Sermon: Forgiveness
Bible Passage: Psalm 103:3-5
I. Initial considerations:
In verses 3-5, the psalmist highlights five blessings God extends to the believers
1. Forgiveness from transgressions
2. Healing from illness
3. Redemption from the Pit (šaḥaṯ refers to the pit from which no can ever return—grave or underworld)
4. Restoration of status
5. Life and vitality for a productive life
II. What is forgiveness?
1. “Not to hold the iniquity against the sinner” and “release the sinner from punishment”
2. It is an act of grace whereby God pardons an offender, so that he or she no longer faces condemnation for their offense and their offenses are not counted against them
III. Why would God forgive?
1. All sins are against God
2. All sins deserve punishment
3. Sinner is the offender and God is the offended
4. When God forgives, He does not hold the sins against the sinner
5. This is God’s voluntary act, motivated by who He is
IV. God’s forgiveness is a package
1. God’s act of forgiveness does not stop with the mere pronouncement of forgiveness
2. It includes bringing a transgressor to a complete personhood
a. Healing (verse 3)
b. Redemption (verse 4)
c. Restoration (verse 4)
d. Life and vitality (verse 5)
3. God illustrates what it means to forgive
4. In Matt 6:12, Jesus teaches us “… forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors”
V. Principles to think about
1. Forgiveness is to “clear out” revengeful thoughts against the offender(s)
2. Forgiveness is to replace revengeful thoughts with love, compassion, and charity
3. Forgiveness is to imitate God-Jesus who forgave His offenders
4. Forgiveness is not forgetting—which is not possible, but it is an intentional effort not to hold the offense or debt against the sinner or debtor
a. By taking God’s model
b. By being obedient to Jesus’ teaching
c. By forfeiting your right to take revenge or to hold the other person contempt
d. Forgiveness is more for the forgiver than the forgiven
e. So long as the forgiveness is not extended by taking God’s model, the offender continues to hurt
f. That which hurts you the most needs to be forgiven on priority basis
Take Away:
1. Forgive a person who offended you
2. Receive God’s forgiveness for all your offenses
3. If possible, work in the life of the offender and restore him/her to a complete relationship