Where Will The Forgiveness Lines Be In Heaven?

INTRO: I remember a movie from the 1970, "Love Story" that made famous the words of its author, Erich Segal, "Love means never having to say you're sorry."

I want to give you my version, "Love means always wanting to say you're sorry. True love means you forgive them too." - Gary Marcum, 2006. Isn't that what love is truly about - forgiveness. If you remove from the equation of love, forgiveness, what is left? Certainly not love.

Lets look at John 3:16… For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

This verse is all about God's willing ness to forgive us. God wants to forgive us, but we must ask. Does that hold true for us? Do we have to ask forgiveness? Should we? If we do not, what is the motivation behind not asking for forgiveness?

The world's view is that no one person is really responsible for his or her actions. I think that is unbelievable. It is unworkable and totally false. We are responsible for our actions and we need to follow through on our mistakes by asking forgiveness. Let me read a quote by Barbara Rose, a motivational speaker.

Can you understand that you have always done the best job you knew how to do at any particular time with the knowledge and level of growth you had at that time? Yes? Good! Now, you can extend that same understanding to the other person from your heart, and that is why you will not require them to say: "I’m sorry." You will understand, and they will understand. It is that pure understanding that allows what may have bruised our ego to melt away. Once our fears and ego are out of the way, we truly can love purely. You will never have to say you’re sorry to someone you truly love that genuinely loves you. You will only have to be yourself – that is all you will ever need to do. - Barbara Rose.

Barbara meant well when she tried to remove ego from the equation and do away with our need to say "I am sorry," but we have to part ways. Yes I agree with her that our ego is a big problem, but our unwillingness to ask for forgiveness and admit we are wrong is also amiss. You see to her it is about self-help, to me it is about help with self and that comes through God.

I want to look at forgiveness today. Forgiveness, do we need it? Do we want it? Will we seek it? Will we give it? These are all quests that we answer everyday of our lives. Forgiveness, for some it falls into the realm of "can't live with it and can't live without it." For those keeping track on the four questions I just asked. Here they are again… Forgiveness, do we need it? Do we want it? Will we seek it? Will we give it? The answers are in my opinion…Yes, yes, yes, maybe. Yeah you heard me - maybe.

Lets move on to the message before we run out of time.

Matt 18:21-35 21Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 23Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

I want to look at some principles about forgiveness that is taught I God's Word…

Forgiveness parallels God's example and follows Christ's teaching.

Psalms 103:3 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Ephesians 4:32 32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

For God so loved the world…

Matthew 6:14 14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

God expects us to ask forgiveness from Him

God will forgive us when we do

God expects us to mirror His love and forgiveness to others

Forgiveness brings preferred peace.

Some may like turmoil

Some may like the control

Some may like the distance

Some may like the independence

Forgiveness unfound (or the lack of forgiveness) prevents beautiful and bountiful blessings.

We cannot have the closeness needed, when we will not forgive

We cannot have the closeness needed, when we will not ask forgiveness

Others will not have the closeness needed, when we do not ask or give forgiveness

We cannot serve God properly when forgiveness in not part of our lives

Forgiveness precludes devastating judgment.

With God

With man

With friends

With enemies

Forgiveness produces repentance.

Genesis 45:15 Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.

Joseph did not "have to" forgive his brothers.

Joseph did not forgive them just to keep the peace.

Joseph's actions brought healing and repentance on their part.

Forgiveness persuades us to unity.

Luke 17:1 - 5 1Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 2It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 3Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. 5And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

The Apostles wanted to change the subject - vs 5

Not easy

Not ego boosting

Bot always how we see it should go

But, it is Biblical

When the opportunity comes to forgive someone, my advice in the words of Captain Jean Luc Picard…

"Make it so!"

Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 040206am