 in their fellowship with you.

00:37:35.039 --> 00:37:36.700
 Dear God, make it clear to them

00:37:36.700 --> 00:37:38.860
 that they must humble themselves,

00:37:39.079 --> 00:37:41.579
 admit their sin, and turn from it

00:37:41.579 --> 00:37:44.119
 in order to experience your

00:37:44.119 --> 00:37:46.700
 forgiveness and a restoration to

00:37:46.700 --> 00:37:47.280
 full fellowship.

00:37:47.280 --> 00:37:50.119
 But help them, dear God, to know

00:37:50.119 --> 00:37:52.559
 there's no better way to live, no

00:37:52.559 --> 00:37:53.920
 better thing for them to do this

00:37:53.920 --> 00:37:55.699
 morning than to do that very

00:37:55.699 --> 00:37:59.019
 thing, to confess their sins, to

00:37:59.019 --> 00:38:01.559
 forsake them, to draw close to you,

00:38:01.759 --> 00:38:03.500
 to renew their commitment to Jesus

00:38:03.500 --> 00:38:04.519
 as their Lord and Savior.

00:38:06.279 --> 00:38:09.099
 And Father, I pray for Christians in

00:38:09.099 --> 00:38:13.420
 this room who are struggling to

00:38:13.420 --> 00:38:16.659
 forgive someone in their life right

00:38:16.659 --> 00:38:16.899
 now.

00:38:19.420 --> 00:38:22.940
 Father, help them to know that it

00:38:22.940 --> 00:38:24.639
 very well may be true that they have

00:38:24.639 --> 00:38:27.039
 been hurt deeply.

00:38:30.039 --> 00:38:33.480
 But Lord, help them, give them the

00:38:33.480 --> 00:38:38.339
 grace to be willing to forgive as you

00:38:38.339 --> 00:38:38.619
 forgive.

00:38:38.619 --> 00:38:38.759
 Amen.

00:38:38.760 --> 00:38:45.020
 And just in an attitude of prayer now,

00:38:45.080 --> 00:38:46.120
 let's just listen to the Lord and

00:38:46.120 --> 00:38:46.780
 respond to Him.

00:38:48.040 --> 00:38:49.240
 If I could pray with you during

00:38:49.240 --> 00:38:50.860
 this time, I would be happy to do

00:38:50.860 --> 00:38:51.680
 that here at the front.

00:38:51.680 --> 00:38:52.000
 Amen.

00:38:52.260 --> 00:38:54.000
 Lewis

00:38:54.000 --> 00:39:23.980
 Thank you.