THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT

PROGRAM AIR DATE – 8-25-13

LESSON TITLE: “TEST YOUR FORGIVENESS.”

WELCOME

PAUL ONCE TOLD THE EPHESIANS, BE ANGRY, AND DO NOT SIN, DO NOT LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON YOUR WRATH, NOR GIVE PLACE TO THE DEVIL. HOW DO YOU STAND WITH GOD WHEN THE SUN SETS EACH DAY?

HERE WE ARE TOGETHER AGAIN ON A WONDROUS LORD'S DAY MORNING; PRIVILEGED TO SERVE OUR GOD IN SONGS OF PRAISE AND THROUGH THE STUDY OF HIS WORD. WE WELCOME YOU TO THIS TIME OF OFFERING TO GOD.

I HOPE EACH OF YOU HAD A GREAT WEEK AND I HOPE YOU ARE READY TODAY TO THINK ON THINGS ABOVE, AND TO GIVE FULL ATTENTION TO OUR CREATOR WHO HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR ALL OF US. IN FACT, THIS MORNING WE WANT TO BEGIN BY TALKING TO OUR GOD IN PRAYER. WON'T YOU BOW WITH ME AT THIS TIME BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD.

PRAYER: DEAR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY AND THE MANY BLESSINGS OF LIFE. WE THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE TO BE CALLED YOUR CHILDREN AND TO SERVE YOU EACH DAY. AND FATHER WE THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE GREAT AND MIGHTY GOD. AND YOU NOT ONLY KNOW ALL THINGS, FATHER, BUT YOU HAVE ALL POWER TO DO THOSE THINGS WHICH YOU HAVE PROMISED THROUGH YOUR WORD. THEREFORE, FATHER IN THE END PLEASE GIVE US THAT REWARD OF ETERNAL LIFE AND HEAVEN WITH YOU WHEN WE ARE FOUND FAITHFUL. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY AMEN

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

AT THIS TIME WE WANT TO GET STARTED BY SINGING OUR FIRST SONG OF THE MORNING. WON'T YOU ALL JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AT THIS TIME AS WE LIFT UP OUR VOICES TOGETHER, IN THE HYMN, “THIS IS MY FATHERS WORLD.”

HAVE YOU EVER GONE TO BED CRYING? PROBABLY ALL OF US HAVE AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. MAYBE YOU DIDN'T FEEL WELL, POSSIBLY YOU LOST YOUR JOB, OR YOU MAY HAVE EVEN LOST A LOVED ONE. FROM TIME TO TIME THE PROBLEMS OF LIFE JUST SEEM TO CLOSE IN ON ALL SIDES. AND SOMETIMES THE THINGS WHICH GET US DOWN ARE MAJOR THINGS. HOWEVER, SOMETIMES WE GET UPSET AND CRY OVER THE SMALLEST THINGS. MAYBE OUR GIRLFRIEND OR BOYFRIEND DROPPED US OR MAYBE WE HAD TO EAT SOMETHING WE REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO.

YOU SEE, NO MATTER WHO WE ARE OR WHAT THE REASON IS, WHEN WE ARE THE ONES WITH THE PROBLEM, IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ON THIS EARTH. I WANTED TO READ A VERSE THIS MORNING THAT REMINDS US THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO LET THESE THINGS IN LIFE GET US DOWN. IN PSALM 30:5, WE READ, "WEEPING MAY ENDURE FOR A NIGHT, BUT JOY COMES IN THE MORNING." HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THAT OLD SAYING, "SLEEP ON IT, AND THINGS WILL LOOK BRIGHTER IN THE MORNING." WHERE DO YOU THINK THAT CAME FROM? THE GREAT PSALMIST DAVID KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO GO TO BED WITH PROBLEMS OR SINS THAT CAUSE US TO CRY. BUT HE ALSO REALIZED THAT IF WE WILL ALWAYS REFOCUS ON GOD, THESE THINGS WILL SEEM A LOT LESS IMPORTANT IN THE MORNING.

BUT WHY? GOD IS THERE FOR US AND GOD FORGIVES! THE FIRST PART OF THE SAME VERSE WHICH WE JUST READ SAYS, "FOR HIS ANGER IS BUT FOR A MOMENT, HIS FAVOR IS FOR LIFE." GOD MAY NOT LIKE WHAT WE DO AND MAY EVEN BE ANGERED BY IT, BUT HE IS ALWAYS THERE TO ACCEPT US BACK AND TO FORGIVE US IF WE ARE WILLING TO DO OUR PART BY REPENTING. HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THAT THINGS ARE ALWAYS BETTER IN THE MORNING WITH GOD?

WHY NOT RELY MORE ON GOD? COMMIT TO DOING HIS WILL AND YOU WILL FIND THAT THINGS ARE EASIER IN THIS LIFE. DECIDE TO "CAST ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM, FOR HE CARES FOR YOU," 1 PETER 5:7. WE TRULY SERVE A GREAT AND MIGHTY GOD. IN OUR STUDY THIS MORNING WE WILL AGAIN FOCUS ON OUR SERIES ENTITLED, TEST YOURSELVES. OUR SPECIFIC TOPIC TODAY IS, "TEST YOUR FORGIVENESS!" SO PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US AND IN A FEW MINUTES AND WE WILL RETURN WITH THIS STUDY FROM GOD'S WORD.

AS FAR AS OUR SPEAKER OF THE DAY, WE ARE HAPPY TO AGAIN HAVE BROTHER JERRY SULLINS WITH US. BROTHER JERRY IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF MISSOURI, HERE IN SPRINGFIELD. WE THANK HIM FOR BEING WITH US TO GUIDE OUR MAIN DISCUSSION OF THE DAY.

NOW, LET'S JOIN IN OUR SECOND HYMN OF THE MORNING. THE NAME OF THE SONG, "THERE'S NOT A FRIEND LIKE JESUS!"

LESSON

By Jerry Sullins

I’D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU AGAIN TO THE LIVING WORD PROGRAM. IT'S OUR PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU BE A PART OF OUR LISTENING AUDIENCE AND OUR VIEWING AUDIENCE THIS SUNDAY, AS WELL AS MANY OF YOU ARE WITH US EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AND WE APPRECIATE SO MUCH YOUR DESIRE TO STUDY GOD'S WORD TOGETHER AND TO KNOW WHAT HIS WILL IS FOR US IN THIS DAY AND TIME. WE’RE IN A SERIES OF SERMONS THAT DEALS WITH TESTING OURSELVES WHETHER WE ARE OF THE FAITH. THERE ALSO MANY FACETS OF THE FAITH AS PAUL MENTIONED IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER 4 THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE ONE FAITH THAT CONCERNS THE PRINCIPLE THAT JESUS TAUGHT WHILE HE WAS ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH AS WELL AS THE PRINCIPLES THAT ARE GIVING TO US THROUGH HIS INSPIRED APOSTLES AND INSPIRED MAN AS THEY SPOKE BY MEANS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT DIRECT FROM THE FATHER ABOVE IN THE LETTERS IN THE HISTORY AND OTHER BOOKS WE SEE IN WHAT WE REFER TO AS THE NEW TESTAMENT AND SO IT IS OUR DESIRE OR SHOULD BE OUR DESIRE, IF NOT, FOR US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD'S WILL IS FOR US, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO ONE'S FAITH AND IS EASILY DESCRIBED IN THE BIBLE, I BELIEVE IF ONE WANTS TO SEARCH FOR WHAT OUR FAITH SHOULD BE IN ALL MATTERS THAT PERTAINS TO THE LIFE OF GODLINESS IT IS BEFORE OUR EYES AS WE STUDY AND AS WE READ AND TRIED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD'S WILL IS FOR US IN HIS NEW COVENANT. NOW ONE OF THE SUBJECTS THAT HAS NOT BEEN STUDIED BEFORE IN THIS SERIES IS A STUDY ON A CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLE THAT MANY CHRISTIANS HAVE GREAT DIFFICULTY IN APPLYING TO THEIR LIVES. IT HAS TO DO WITH FORGIVENESS. THERE'S A LOT OF SAID NEW TESTAMENT ON FORGIVENESS AND SO I WANT US, FIRST OF ALL, TO THINK AS IS RELATED TO US IN PAUL'S EPISTLE TO THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS. IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER 4 AS PAUL WAS SPEAKING OF THE OLD MAN AND THE NEW MAN AS YOU MIGHT KNOW IF YOU'VE READ THAT CHAPTER BEFORE IT TALKS ABOUT THE OLD MAN THEN TALKS ABOUT THE NEW MAN. WELL WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OLD MAN AND THE NEW MAN IN CHRIST? WELL, THE DIFFERENCE IS THE NEW MAN IS ONE WHO HAS COMMITTED HIS LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST. HE HAS RECEIVED THE FORGIVENESS OF HIS SINS. HE HAS NO LONGER UNCLEAN AND WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ ALL THESE VERSES BUT IN YOUR TIME THIS AFTERNOON OR THIS WEEK PLEASE READ THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS, CHAPTER 4 AND CHAPTER 5. THE OLD MAN WAS CORRUPT. THE OLD MAN HAD A VEIN MIND THAT IS USELESS OR WORTHLESS MIND OUTSIDE OF GOD BECAUSE HE WAS OUTSIDE OF CHRIST AND ACCORDING TO PAUL AT EPHESIANS 4:24 WE ARE SUPPOSED TO PUT ON THE NEW MAN, WHEN WE BECOME A CHRISTIAN. YOU REMEMBER WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY THAT PAUL RELATED IN ROMANS CHAPTER 6: 3-4, “THEREFORE WE ARE BURIED BY BAPTISM INTO HIS DEATH LIKE INTO CHRIST WAS RAISING FROM THE DEAD BY THE GLORY OF THE FATHER WE SHOULD BE RAISED TO WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE.” WHEN WE BECOME A CHRISTIAN, WE BECOME A NEW PERSON AND ANYONE WHO DOES NOT WANT TO BECOME A NEW PERSON, I DOUBT SERIOUSLY IF THAT PERSON HAS REALLY BEEN FORGIVEN OF HIS OR HER SINS BECAUSE THAT IS THE COMMITMENT THAT ONE MAKES WHEN ONE BECOMES A CHILD OF GOD. BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN OF OUR SIN, IT'S A PRECIOUS POSSESSION. I CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO EPHESIANS CHAPTER 4 VERSES 31 AND 32 WHERE IT SAYS, “LET ALL BITTERNESS, WRATH, ANGER CLAMOR, AND EVIL SPEAKING, BE PUT AWAY FROM YOU WITH ALL MALICE, THAT'S THE OLD MAN, AND BE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS GOD IN CHRIST FORGAVE YOU.” ONE VERSION SAYS EVEN AS GOD FOR CHRIST'S SAKE HATH FORGIVEN YOU ON BEHALF OF CHRIST. THAT IS BECAUSE OF WHAT CHRIST DID FOR US ON THE CROSS AND SHEDDING HIS BLOOD FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SIN, WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BECOME WHAT? A NEW CREATURE. WE HAVE A RIGHT TO BECOME A NEW MAN OR A NEW PERSON IN CHRIST AND THAT IS SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAVE WHAT? BEEN FORGIVEN OF OUR SINS. WELL, THAT CAME TO US BECAUSE OF GODS ETERNAL GRACE. IT WAS THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD THAT WE WERE SAVED FROM OUR SINS FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED BY FAITH FOR BY GRACE ARE YOU SAVED BY FAITH. IT IS A GIFT OF GOD. WE SHOULD NOT BE BOAST IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF OUR WORKS BUT WE ARE SAVED BY OUR OBEDIENCE TO THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. REMEMBER WHAT PAUL SAID IN GALATIANS 3:26-27 FOR YOU ARE ALL THE SONS OF GOD OUR FAITH AND TRUST IN CHRIST JESUS FOR AS MANY AS OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST HAVE PUT ON CHRIST. SO WE HAVE PUT ON A NEW MAN. WE HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS BECAUSE OF GOD'S RICH MERCY, BECAUSE OF HIS RICH GRACE WE ARE FORGIVING PEOPLE WE HAVE BEEN SAVED FROM OUR SINS ARE SINS HAVE BEEN BLOTTED OUT BECAUSE OF WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR US. FORGIVE US IS SOMETHING THAT IS OF GOD BECAUSE GOD DEFINITELY IS A FORGIVING BEING HE HAS BEEN THROUGHOUT ALL OF MAN'S EXISTENCE THROUGH EVERY AGE WORD GOD HAS DEALT WITH MAN GOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN WILLING TO FORGIVE IF ONE HAS BEEN WILLING TO REPENT OF HIS OR HER SINS. SO THE PROBLEM IS NOT WITHIN GOD. THE PROBLEM IS WITHIN US AS HUMAN BEINGS SOMETIMES BECAUSE WE HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME FORGIVING PEOPLE. WELL, EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD HAVE WHAT WE CAN REFERRED TO AS FORGIVING SPIRIT REMEMBER WHAT PAUL SAID AGAIN IN EPHESIANS 4:32 BE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS CHRIST OUR GOD IN CHRIST FORGAVE YOU. BE KIND TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER THAT SHOULD BE OUR NATURE THAT SHOULD BE OUR SPIRIT. IT WAS THE SAME TYPE OF SPIRIT THAT JESUS HAD ON THE CROSS IN LUKE 23:34, WHERE HE SAID, FATHER FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY DO. NOW OF COURSE THAT FORGIVENESS WOULD COME AFTER HE DIED UPON THE CROSS AND SHED HIS BLOOD, AND THEY BECAME OBEDIENT TO HIS WILL. THAT'S WHEN THE FORGIVENESS WOULD COME. BUT HE WAS PRAYING THAT THEY WOULD BE FORGIVEN AS THEY RESPONDED TO GOD'S WILL. HE WASN'T ASKING THEM TO THE CARTE BLANCHE FORGIVE THEIR SINS FOR CRUCIFYING HIM ON THE CROSS WITHOUT ANY OBEDIENCE ON THEIR PART NO. SOMETIMES THAT'S MISTAKEN READ IN THAT SCRIPTURE, BUT IT SHOWS CHRIST HAD A WHAT HE HAD A FORGIVING SPIRIT AND WE AS CHRISTIANS WE WANT TO FORGIVE. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO WRONG TO US OR HOW THEY WRONGED US. WE WANT TO HAVE A FORGIVING SPIRIT. HE TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES TO BE FORGIVEN. THE DISCIPLES CAME TO JESUS ON MANY OCCASIONS ESPECIALLY MATTHEW 18, AND THEY ASK A QUESTION FROM CHRIST CONCERNING FORGIVENESS. IF YOU HAVE TIME, IF YOU WOULD TURN YOUR BIBLES TO MATTHEW 18, AND THE STORY IS GIVEN BEGINNING IN VERSE 21 THROUGH 35. REMEMBER, THIS IS THE PARABLE OF THE UNFORGIVING SERVANT. THIS SERVANT WHO HAD BASICALLY NOTHING OF THIS WORLD'S GOODS OWED A TREMENDOUS DEBT TO HIS MASTER BECAUSE OF HIS PLEADING WITH HIS MASTER. PARAPHRASING WITH WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS THE MASTER FORGAVE HIM OF ALL HIS DEBT AND THEN HE WENT TO SOMEONE WHO WAS UNDER HIM. EVIDENTLY, IN MORE POVERTY THAN HE WAS IN AND THIS MAN OWED HIM JUST A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY AND HE WAS WANTING THIS MAN TO BE TAKEN TO PRISON. HE WAS WANTING THIS MAN TO PAY HIS DEBTS, REGARDLESS. WELL, THIS QUESTION OR THIS STORY WAS GIVEN BECAUSE PETER CAME TO JESUS IN VERSE 21 AND SAID LORD HOW OFTEN SHOULD MY BROTHER SIN AGAINST ME AND I FORGIVE HIM, UP TO SEVEN TIMES? JESUS USES THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH HIS DISCIPLES A FUNDAMENTAL LESSON AND IN VERSE 35 HE SAID. SO MY HEAVENLY FATHER ALSO WILL DO TO YOU IF EACH OF YOU FROM HIS HEART DOES NOT FORGIVE HIS BROTHER HIS TRESPASSES. NOW WHAT DID HE DO TO THAT BROTHER WHO DID NOT FORGIVE THAT MAN OF HIS DEBT? WELL THE BIBLE SAYS HIS MASTER AFTER HE CALLED AND SAID TO HIM VERSE 32, “YOU WICKED SERVANT, I FORGAVE YOU ALL THAT DEBT BECAUSE YOU BEGGED ME SHOULD YOU NOT ALSO HAVE HAD COMPASSION ON YOUR FELLOW SERVANTS JUST AS I HAD PITY ON YOU.” AND WHAT HE DID WAS DELIVER THAT MAN TO THE TORTURERS UNTIL HE SHOULD PAY ALL THAT WAS DUE TO HIM. THE LORD EXPECTS US TO FORGIVE PEOPLE TO HAVE A FORGIVING SPIRIT. THAT'S WHAT HE HAD. NOW THERE ARE MANY RELATIONSHIPS IN LIFE WERE THIS LESSON COULD BECOME SO VALUABLE AND I WANT TO JUST MENTION A FEW QUICKLY BECAUSE OUR TIME IS SHORT, AS YOU WELL KNOW, ON THIS BROADCAST WHAT ABOUT THE HUSBAND-WIFE RELATIONSHIP? WHAT ABOUT THE SON DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIP? WHAT ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIP TO ANOTHER CHRISTIAN A BROTHER AND SISTER AND CHRIST? WHAT ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO ONE ANOTHER AS FORGIVENESS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN PLACE IN THEIR LIVE. JESUS SAID THIS IF WE FORGIVE NOT MEN THEIR TRESPASSES, NEITHER WILL OUR HEAVENLY FATHER FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US. WELL, WE CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO BE FORGIVING OF OUR TRESPASSES UNTIL WE ALSO ARE WILLING TO FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS WARM SAND AGAINST US. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN WELL, IT MEANS SIMPLY THIS, THAT THERE ARE CONDITIONS UPON WHICH ONE IS TO BE FORGIVEN, I DON'T KNOW OF ONE PERSON ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH THROUGHOUT ALL TIME IN ETERNITY WHO WAS FORGIVEN WITHOUT THEIR BEING SORRY AND REPAINTED OF WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. WE KNOW THAT FORGIVENESS IS AVAILABLE IT'S IN CHRIST AND HIM WE HAVE REDEMPTION TO HIS BLOOD, EVEN THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS EPHESIANS ONE VERSE SEVEN BUT HOW DO WE OBTAIN THAT FORGIVENESS WE OBTAIN THAT FORGIVENESS BECAUSE WE REPENT OF OUR SINS, WE TURN AWAY FROM OUR SINS WE DECIDE THAT WE WANT TO OBEY CHRIST IN JESUS SAID I TELL YOU, NAY EXCEPT YE REPENT, YE SHALL PERISH. THAT IS TO TURN AWAY FROM SIN. HOW DO WE GET INTO CHRIST THROUGH OBEDIENCE? WELL WE MENTIONED THAT A FEW MOMENTS AGO THAT IS AND GALATIANS 1:26 AND 27, “FOR YOU ARE THE SONS OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS FOR AS MANY OF YOU HAS BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST HAVE PUT ON CHRIST AND IN CHRIST THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION.” ROMANS8:1, “THERE IS THEREFORE NO CONDEMNATION TO THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS, WHO WALK ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT.” AND NOT OF THE FLESH, SO THEREFORE WE HAVE THAT FORGIVENESS IN CHRIST AND THE LORD JESUS EXPECTS US TO ALSO HAVE A FORGIVING SPIRIT. NOW QUESTION IS FOR US THIS MORNING, THOSE OF US WHO CLAIM TO BE CHILDREN OF GOD, DO WE HAVE A FORGIVING SPIRIT AND ARE WE WILLING TO FORGIVE PEOPLE WHEN THEY HAVE SEND AGAINST US. I CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO AGAIN TO MATTHEW THIS TIME I WANT TO GO TO MATTHEW CHAPTER 6 AND THIS IS THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT A PART OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT AND IN VERSE 14 AND 15 IT SAYS FOR IF YOU FORGIVE MEN THEIR TRESPASSES, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL ALSO FORGIVE YOU. BUT IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE MEN OF THE TRESPASSES, NEITHER WORD YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER FORGIVE YOU YOUR TRESPASSES. NOW WHAT IS EXPECTED OF US TO RECEIVE FORGIVENESS FROM GOD. IS GOD GOING TO JUST FORGIVENESS, REGARDLESS OF HOW WE LIVE, WHATEVER WE DO WHATEVER WE MIGHT SAY IS THAT THE WAY, GOD OPERATES? NO, HE NEVER HAS OPERATED THAT WAY. THEN WHY, DO WE AS PEOPLE, THINK WE SHOULD BE FORGIVING TO OTHER PEOPLE. WELL IT'S AN ATTRIBUTE OF GOD AND WE SHOULD BUT WE BELIEVE MANY CHRISTIANS BELIEVE. WELL I CAN JUST FORGIVE THAT PERSON REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY ASK FOR FORGIVENESS OR NOT. WHERE IS THAT IN THE BIBLE, MY FRIEND, MY BROTHER AND SISTER IN CHRIST? RATHER THE OPPOSITE IS FOUND IN THE WORD OF GOD. I WANT TO CALL YOU TO ONE SCRIPTURE THAT'S IN LUKE 17:3-4. LISTEN TO WHAT JESUS SAID HE WAS SPEAKING TO HIS DISCIPLES, “TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES IF YOUR BROTHER SINS AGAINST YOU, REBUKE HIM AND IF HE REPENTS FORGIVE HIM AND IF HE SINS AGAINST YOU SEVEN TIMES IN A DAY AND SEVEN TIMES IN A DAY RETURN SEE YOU SAYING I REPENT YE SHALL FORGIVE HIM.” WE CANNOT UNCONDITIONALLY FORGIVE PEOPLE OF THEIR TRESPASSES ONE OF THE WAYS THEY ARE FORGIVING THE ONLY WAY I KNOW THEY CAN BE FORGIVEN IS IF THEY ASK OF US ARE FORGIVENESS FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE EVERY PRINCIPLE TAUGHT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT GOES IN THAT DIRECTION EVERY SIN THAT PEOPLE REPENT OF AS IT RELATES TO GOD AS IT RELATES TO A FELLOW HUMAN BEING CAN ONLY BE FORGIVEN IF SOMEONE REPENTS. SO WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO IN THIS LIFE? WELL, I KNOW THIS, AS A FATHER AS A GRANDFATHER. WHEN MY CHILDREN IN THE PAST AND WHEN MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THE PRESENT DO THINGS THAT ARE NOT RIGHT. I CANNOT WAIT. IN FACT I'M PRAYING THAT THEY MIGHT COME AND SAY I'VE DONE WRONG. WILL YOU FORGIVE ME AND I'M MOST HAPPY IN EVERY WAY TO FORGIVE THEM OF WHAT THEY'VE DONE. BUT LISTEN IT DOESN'T HELP THEM ONE BIT TO OVERLOOK THEIR SINS, TO OVERLOOK THEIR PROBLEMS AND SAY, WELL, THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS, I'M GOING TO FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY. THAT'S A CHRISTIANS LAZY APPROACH TO THE DIRECTIVES OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. WE MUST DO WHAT JESUS HAS TOLD US TO DO. IF A PERSON COMES TO US AND THEY REPENT OF THEIR SINS WE HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO FORGIVE THEM. SO WHAT IS THE MESSAGE OF THIS HOUR THE MESSAGE OF THIS HOUR IS WE NEED TO BE FORGIVING OF OUR SINS BUT WE CAN BE FORGIVEN OF OUR SINS AS FAR AS GOD IS CONCERNED WHEN WE REPENT OF OUR SINS AND ASK FOR THAT FORGIVENESS. AND WE CAN ONLY FORGIVE THOSE WHO HAVE SINNED AGAINST US IF THEY ARE WILLING AND WE HOPE AND PRAY THAT THEY ARE WILLING AND WILL BE WILLING TO COME TO US AND TO CONFESS THEIR SINS SO THAT WE CAN WITH A LOVING HEART. IN JESUS CHRIST AND AS ONE OF HIS SERVANTS FORGIVE THEM. NOW WE DO WHAT GOD HAS ASKED US TO DO SO THAT WE CAN ASSURE OURSELVES AND THOSE WE ASSOCIATE WITH OF ETERNAL LIFE. CLOSING COMMENTS

WHAT A WONDROUS TIME WE HAVE HAD TOGETHER IN PARTICIPATING IN THE THINGS OF GOD. I HOPE WE ALL HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED THROUGH OUR TIME SPENT TOGETHER. PLEASE REMEMBER, YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AT 7:30, AS WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO THIS SERVICE OF GOD.

NOW LET ME ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT TODAY'S LESSON? MAYBE, YOU WOULD LIKE A FREE TRANSCRIPT OR A FREE CASSETTE TAPE OF THIS PROGRAM? POSSIBLY, WE COULD ASSIST YOU WITH FREE BIBLE MATERIALS OR FREE BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSES? NO MATTER WHAT YOUR NEED IS, PLEASE CONTACT US AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:

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MAY WE ALL REALIZE THAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US THAT WE MUST LEARN TO BE FORGIVERS, IN ORDER TO BE FORGIVEN! ARE YOU DEMONSTRATING THIS GODLY CHARACTERISTIC BEFORE YOUR FELLOW MAN? ARE YOU FORGIVING THE TRESPASSES OF OTHERS?