Colossians 1:13-14 “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”Colossians 2:13-14-“And you who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”
Colossians 3:12-15 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive AS THE LORD FORGAVE YOU. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Scripture is pretty clear. The lives of Christ-followers are supposed to be characterized by forgiveness. Here are some highlights from Sunday’s message that connected with the popular movie, “I Can Only Imagine.”
- When we live with un-forgiveness in our hearts, we are giving Satan power over our story, but when we forgive, we surrender our story to our loving Heavenly Father and can then share the story and point to the power of God that made forgiveness possible for all of us to give and to receive.
- If we wait until we feel like forgiving, we probably will never forgive. If we wait until someone acknowledges what they did to us, we may never forgive.
- The basis of forgiveness isn’t my feelings or someone else’s willingness to grovel, the basis of forgiveness is what Jesus has done for me on the cross.
- If God can forgive me in all of my sin and shame, and Christ’s death pays the price for all sins, past, present, and future, who I am to say that what Jesus did for me couldn’t or shouldn’t enable me to extend the forgiveness I have received to someone else who needs it?
- Forgiveness isn’t earned. It’s a gift.
- When God forgave us, He gave us power to change.
- When we forgive others, we change and we give them power to change.
- Heaven comes to earth when we experience forgiveness and when we give it to other people.
Determine to be a forgiver so that heaven can come to earth. Determine to be a forgiver so that the past doesn’t define you or anyone else. Determine to be a forgiver so that you can live free. Determine to be a forgiver so that your future looks like the one God had planned and not one the devil got to influence.
Let’s live free. Let’s give and receive God’s forgiveness.
Check out our church website for the full manuscript.
Pastor Melissa
