FORGIVENESS

Brother Ken Wilson's sermon preached on October 25, 2008.


Scripture Reference Matthew 18:21-25


MESSAGE OUTLINE


Ten Observations:

1. Peter wants to know how high to count; Jesus doesn't like it when we keep score.

2. Forgiveness means, "to set aside your anger".

3. A talent = 15 year's wages

4. A denarius = 1 day's wages

5. The servant owed an outrageous amount to his master (15 year's wages times 10,000 = 150,000 years worth of debt)

6. No one borrows 150,000 year's worth of pay. This servant must have been an embezzler.

7. The King is willing to forgive an inconceivably large debt.

8. The King is much more angry about the servant's lack of forgiveness for a fellow servant that about his sin against the King.

9. How we treat others matters to God more than how we treat him.

10. Those who have been forgiven must forgive.


so, WHY SHOULD I FORGIVE? Let me give you four reasons.


1. SATAN

2. ME

3. YOU ARE NOT PERFECT.

4. CHRIST FORGAVE YOU.


Then, HOW DO I FORGIVE?


Make a DECISION to forgive.

Say the WORDS - at least to yourself.

When you forgive, FORGIVE.

Forgive COMPLETELY.

Forgive REPEATEDLY.

Forgiving doesn't mean FORGETTING.

Forgiving doesn't mean TRUSTING.


Here's an important distinction:
FORGIVENESS MUST BE GRANTED, IT CANT BE EARNED.
TRUST CAN'T BE GRANTED, IT MUST BE EARNED.

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