DDCWC 2025 Forgiving Emma Fooks Talk 2

Forgiving

Yeah Forgiveness is good, But…

1.  Yeah, But what about Justice?

-      A Day is Coming…

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

Romans 12:18-19

-      Justice Now

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

Romans 13:4

-      The Cross: God cares about Justice

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

-      Unpicking what we mean:

i.               Forgiveness

o   Vertical and Internal

·      I’m a sinner, forgiven by God.

·      Naming the wrong

·      Counting the cost

·      Paying the debt

·      Praying

ii.              Reconciliation

o   Horizontal

o   Not completely under your control

-      Let’s not moosh them together!

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

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

-      Forgiveness without Reconciliation

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

Mark 11:25

-      The messiness of Reconciliation

Yeah, But I Feel really Hurt

-      A decision to make a start

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

-      An expensive gift bought on credit:

o   Given in a moment

o   Paid for over time

3. Yeah, But how do I live this?

i.               Expect Sin

o   Just stop counting!

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

Matthew 18:22

ii.              Logs and Splinters

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

    but the LORD weighs the heart.

Proverbs 21:2 (ESV)

iii.            Wisdom and a Bit of Gospel Grit

o   Sometimes we may need to confront.

o   A LOT of times:

·       Covering over sins

Hatred stirs up strife,

    but love covers all offenses.

Proverbs 10:12 (ESV)

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

1 Peter 4:8 (ESV)

·       Bearing with one another

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

Colossians 3:13

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

Ephesians 4:2

Conclusion

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