The
Harvester
DECEMBER 2004 No.
228
What
does forgiveness mean to you? Have you
been forgiven of your sins? Is there someone you have not forgiven that will
keep you from being forgiven by God? Now, let's look to see what the Bible has
to say about forgiveness.
All
sin deserves punishment. Adam and Eve were told in the garden of Eden that if
they ate of the tree of knowledge they would die. (Genesis 2:17) Paul writes in
Romans
The
pardon of sin by God is most gracious. In Matthew 9:13, Jesus tells us that He
will have mercy and not sacrifice. In
Romans 5:6-8, Paul tells us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
There are not many people in the world today that give their life for another
person especially not for an evil person. But none of us parents would be
willing to let our child die for anyone, yet God did.
Blood
is required for the atonement of sin. "...it is the blood that
makes an atonement for the soul."(Leviticus 17:11) "...without
shedding of blood is no remission." (Hebrews 9:22) There is a cost for
the remission of sin: innocent blood.
The
old law was imperfect concerning the forgiveness of sins. "For what the law could not do, in
that it was weak through the flesh, God sent his Son in the likeness of sinful
flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh." (Romans 8:3) Under the old law, sins could not be forgiven
only rolled forward to the next year. (Hebrews 10:1-6) We can have forgiveness
today through the blood of Jesus Christ. "In whom we have redemption
through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians
1:13-14) Jesus by his own blood entered in once into the holy place, having
obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:11-15)
Jesus
teaches us in Luke 7:39-50 the concept of: the more forgiveness, the more
thankfulness. Jesus told that there were two men who owed money to a creditor,
one owed 500 pence, the other 50 pence. When neither could pay, the creditor
forgave both their debts. Jesus then asked "who will love him
most?”. A very evil person who turns his life around and has been forgiven
of many sins would be more likely to better appreciate the value of his
forgiveness.
In
evaluating the need for forgiveness in our lives, we must measure our life
against God's word not in relation to the deeds of others. In Luke 18:9-14, we
read of the parable of the Pharisee and the publican praying. The Pharisee
prayed that he was thankful that he was not sinful as the other men are, but
the publican prayed asking God to be merciful to him since he was a sinner.
With so much evil in the world today, we must be careful not to justify
ourselves as being better than many in the world yet not be in obedience to
God's commandments.
Will
we let our lack of forgiveness of others keep us from being forgiven? Mark
11:25-26 tells us if we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us. Peter asked Jesus, "How many
times are we to forgive others, seven times?” Jesus answered seventy times
seven. However, we know Jesus did not mean just 490 times, but as often as a
person repents and asks for our forgiveness. (Matthew 18:21-22)
Jesus
gives us a wonderful example of our need to forgive others in Matthew 18:23-35.
A certain king took account of his servants and one was brought forth that owed
10,000 talents ($52,800,000). But since the servant could not pay, the king
ordered the servant, his wife, his children, and all that he had to be sold.
(This is justice.) The servant fell down
and worshiped the king and asked for patience until he could pay the debt.
(Note action on the part of the servant.)
Then, the king had compassion on the servant and forgave the debt.
(Mercy and forgiveness are shown in the place of justice.) Then, the same servant went out and found a
fellow servant that owed him 100 pence ($44) and took him by the throat and
said pay what is owed to me. And the
fellow servant fell down and asked for patience until he could pay the debt.
But the servant had his fellow servant cast into prison until he should pay.
When the king found out what had happened, he commanded the servant to be
delivered to the tormentors until he could pay all due him. This parable shows
us the gratitude we should have for God forgiving our past sins which are
represented by a $52.8 million debt by forgiving others which have sinned
against us represented by a mere $44 debt. Also, note in verse 35 that it says
we are to forgive from the heart, not just the lips. Is there anyone you need
to forgive?
Can
a person be beyond forgiveness? In Mark 3:28-29, we are told all sins may be
forgiven but blaspheme against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven. I believe
this passage to mean a person who turns his back on God and denies the power of
God hardens his heart beyond the possibility of repentance. So, it is the
sinner, not God, who places themselves in a situation beyond forgiveness. From
Hebrews 10:26-27, we see we must not sin willfully after receiving the
knowledge of the truth. We need to keep in mind that we can not be forgiven for
future sins, only past sins.
Jesus
died and shed His blood to save us from our sins not in our sins. Matthew
God's
forgiveness is forever. In Hebrews 8:12-13 and Hebrews 10:16-18, we are told
forgiven sins and iniquities will be "remembered no more". Yet
II Corinthians
Forgiveness
is only through obedience to the gospel. Acts
Also
as Christians and members of the body of Christ, we can find renewed strength
in forgiveness. In James 5:16, we read to confess your faults one to another
that you may be healed; the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
availeth much. God is there willing and ready to forgive if we will only
confess ours faults and repent.
Forgiveness
is one of the most precious gifts ever given by God to man because it was paid
for by the price of the blood of His dear Son Jesus. Will you take advantage of
forgiveness and a hope of eternal life in Heaven or will you let the great
opportunity slip away?
MARK
CARPENTER
(
“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he
entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him
into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet
and heard his word. But Martha was
cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not
care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she
help me. And Jesus answered and said
unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But
one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be
taken away from her.” (Luke
10:38-40)
I
often felt like Martha. My husband, Ray,
always provided for his family but he never cared if the house was clean, lawn
was well kept, or there was an elaborate home cooked meal. Therefore, he did
not tend to help me with those things. He often neglected what I wanted him to
do to spend time playing with our children or in Bible study. Sometimes when I
nagged him to help he would say to me, “Martha, Martha.” On
DEBORAH
McMANUS
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES
1.
According to Exodus 24, what position did Joshua hold with Moses?
2.
What nation does Hosea predict will rule over
3.
To whom did the Lord show a basket of ripe fruit?
4.
What should be one’s attitude towards regulations of the government?
5.
In Zechariah, what does the Lord call
ANSWERS NEXT MONTH . . .
and
remember last month’s questions?
1.
Who was Cushi’s famous son? ZEPHANIAH (Zeph. 1:1)
2.
Where did the angel in chapter 10 of Revelation place his right foot? ON THE
SEA (Rev. 10:2)
3.
When God told Abraham that Sarah would have a son, and they questioned it
because of their age, what did God say in response? “IS ANY THING TOO HARD FOR
THE LORD?” (Gen. 18:14)
4.
To whom does 1 Peter 3 say women who trust in God are subject? THEIR OWN
HUSBANDS (1 Pet. 3:5)
5.
Where does he who ignores correction lead others? ASTRAY (Prov.
It matters not how long you live,
It’s the quality of your time,
It’s the friends you make,
The lives your touch,
And the love you show mankind.
GOSPEL
MEETINGS
DATES PLACE & TIME SPEAKER
Dec.
3
– 5
(
The congregation that has been meeting
in
The church building is in Willow Creek
Subdivision and the congregation is now named
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