Sermons
Forgiveness
Forgivness
The 1863 Proclamation for a National Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer by Abraham Lincoln: “It behooves us, then to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.”
The strength of the facts that it was said at all, said by a politician, said in the middle of a vicious war, said to the side that was winning, and said to direct the people to recognize their character.
Genesis 45:1-8
Joseph had suffered many injustices because of the actions of hisbrothers. The power he now held was essentially unlimited. How would one of us treat such villainous siblings?
Matthew 18:21-35
Peter had a superficial understanding of forgiveness. His standards were high, Jesus holds us to an even higher standard. The parable he
tells in response illustrates the dangers of settling for personal standards.
Acts 8:9-25
Simon the Sorcerer had lived a life of a charlatan, grifter, fraud. He had status and power and found in the Gospel the need to abandon all that for salvation. When he saw the genuine power of the apostles, we see he had not understood all he needed to understand. How far he had come, but how far he needed to go.
1Corinthians 9:26-27; 1 Corinthians 15:9-11
Paul’s whole life shows the growth of a proper understanding of forgiveness. He began as an energetic student, emerged as a zealous persecutor, turned to the Gospel wholeheartedly, and saw the need for continuous self-examination and humility.
Hebrews 10:16-17
