Forgiveness | Becoming a child of God | Part two

Forgiveness | “To as many as believed on him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God.” Believing is a decision, salvation is a gift, relationship a responsibility to the one that is prepared to give up me for us. So many times Jesus encounters with people that would go on to believe him to be the Son Of God was centred around faith and believe. So I encourage you to believe that by grace through faith you are saved, and that free salvation is a gift you have to share with someone else. Freely you’ve received, so freely give.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:10

Welcome to the Read of the Bible study with me, Bishop Williams, and we are now continuing what we started last time, and that is what it means to become a child of God. And so we dealt with that lessons last week, which give us some insight into what it really means to be a child of God. And this week we're going to be talking a little bit more about being a child of God, what it entails. And one of the fundamental principles of being a child of God is how one forgives. Forgiveness is an integral part of what it means to be a child of God. And so God has forgiven us of our sins. And when we say sins, we're talking about when we break his law and we do the things that somehow appeal to us. And so we, you know, that sin, the Bible talks about that. And here it is also telling us that in order for God to repair, or in order for us for us to repair the relationship that we have with Him, forgiveness must be a part of that process. Now, when we speak of sin, there are two types of sins that one deals with. One is what we call the Adamic sins, and that is the inheritance in. Every one of us that is born to the human race have find ourselves with that sin, because it came from our forefather Adam, the first man created by God. And therefore, because we are all offspring of Adam, we all inherited that sinful nature. Of course, Jesus came as the second Adam to help us to deal with that sin. In fact, he comes to pay the price and to redeem us, to bring us back into a right relationship with God. And so that sin was taken care of at the cross of Calvary. And when he died, was buried, rose again, and now he's living in our heart. And now the other sin is what we call environmental sins. Now, this is sins that people commit um almost on a daily basis. The little lies that they tell, the um deception, the different, different little things that happen day to day. And so we sin not only against God in that we break his commandments, but we also sin against each other and even against nature. Because, of course, people do things that really is not in line with God's plan. So here we're now going to be talking about that forgiveness. We know that God has forgiven us of our Adamic sin because he said so in St. John 3 and verse 16. We said, For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should never perish, but have everlasting life. So we know he has taken care of that. And he also tells us in the book of Romans, chapter 3, and verse 23, that for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. So everyone is consciously aware that that has been our state. And Jesus came through the love of God for you and I and has dealt with that. And so now what we are required to do is to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, because it was through his death by which we have been forgiven of our sin. So in principle, he paid the price for our sins. And we are now as a living and walking as a child of God. And in so doing and to perfect that relationship, forgiveness is a really important part of that process. So what does it really mean to forgive? What is forgiveness? What is it really about? Now, forgiveness is needed when one person has wronged another and the relationship between them has been damaged or even broken. For the act of forgiveness to take place, love must be shown along with a desire to see and to reconcile between both concerns. And here again the Bible is reassuring us that forgiveness really plays an important part in relationship. And any relationship that does not have this as a part of his process is going to find difficulties because every one of us, as much as we like to be perfect, every one of us has got faults, all of us has got issues, and sometimes it happens, and we have to love each other enough to be willing and ready to forgive the individual or the person who has offended you. Now, here we go on to understand that process a little bit deeper, and we're going to be looking at that. Our repentance and our forgiveness go hand in hand. So two things that go with forgiveness. One is repentance, and that is to turn. So, in other words, whatever you were thinking, wherever you were going, you turn away from that, and you now going in a right direction. And in doing that, it is it makes forgiveness so much easier and acceptable because you are now saying to the person, we are used to be thinking what I used to be doing, how I used to be going about things, have now changed. And therefore, I am asking for your forgiveness and vice versa. So that makes the relationship, put the relationship rather, on a good footing, yes, to back to perfection. So, okay, let's look at some examples of what it really means to forgive each other. Now we have two individuals, the the person who has done wrong and the person who has as who has wrong done to them. So here are these two individuals. This person, the person who has done wrong, this person has to say, I love you. That is the first thing. Because it is love that really characterize forgiveness. You need to understand that love is important to make forgiveness work. Some people can just go through the emotion that, oh well, I'll forgive you, but hating at the same time and resentful and all other negative emotions. But when love is there, and because you are willing to express that love in saying, okay, I'm sorry, I have done bad things to you, which may have hurt you or cause misunderstanding, I would like to change and restore our fellowship. Now, this is important, you know why? Because sometimes things happen not because the person intentionally wants it to happen, but misunderstanding, miscommunication, all of this could lend itself to wrong. And again, sometimes it is it is the emotions that people are going through, which, you know, you may wake up, as they would say, on the wrong side of the bed, and you lashes out at the person, you know, who sometimes is closest to you. However, whatever the circumstances behind it, the key thing is to allow love to prevail and is willing to go further in explaining and asking for forgiveness in which to restore the relationship. So that is what repentance really is about. Now the other person who has wrong done to them, they are now on the is now on the the end, the recipient end, where they will now receive that expression of love and as also the process of asking for forgiveness. This person has to say, I love you. So in other words, they love you and you love them, and I will forget the bad things you did and said. Now, forgiveness not only dealt with the issue at hand, but it also restores things back to what it was before damages were made or hurt came about. Then the person would go on to say, I will not hold on to the hurt it has caused me and will move on with our relationship. Now, this is really crucial, and I believe that a lot of people, even though they say it, but oftentimes it will be okay until something happens again and then it flares up. They will remind you, but that's not real and true forgiveness. True forgiveness will leave it right there, bury it right there, and move on in a meaningful way and not to resurrect it again. This is one of the problems that a lot of people have. There are too many resurrections going on of past situations. That means forgiveness was not genuine as it should have been. But when it is, it really is important to properly bury it and leave it right there. So all of this, it led to the person who wronged you saying, I repent, the person who have been wronged says, I forgive you. And this together is called reconciliation. So here are two persons who is now reconciled because one of the common denominator, and that is love, because you love, um, you love each other. Now, so this is a simple example, and that we are oftentimes cited in situations where repentance and forgiveness is needed and is necessary for both sides to rebuild relationship and to continue. And that is something that God loves. God loves when we can love each other, forgive each other, build meaningful relationship, and that is always a good thing. Now, in Psalms 103 and verse 8 to 14, the Bible gives us some insight as regarding God's relationship to us. And in verse 8 it says, the Lord is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide, neither will he keep his anger forever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins are reward us according to our iniquities. So here it is. So again, the Bible is showing us how God is merciful and how he is kind and he is compassionate towards his children. So even though we wronged him on numerous occasions, but the Lord is always ready to forgive us and ready to blot out our transgression. And this is really, really important in our walk with God and with others. Now, of course, we are seeing how important it is for us to respect the process of forgiveness and to know that not only do we forgive those of our friends, but this forgiveness must spread across all aspects of life. And one of the things that sometimes is a problem is that children and parents get into problems and forgiveness goes through the door. But it is important that forgiveness is not only to those that you feel are your friends, but forgiveness goes to brothers, just to your siblings, it goes to your parents, it goes to your neighbors. These are really important for you to understand. And it is very, very helpful to make the environment more cohesive, and so everyone can live together in a peaceful environment. That is what forgiveness really does. Now we also understand how powerful forgiveness is, it plays a role in our prior relationship with God. Now the Bible tells us in the book of Mark 16, um, Mark 11 and verse 24, it tells us how God gives us, when we pray, how he forgives us and he gives us the things that we desire. This is what the Bible tells us. And what is most interesting, in fact, it reads, it says it like this that when you stand praying, believe that you receive what you ask for, and you shall have it. That is what the scripture states. But the following scripture, verse 25, it says, but when you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any. And this is really important lesson to understand that forgiveness is attached to your relationship in life in general, that especially when you come to God and ask God's favor in things, it's important to know that conditions attach to that, in that if you are willing to forgive those around you, then the blessings of God will come upon you, and you would be in a position to handle the blessing. Now, if a person is living in uh in hate and in fear, in doubt, that's not really a foundation to build blessings on. But one has to understand that when you forgive someone, you see, you not only forgive them, but it is forgotten and it is blotted out. This is really important, and so for forgiveness must be from both the spirit, which is internal, and also to the external, which is the person who is receiving the forgiveness, and then it must also be from God, too. And um, I will explain why that is so important. When you um ask to forgive, or when you choose to forgive someone, it's important to understand that you as a person and a spirit person is taking that authority that you have to release someone from hurt and from uh um different things that they cause, they cause you. However, having said that, it's important that we don't just ask God to forgive them, but we ourselves must forgive the individual. So let me give an example of it. And we call it the tripartite um nature of forgiveness. Number one, you have to forgive um the person who wronged you, and it's literally out of your own spirit, out of from your own violation, you're saying to them, I forgive you. One, because love is better than hate, and when I love you, it's it shouldn't be too difficult to forgive you. And then you have to ask God to forgive them, because it's also important that God forgive them because you are God's child. Somebody hurt you, yes, God knows about it. So you ask God to forgive them as well. So, two, one, you forgive them, and two, you ask God to forgive them. And then the third is really important, is when you ask God to forgive you of taking for taking so long to forgive those who really hurt and offend you. Why? Because the attitude that you have in not forgiving someone, what would happen if God have uh that attitude towards you? You would really be in a real problem. And so what you're saying to God is that I've acted in a way that I shouldn't, because when I do something wrong against you, you don't keep it for years and end before you forgive me. So, in reality, I should um be prepared to forgive those who trespass against me as soon as possible. So key word forgiven, forgotten, blotted out. That is the important thing. So once it is blotted out, um, then you are safe. Now, the the the issue that a lot of people are experiencing, because some has never forgiven, never forgiven those who have hurt them, and especially from their youth. In other words, when you were younger, um, a lot of people are carrying baggages of unforgiveness. Uh, it may be families, it may be mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, others who have hurt them, it may be friends, schools, neighbors, and others who have hurt them, and so they're carrying these baggages with them. Yes, and you know, in the common terms, they use it as a skeleton in the in their closet, as it were. Now, it's important to bury these skeletons. It doesn't worth keeping them, I can assure you. They're only going to do more damages than good. So, and especially when you go on to having your own relationship, your own children, and to know that it's possible that one. They're gonna meet up on these skeletons in your closet, as it were. So I would strongly um recommend that you get rid of it. Now, a person may ask the question well, what happened if those who hurt me passed away, they died, and um but I'm still feeling the impact of what they have done. Well, the first thing I want you to know that most of these things are spiritually um organized anyhow. They come because of your spiritual, spiritual attack against you to destroy character, to destroy your purpose. And when they happen, you have the power to forgive a person even if they are not around anymore. Because what the spirits that causes either the evil is still around and feeds on your unforgiveness, but even more will continue to remind you, keep you depressed, keep you stressed, and keep you um in certain area of anxiety. So it's important. But when you can genuinely and from inside say, I forgive, and that is why those three-tier process of forgiveness is so important, because it doesn't matter whether the person is alive in front of you or not, when you forgive them because of the love that you have in your heart, it's hard for anything else to survive in your heart. And that is where your heart can be pure, it can be ready with all the good things that it should to give and to pass on to others who are gonna come into your life. So, as we have learned before, the wages for sin and the penalty for sin is death. Because God is just, He cannot just let sin go unpunished and let us off the hook. Instead, he sent Jesus to die in our place on the cross and to pay the penalty for sins. Now, isn't that beautiful? Isn't that wonderful to know that Jesus Christ, and that's why we call him our Savior, that is the reason when you hear the word Jesus saves me or Jesus is my savior, is because of his willingness to pay the price for all of my wrongdoing, my sin, the nature that I was born with, which was contrary to God's plan and God's will. Okay, so Jesus became our substitute. So where we should have paid the price ourselves by dying to appease the righteousness and holiness of God, Jesus himself took that on and became our substitute. Now, in the book of 1 John 1 and verse 9, it says, What if I, you know, the question is, what if I sin again, even after God has forgiven me? That is a genuine question. And many are asking that, especially those who are believers or who has been um serving the Lord. They ask, they want to know, what do I what happened now if I had sinned or um I offend God? Well, in the book of St. John, sorry, in the book of 1 John 1.9, it leaves us with the assurance that we can come to Jesus and ask him to forgive us because why he is our mediator. So once you come genuinely come with repentance, he is happy to mediate on your behalf and so that you don't have to pay the price or the consequences for your sin. Because what is what in principle he is doing, he is telling, uh, as it were, the father that you know what? This one is asking for forgiveness, and it's okay to forgive because I've already paid for their sins. And God would look at it and say, okay, because of Jesus, that's why every time we pray, that is why we pray in the name of Jesus. So we are building on the authority of who Jesus is to us, what Jesus has done to save us, and the love of God towards us. Okay, so it brings us to the point where we're asking the question: what is salvation? Okay, you may hear a lot of people use that phrase. Um, salvation, you'll hear people talk about being born again, you hear people talk about being saved, but this is this word really sums it up. It is the the everything is compounded and we call it salvation. So you may hear Christians talk about being saved and what that means. By being a Christian, we are saved from the penalty of sins. Our sins have been forgiven because Jesus died in our place, and so we do not have to fear the judgment of God. Now, this is what it means. So, salvation is really to save us from potential destruction and disaster, both present and in the future. So, salvation is the process of being saved. That is what it is. And we need you to understand that when this process is completed, we have the promise of eternal life, dwelling, dwelling in a sinless world with God for eternity. Now, this is beautiful to know, and especially in a time when so many are anxious about what is happening, what's going to happen, and how it's going to happen, it's reassuring to know that God has already thought about it and he has planned our escape, and we will be with him for eternity. Therefore, forgiving others are really, really important. And um in the Lord's prayer, Jesus tells us to forgive, um, to forgive our sins as we um forgive others who sinned against us. So we want God to forgive us our sins. And that is why in the third part of that prayer, we ask God to forgive us for taking so long to forgive others. So here um Jesus tells us that we should forgive others as God has forgiven us our sins. So lack of forgiveness is the main cause of people, of people's hatred and bitterness towards one another and cause this the this causes violence, war, family breakup, and of course, national and political unrest. So that is what it is. Unforgiveness has consequences, it is destructive. Sometimes we feel justified in our unforgiveness because we feel we have been badly wrong, our abused. But Jesus taught us a new way of approaching these difficulties, and he tells us what we need to do. And he tells us that, yes, if a person even struck you on one side, he said, turn the other. He said that we should love everyone, even those who have done us wrong, said we should love them and you know show that love because of who we are, and very, very important. And in conclusion, let me just say to you that when you forgive someone, you has you not only feel better, but it also has healing properties. In other words, your heart, your your mind, and your body becomes at peace when you can forgive someone. If you don't, then you know the trauma that that brings to your soul and to your mind. It brings, uh it's open doors for even physical sicknesses and diseases. And so I recommend and that everyone do their best to forgive those around them at your earliest opportunity to do so, and above all, to show love one to another, and you will find life is a great deal better for you. So as we close, I just want to pray for you, and I want to pray that God give you the strength to forgive. And no matter how badly you feel hurt, God is able to help you and give you the strength to forgive so that you will free yourself from that bondage and heal yourself mentally and physically. So let us pray. Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank you. We thank you for Jesus, our Savior, who has paid the price so that we would be forgiven. Father, I pray in Jesus' name that every person who is listening to this broadcast, I pray that they will forgive those around them. I pray, Lord God, that they will be free from the bondage of unforgiveness. In Jesus' name, I'm asking you today that, Lord God, whatever damages has been done through unforgiveness, I'm asking you to restore everyone to their better place. Bless now we ask in Jesus' name. Amen. God bless you.