Forgiveness

For Sunday, July 12, 2020.

Luke 17:4 NLT (Jesus speaking:) “If a person wrongs you seven times a day, and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.”

Forgiveness is huge in the Bible. Jesus says that if someone sins against you and then repents, we are to forgive them. But what if someone sins against you seven times? Jesus says that if they’re truly sorry and keep asking for forgiveness, we are to forgive them “70 times 7!” And that’s a metaphor for a “whole lot of forgiveness” – forgiveness doesn’t stop at 490!

“Forgive us our trespasses AS we forgive those who trespass against us.” Jesus teaches that AS we forgive others, so we will be forgiven. God desires everyone to join him in the hereafter, and has plenty of forgiveness to offer all those who repent.

So on this Sabbath day, generously forgive others in the same way that you wish to be forgiven. Blessings,

Pastor Norton

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

On Forgiveness...

Oct. 22, 2018 Monday Message:

On Forgiveness…

Mankind is plagued with a sinful nature, and the Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. But it also says that if you repent and return to the Lord, you will be forgiven.

Consider Saul of Tarsus – we know him as Saint Paul. Trained as a Pharisee, he formed a posse to capture the new Christians, bring them in chains to the Temple for trial, sometimes resulting in their execution. Saul wrote, “When the believers were put to death, I cast my vote against them.” He put to death many, many Christians. Simply put, he murdered God’s Children.

And yet God forgave him. God got Saul’s attention on the road to Damascus, and then sent him on a mission for Christ, to deliver the Good News to the Gentile nations. God saw through what Saul WAS, and focused on what he could BECOME if he was forgiven! Turns out that the “forgiven Saul” was far more useful for Kingdom-building.

Of course the lesson here is that if Saul could be forgiven for murdering God’s children, then we should likewise forgive all manner of sin against us. Jesus said that our sins will be forgiven AS WE FORGIVE others. Don’t hang onto anger, frustration, and resentments - just let God work it out. Don’t let someone who sins against you control how you feel today. Divorce yourself from the whole matter.

Let go and let God. Smile!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla continues teaching from Micah.