“The Cure To It All—Forgiveness”
Pastor Albert Almore
This morning I want to talk to you about forgiveness. Unforgiveness is a disease that’ll destroy you from the inside out in every way. Unforgiveness will affect you and every relationship that you’re in. Unforgiveness is a thief. Unforgiveness changes you. Simply put, unforgiveness isn’t worth it.
📝 There’s only one cure for unforgiveness, and that’s FORGIVENESS.
Sermon Title
The Cure To It All—Forgiveness
But I can’t…
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
Romans 1:20 NIV
Through the lens of forgiveness, let’s read Romans 1:20 like this,
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power (TO HELP YOU FORGIVE) and divine nature (LOVE, FORGIVENESS, COMPASSION)—have been clearly seen (THROUGH JESUS CHRIST), being understood from what has been made(JESUS MADE FLESH, DWELLING AMONG US, JOHN 1:14), so that people are without excuse (WHEN IT COMES TO FORGIVENESS).”
Romans 1:20 NIV
You can tell a lot about a person by the way that they choose their last words. People don’t waste their last few breaths on empty words.
For Christ, every breath that he took, and every word that he was able to utter out while on THE CROSS was a challenge.
There was absolutely nothing appealing or desiring about the cross. It was eerie. It served as capital punishment for criminals. The cross was made of two pieces. The upright portion of the cross was called the stipes. The blood of the victim ran down this vertical piece of wood, forming stripes on the surface explaining why Isaiah 53:5 says,
BY HIS STRIPES we are healed…
Isaiah 53:5 NKJV
Many theologians believe that the upright post (stipes) was permanently fixed in the ground at the site of execution and the condemned man was forced to carry the patibulum from the prison to the place of execution.
The cross was then put on the ground and the victim laid upon it. Nails about 7 inches long and with a diameter of 1 cm were driven in the wrists. Many believe that the nails weren’t driven into the palms of the hands as most pictures depict. Rather, they were driven through the wrist near the hands. If the spikes were driven through the hands, the weight of the person would cause the nail to rip through the hands and the victim would fall off the cross. But when driven through the wrist, the set of bones which attach the wrist to the hand keep the hands from ripping free.
Those who were crucified rarely died from blood loss. Most often, they died from asphyxiation—the inability to breathe. Before the nail was driven through the victim’s feet, the legs were bent at the knee so that the bottom of one foot was flat against the vertical beam.
One foot was placed on top of the other, and one long nail was driven through both feet. When the cross was lifted up, the weight of the body caused the victim to slump, putting all the weight of the body on the nails through the wrists. This also caused compression on the lungs, which kept the victim from inhaling. As long as he was slumped down, he could not take in breath.
To take a breath, the victim would have to stand up on the nail through his feet, causing excruciating pain in the feet, but enabling him to take a breath. As long as he was putting all his weight on his feet, he could breathe. But when that became too painful, he would slump back down, putting all his weight on his wrists, and also returning to the condition of not being able to breathe.
Eventually, the victim would become so weak, they could no longer lift themselves up on their feet to take a breath, and they would die from asphyxiation.
******It was under these conditions where Luke 23:33,
“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.”
Luke 23:33 KJV
“Then said Jesus, FATHER, FORGIVE THEM; FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”
Luke 23:34 KJV
📝 • The EXAMPLE.
It’s here where the INNOCENT pardoned the GUILTY.
Jesus said, “Don’t charge them. Charge me.”
father forgive THEM...
Who was the THEM that he was talking about???
I wonder if Matthew 26:56 had anything to do with it where it says...
"At that point, ALL THE DISCIPLES DESERTED HIM and fled.” Matthew 26:56 NLT
Or maybe forgiveness was offered for what took place in John 19:1.
Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. John 19:1
It was here where Jesus was nearly beaten to death, flogged with a capital punish whip. With every blow a piece of his flesh was ripped out, as nerves was severely damaged, destroyed, as his blood covered the ground.
Approximately 700 years before Christ was born, Isaiah saw him and described what Christ went through and said...
“I offered my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from mockery and spitting.”
Isaiah 50:6 NLT
But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man.
Isaiah 52:14 NLT
But through it all the INNOCENT never lashed out at the GUILTY. Isaiah 53:7 says...
“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”
Isaiah 53:7 NIV
Christ Jesus the example, teaches us to:
📝 Forgive those who ABANDONED you.
📝 Forgive those who MISTREATED you.
Look to the EXAMPLE.
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power (TO HELP YOU FORGIVE) and divine nature (LOVE, FORGIVENESS, COMPASSION)—have been clearly seen (THROUGH JESUS CHRIST), being understood from what has been made(JESUS MADE FLESH, DWELLING AMONG US, JOHN 1:14), so that people are without excuse (WHEN IT COMES TO FORGIVENESS).”
Romans 1:20 NIV
Before we say they don’t deserve our forgiveness remember, NEITHER DID WE.
I pray the Lord’s Prayer all throughout the day, and when I do I see point number 2….
📝 • The REMINDER.
“AND FORGIVEN US OUR SINS, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.”
Matthew 6:12 NLT
I WAS ONE OF THEM.
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32) Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, JUST AS GOD THROUGH CHRIST HAS FORGIVEN YOU.”
Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT
HOW MUCH HAS GOD FORGIVEN YOU OF?
WHO DO I THINK I AM NOT TO EXTEND FORGIVENESS?
📝 FORGIVEN PEOPLE FORGIVE people.
📝 To whom much has been FORGIVEN, much shall be FORGIVEN.
📝 Forgiveness doesn’t mean regained ACCESS to your life.
📝 Forgiveness GIVES you CLOSURE to a door they may never OPEN.
Allow me to introduce you to a new train thought this morning...
📝 I forgive YOU for ME.
📝 You say, “They don’t deserve my forgiveness.” I say, you don’t deserve to be BOUND.
📝 Unforgiveness is A PRISON that locks you up in your mind while they often walk around free.
Forgiveness is a gift that you GIVE to yourself as
well as to others, if they choose to accept it.
"Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” JESUS REPLIED, “but SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN!”
Matthew 18:21-22
“No, not seven times,” JESUS REPLIED, “but SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN!”
Matthew 18:21-22
Understand this people of God, for the believer...
📝 Forgiveness is the EXPECTATION not the EXCEPTION.
📝Forgiveness isn’t I’ll forgive you THIS TIME but rather I’ll forgive you EVERY TIME.
📝 •The ABILITY.
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power (TO HELP YOU FORGIVE) and divine nature (LOVE, FORGIVENESS, COMPASSION)—have been clearly seen (THROUGH JESUS CHRIST), being understood from what has been made(JESUS MADE FLESH, DWELLING AMONG US, JOHN 1:14), SO THAT PEOPLE ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE (WHEN IT COMES TO FORGIVENESS).”
Romans 1:20 NIV
📝 The one who you accepted into your HEART found it in His HEART to forgive. Let him WORK.
“Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.””
John 20:19 NKJV
“When He had said this, HE SHOWED THEM HIS HANDS AND HIS SIDE. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.”
John 20:20 NKJV
“So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.””
John 20:21 NKJV
But look at my scars. Look at my hands. Me sending you is going to cost you something.
“And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.””
John 20:22-23 NKJV
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power (TO HELP YOU FORGIVE) and divine nature (LOVE, FORGIVENESS, COMPASSION)—have been clearly seen (THROUGH JESUS CHRIST), being understood from what has been made(JESUS MADE FLESH, DWELLING AMONG US, JOHN 1:14), SO THAT PEOPLE ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE (WHEN IT COMES TO FORGIVENESS).”
Romans 1:20 NIV
📝 We aren’t without EXCUSE, but through the Holy Spirit, we aren’t without the ABILITY.
WILL YOU LET HIM WORK?
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