Agents of Grace: Forgiving Grace

2016-04-10 
Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

Memory Verse:
Rev. 22:21
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Today, we continue our conversation on being Agents of Grace. Being recipients of the matchless grace of God, but also focusing on being representatives of that matchless grace.

The world today is dark and devoid of mercy, compassion, and grace. In a world filled with everything but grace, we are encouraging every child of God to take the 1st step and reach out to their friends, family, loved ones and strangers, and bless them by showing God’s grace.

A Characteristic of Christ: Forgiveness

Psa. 103:8
The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

Eph. 1:7
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

Our Response
Eph. 4:32
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

The story of Hosea and Gomer is one of the great messages of forgiveness and grace in all of Scripture. How do we transition the lessons of forgiving grace in the Bible to our everyday lives. Many times, we embrace the stories and inspiration of Scripture but don’t know how to apply it for today.

Matt. 18:21
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

Quick application: How often should we show forgiving grace? Every Time!

1. Mercy is needed – vs 23-25

23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.

2. Mercy is wanted – vs 26

26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, “Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.”

3. Mercy is extended – vs 27
27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

This is an amazing story that Jesus shared of mercy and grace extended when so desperately needed, when there was no hope outside of grace. But, we need to keep reading the story to see how this recipient of grace responded in his own life.

1. Mercy is needed – vs 28

28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ ”

2. Mercy is wanted – vs 29

29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.”

3. Mercy is withheld – vs 30

30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.

4. An opportunity missed, a testimony destroyed – vs 31-33

31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?”

The point of the story…verses 34-35

34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

It doesn’t mean you will lose your salvation, it means that you will miss out on being the recipient of the amazing grace of God extended in the midst of your daily challenges because you’ve not been representative of the amazing grace of God.