07 Nov Forgiveness Makes Everyone a Winner
Romans 2:1-4 – Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Luke 15:10 – Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Schedule a meeting with God and write out the list of debts the person(s) you need to forgive has accrued to you. Then have what we call a “canceling the record of debt.” Burn your list to remind yourself of the flames of hell from which Jesus saved you, or bury it to remind yourself that Jesus was buried for your sin.
As you forgive, imagine Jesus Christ getting up off His throne to cheer for you while the devil flees from you. As light casts out darkness, so forgiveness casts out the demonic.
Not only that, but forgiveness also makes the opportunity easier for the person who sinned against you to repent to God and you, because kindness leads to repentance. When you forgive others, you get out of the way and let God deal with them directly.
Think of the possibility that you could forgive someone right now, and Jesus would jump off His throne to celebrate like a rabid sports fan at a game with the angels joining in. Then the person who sinned against you one day repents, and Jesus jumps up to lead the angels in yet another all-out victory celebration, as everyone is a winner when there is forgiveness!
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For the entire eight-week “Win Your War” sermon series from Pastor Mark, visit www.markdriscoll.org or the Mark Driscoll Ministries app.
