Good morning,
Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection are all rooted in one concept, forgiveness. We are sinners who owe a debt we cannot pay. Jesus, perfect, sinless, blameless, paid our sin debt with His blood on the cross.
This week we will look at that forgiveness.
What is the result when we forgive? Reconciliation.
“Then Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.” (Genesis 33:4) Jacob and Esau.
“So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” (Genesis 50:17-20) Joseph and his brothers.
“And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:26-28) Saul and the disciples/apostles.
The most important question is are we reconciled to God through Jesus Christ?
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-19)
Forgiveness begins with God reconciling Himself to us through Christ Jesus.
Please contact me if you would like to know more.
CONCLUSION
Jesus forgave us
We should forgive others as many times as needed
Reconciliation is the end state of forgiving others
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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