Father Forgive Them (Luke 23:32-34)
Gary McManus, 09/12/2021Part of the Sermons for a Pandemic series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
September 12, 2021 “Father, Forgive Them. . .”
Luke 23:32-34
This topic was covered one year ago: “forgiveness
in a pandemic.” But now the picture of the pandemic
is changed, so we return to the topic.
Although there are three vaccines available, children
remain unvaccinated. . .and half the people in our state
are not vaccinated. It isn’t enough to defeat the virus.
SOMEBODY is responsible. We don’t know who.
Sickness at school. Quarantine from school. Sickness
at work—work load increased.
Whenever someone causes us losses or pain or grief,
that is a situation where forgiveness is needed.
A pandemic causes plenty of loss, pain, and grief.
For Jesus followers, forgiveness is an important topic.
It can be even more difficult if the offender doesn’t
know what they did. In a pandemic, the loss, pain
and grief were often preventable.
Hear again from Travis Campbell (Facebook)
Notice, Travis Campbell, Jesus follower, talking
about regret—regret for a decision that is still costing
him money and costing his family money.
Travis Campbell is trying to make up for the loss he
caused himself and others by encouraging others to
get vaccinated.
Almost all Jesus followers know that following Jesus
involves forgiveness: God’s forgiveness of us and
our forgiveness of others.
Jesus taught us to pray it (the Lord’s Prayer).
Let’s review:
FORGIVENESS is NOT RECONCILIATION.
Reconciliation takes two parties.
Forgiveness is ours alone to do.
(Reconciling; Matthew 5:24)
FORGIENESS it is NOT FORGETTING.
To forgive, you have to remember.
Jesus did not say “forgive them right now”.
If you can, more power to you.
For many, forgiveness is a process.
Louis Zamperini, Olympic and WW2 hero.
(and Jesus follower)
FORGIVENESS is NOT EXCUSING.
Pastor says, “well that’s a reason but it’s not an excuse.”
“Forgiveness” is in the New Testament 60 times.
Believers know to forgive
--the first time
--the seventh time
--the 77th time
--the 7 TIMES 70th time? (Matthew 18:22)
Louis Zamperini was in that category.
Forgiveness means releasing the offender from any obligation.
Forgiveness is saying there will be no penalty, no payback.
Forgiveness cannot WAIT for an apology.
Forgive a debt of $100? The money doesn’t magically
appear back in your wallet. You are out the $100
(AND, you won’t ask for the money back).
THAT is forgiveness.
ARE you prepared to forgive in a pandemic?
How many times?
See Pastor Craig Groeshel’s book,
The Christian Atheist.
Forgiveness is something that the LORD works in us.
Jesus said God can and God will help us do it.
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