Transcript Why I Believe In Jesus

What does it mean to be a Christian?

Often we mistakenly check first on the
externals. (Hos 6:6; Mt 9:13)
What does it mean to be a Christian?
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(Hosea 6:6 NKJV) “For I desire mercy
and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of
God more than burnt offerings.”
What does it mean to be a Christian?
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(Matthew 9:13 NKJV) “”But go and learn
what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not
sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the
righteous, but sinners, to repentance.””
What does it mean to be a Christian?

We can hide behind the externals!
(Mt 23:25-26)
What does it mean to be a Christian?
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(Matthew 23:25-26 NKJV) “”Woe to you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you
cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but
inside they are full of extortion and selfindulgence. {26} “Blind Pharisee, first
cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that
the outside of them may be clean also.”
What does it mean to be a Christian?

Why do we often fail here? Because it is
easier to use externals as a mask.
What does it mean to be a Christian?
Why do we often fail here? Because it is
easier to use externals as a mask.
 Please do not find comfort with the
position that denies a place for externals!
(Mt 23:23)
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What does it mean to be a Christian?

(Matthew 23:23 NKJV) “Woe to you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you
pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and
have neglected the weightier matters of the
law: justice and mercy and faith. These you
ought to have done, without leaving the
others undone.”
What does it mean to be a Christian?

I cannot think of any greater tests of our
heart than the one of forgiving others.
What does it mean to be a Christian?
I cannot think of any greater tests of our
heart than the one of forgiving others.
 I ask that you listen with absolute honesty.
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What does it mean to be a Christian?
I cannot think of any greater tests of our
heart than the one of forgiving others.
 I ask that you listen with absolute honesty.
 We must release all desire for revenge.
(Rom 12:19-21)
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What does it mean to be a Christian?
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Romans 12:19-21 (NKJV) “19 Beloved, do not
avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath;
for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”
says the Lord. 20 Therefore “If your enemy is
hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his
head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but
overcome evil with good.”
What does it mean to be a Christian?
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If we do not see our need here, we will in
time become like the Pharisees.
What is forgiveness?
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We know it is like love in that it comes from
the character of God.
(1 Jn 4:19; Mt 6:12,14-15)
What is forgiveness?
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(1 John 4:19 NKJV) “We love Him
because He first loved us.”
What is forgiveness?

(Matthew 6:12 NKJV) “And forgive us
our debts, As we forgive our debtors.”
What is forgiveness?

(Matthew 6:14-15 NKJV) “”For if you
forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly
Father will also forgive you. {15} “But if
you do not forgive men their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your
trespasses.”
What is forgiveness?
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When we define forgiveness as God does
then we will know!
What is forgiveness?
When we define forgiveness as God does
then we will know!
 Do you know the forgiveness of God?
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What is forgiveness?
When we define forgiveness as God does
then we will know!
 Do you know the forgiveness of God?
 What is God's forgiveness like?
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What is forgiveness?
When we define forgiveness as God does
then we will know!
 Do you know the forgiveness of God?
 What is God's forgiveness like?
 God blots out our sins! (Acts 3:19)
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What is forgiveness?
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(Acts 3:19 NKJV) “”Repent therefore and
be converted, that your sins may be blotted
out, so that times of refreshing may come
from the presence of the Lord,”
What is forgiveness?
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God does not remember our sins any more.
(Heb 8:12)
What is forgiveness?
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(Hebrews 8:12 NKJV) “”For I will be
merciful to their unrighteousness, and their
sins and their lawless deeds I will remember
no more.””
What is forgiveness?
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God receives us back to a full fellowship.
(Lk 15:20-24)
What is forgiveness?
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(Luke 15:20-24 NKJV) “”And he arose
and came to his father. But when he was
still a great way off, his father saw him and
had compassion, and ran and fell on his
neck and kissed him. {21} “And the son
said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against
heaven and in your sight, and am no longer
worthy to be called your son.’
What is forgiveness?
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{22} “But the father said to his servants,
‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him,
and put a ring on his hand and sandals on
his feet. {23} ‘And bring the fatted calf here
and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; {24}
‘for this my son was dead and is alive again;
he was lost and is found.’ And they began to
be merry.”
What is forgiveness?
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"To forgive someone involves three things. First, it
means to forego the right of striking back. One
rejects the urge to repay gossip with gossip and a
bad turn with a worse turn. Second, it means
replacing the feeling of resentment and anger with
good will, a love which seeks the other's welfare,
not harm. Third, it means the forgiving person
takes concrete steps to restore good relations."
Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
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In real forgiveness you take the loss or hurt
and write it off.
Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
In real forgiveness you take the loss or hurt
and write it off.
 We are a people who do not want to be
cheated! It is with the utmost difficulty
that we let go of a real debt!
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Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
In real forgiveness you take the loss or hurt
and write it off.
 We are a people who do not want to be
cheated! It is with the utmost difficulty
that we let go of a real debt!
 Before you try to justify your holy war over
your hurts ask this question: " What if
God treated my debt to Him as I am treating
others?" (Mt 18:23-35)
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Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
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(Matthew 18:23-35 NKJV) “”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.
Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
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{26} “The servant therefore fell down before him,
saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will
pay you all.’ {27} “Then the master of that servant
was moved with compassion, released him, and
forgave him the debt. {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!’
Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
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{29} “So his fellow servant fell down at his feet
and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me,
and I will pay you all.’ {30} “And he would not,
but went and threw him into prison till he should
pay the debt. {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.
Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
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{33} ‘Should you not also have had compassion
on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’
{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.”
Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
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Notice the great emphasis of the scriptures
here. (Mt 6:14-15, 18:35)
Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
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(Matthew 6:14-15 NKJV) “”For if you
forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly
Father will also forgive you. {15} “But if
you do not forgive men their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your
trespasses.”
Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
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(Matthew 18:35 NKJV) “So My heavenly
Father also will do to you if each of you,
from his heart, does not forgive his brother
his trespasses.”
Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
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Humility is a must for one to truly forgive.
(Col 3:12-13)
Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
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(Colossians 3:12-13 NKJV) “Therefore, as
the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on
tender mercies, kindness, humility,
meekness, longsuffering; {13} bearing with
one another, and forgiving one another, if
anyone has a complaint against another;
even as Christ forgave you, so you also
must do.”
Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
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A proud person will pursue the one who
injured him for as long as it takes!
Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
A proud person will pursue the one who
injured him for as long as it takes!
 In humility we recognize who we really are.
Let go!
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Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
A proud person will pursue the one who
injured him for as long as it takes!
 In humility we recognize who we really are.
Let go!
 Self-deception is very strong when it comes
to forgiveness. (Jas 1:26)
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Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
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(James 1:26 NKJV) “If anyone among
you thinks he is religious, and does not
bridle his tongue but deceives his own
heart, this one’s religion is useless.”
Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
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We can say we "forgive" while at the same
time harbor bitterness in our hearts.
Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
We can say we "forgive" while at the same
time harbor bitterness in our hearts.
 Even though we say the right words, it is
plain to others that we have a vendetta.
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Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
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Things which men substitute for
forgiveness.
Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
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To ignore both the wrong done and the
person who did it.
Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
To ignore both the wrong done and the
person who did it.
 If we can by love cover a fault then all is
well. (1 Pt 4:8)
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Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
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(1 Peter 4:8 NKJV) “And above all things
have fervent love for one another, for “love
will cover a multitude of sins.”
Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
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But if we bury a hurt and then snub and
avoid another, we are in trouble.
Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
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To go by the "eye for an eye" approach.
Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
To go by the "eye for an eye" approach.
 After I get even then all is well!
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Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
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To put the person on probation.
Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
To put the person on probation.
 I will forgive you but if you do this
again….be extra good or else!
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Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
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"Forgiveness is not that stripe which says, "I
will forgive, but not forget." It is not to bury
the hatchet with the handle sticking out of
the ground, so you can grasp it the minute
you want it."
Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
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We may think we have forgiven but in truth
we have not! What is forgiveness?
(Heb 8:12)
Genuine forgiveness is truly difficult
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(Hebrews 8:12 NKJV) “”For I will be
merciful to their unrighteousness, and their
sins and their lawless deeds I will remember
no more.””
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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The unforgiving lives a life of pain.
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
The unforgiving lives a life of pain.
 They think if they forgive that they will be
cheated. In truth they have taken a road far
harder than anything God would put us
through. (Deut 6:24)
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The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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(Deuteronomy 6:24 NKJV) “’And the
LORD commanded us to observe all these
statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our
good always, that He might preserve us
alive, as it is this day.”
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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"General Oglethorpe once said to John
Wesley, "I never forgive and I never forget."
To which Wesley responded, "Then Sir, I
hope you never sin." Very apt, for when we
reflect on how much God has forgiven us, it
makes our own little grudges against others
seem rather petty."
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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Over time the unforgiving heart becomes a
hardened heart. (Eph 4:19, 32)
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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(Ephesians 4:19 NKJV) “who, being past
feeling, have given themselves over to
lewdness, to work all uncleanness with
greediness.”
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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(Ephesians 4:32 NKJV) “And be kind to
one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, just as God in Christ forgave you.”
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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When the desire for revenge pushes out the
love of God it will be replaced with
bitterness and anger. They are relentless
masters.
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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In time you will act like a crazy person! You
may know the right words to speak and
wear your mask often, but you heart will be
revealed! Consider the examples of the
Pharisees. (Mk 15:10; Jn 18:28)
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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(Mark 15:10 NKJV) “For he knew that
the chief priests had handed Him over
because of envy.”
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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(John 18:28 NKJV) “Then they led Jesus
from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was
early morning. But they themselves did not
go into the Praetorium, lest they should be
defiled, but that they might eat the
Passover.”
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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The family of the unforgiving pays a high
price.
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
The family of the unforgiving pays a high
price.
 In the family of the unforgiving you must
line up or be punished. You are not
allowed to point out the obvious.
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The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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"Old gossip may ... be immoral, a means of
locking another person in the past, tying a
person to a past sin in a way that is anything
but Christian. ... Forgiveness means, in
great part, that the forgiven sin is no longer
the subject of continued conversation.
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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This taught bitterness and unreasonableness
is common in those who are alcoholics and
other kinds of addicts.
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
This taught bitterness and unreasonableness
is common in those who are alcoholics and
other kinds of addicts.
 It is better for a young Christian in such a
home to seek to separate from that
influence as soon as possible.
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The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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(Hebrews 12:14-15 NKJV) “Pursue peace
with all people, and holiness, without which
no one will see the Lord: {15} looking
carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace
of God; lest any root of bitterness springing
up cause trouble, and by this many become
defiled;”
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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Most church problems have their origins
here.
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
Most church problems have their origins
here.
 Forgiving people pursue peace. Unforgiving
people pursue allies.
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The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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Judge Your Enemy by Thomas Merton
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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Judge Your Enemy by Thomas Merton
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"Do not be too quick to assume that your
enemy is a savage just because he is your
enemy. Perhaps he is your enemy because
he thinks you are a savage. Or perhaps he is
afraid of you because he feels you are afraid
of him. And perhaps if he believed you were
capable of loving him he would no longer
be your enemy.
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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"Do not be too quick to assume that your
enemy is an enemy of God just because he
is your enemy. Perhaps he is your enemy
precisely because he can find nothing in you
that gives glory to God. Perhaps he fears
you because he can find nothing in you of
God's love and God's kindness and God's
patience and mercy and understanding of
the weakness of men.”
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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"Do not be too quick to condemn the man
who no longer believes in God. For it is
perhaps your own coldness and avarice and
mediocrity and materialism and sensuality
and selfishness that have killed his faith".
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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The unforgiving and their allies will go to
hell. (Mt 18:35; Jas 2:13)
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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(Matthew 18:35 NKJV) “”So My
heavenly Father also will do to you if each
of you, from his heart, does not forgive his
brother his trespasses.””
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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(James 2:13 NKJV) “For judgment is
without mercy to the one who has shown no
mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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It is not enough to say: "I have been bitter."
You need to make it right!
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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"Forgiveness isn't pretending nothing has
happened, or pretending that what happened didn't
hurt. It isn't even forgetting it completely, and it
isn't going back and starting over as though it
hadn't ever happened. Instead, forgiveness is
refusing to let anything permanently destroy the
relationship. There's a place for saying, "I'm
sorry." There's a place for assuring the other
person that "all is forgiven."
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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But the goal of both is to rebuild the relationship.
One of the amazing things about a healthy
beginning again is that the relationship is often
stronger than it was before"
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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King Saul occasionally admitted his wrong
but never repented. (1 Sam 24:17-19)
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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(1 Samuel 24:17-19 NKJV) “Then he said to
David: “You are more righteous than I; for you
have rewarded me with good, whereas I have
rewarded you with evil. {18} “And you have
shown this day how you have dealt well with me;
for when the LORD delivered me into your hand,
you did not kill me. {19} “For if a man finds his
enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore
may the LORD reward you with good for what
you have done to me this day.”
The hard road of the unforgiving heart
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I believe that the driving force behind
liberalism are those who have not dealt
with their hurts and therefore want "no more
conflict." Here they want to run and hide!
The healing power of genuine forgiveness
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Forgiveness releases us from unnecessary
burdens! (Mt 11:28-30)
The healing power of genuine forgiveness
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(Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV) “Come to Me,
all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest. {29} “Take My yoke
upon you and learn from Me, for I am
gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find
rest for your souls. {30} “For My yoke is
easy and My burden is light.”
The healing power of genuine forgiveness
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"In his book, Lee: The Last Years, Charles
Bracelen Flood reports that after the Civil War,
Robert E. Lee visited a Kentucky lady who took
him to the remains of a grand old tree in front of
her house. There she bitterly cried that its limbs
and trunk had been destroyed by Federal Artillery
fire. She looked to Lee for a word condemning the
North or at least sympathizing with her loss. After
a brief silence, Lee said, "Cut it down, my dear
Madam, and forget it."
The healing power of genuine forgiveness
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It is better to forgive the injustices of the past than
to allow them to remain, let bitterness take root
and poison the rest of our life."
The healing power of genuine forgiveness
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Forgiveness restores relationships!
(Col 3:12-13)
The healing power of genuine forgiveness
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(Colossians 3:12-13 NKJV) “Therefore, as
the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on
tender mercies, kindness, humility,
meekness, longsuffering; {13} bearing with
one another, and forgiving one another, if
anyone has a complaint against another;
even as Christ forgave you, so you also
must do.”
The healing power of genuine forgiveness
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Forgiveness lets us partake of the character
of God! (2 Pt 1:4)
The healing power of genuine forgiveness
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(2 Peter 1:4 NKJV) “by which have been
given to us exceedingly great and precious
promises, that through these you may be
partakers of the divine nature, having
escaped the corruption that is in the world
through lust.”
The healing power of genuine forgiveness
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Do you know the joy and power of God's
forgiveness?
The healing power of genuine forgiveness
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A Test to determine if we have forgiven
The healing power of genuine forgiveness
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Do we get pleasure in their hurt?
The healing power of genuine forgiveness
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Do we get pleasure in their hurt?
Do we intentionally avoid being in their presence?
The healing power of genuine forgiveness
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Do we get pleasure in their hurt?
Do we intentionally avoid being in their presence?
Do we vividly remember what we have suffered?
The healing power of genuine forgiveness
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Do we get pleasure in their hurt?
Do we intentionally avoid being in their presence?
Do we vividly remember what we have suffered?
Are we uncomfortable when they are praised?
The healing power of genuine forgiveness
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Do we get pleasure in their hurt?
Do we intentionally avoid being in their presence?
Do we vividly remember what we have suffered?
Are we uncomfortable when they are praised?
Do we go out of the way to be helpful to that
person?
The healing power of genuine forgiveness
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Do we get pleasure in their hurt?
Do we intentionally avoid being in their presence?
Do we vividly remember what we have suffered?
Are we uncomfortable when they are praised?
Do we go out of the way to be helpful to that
person?
Are we willing to pray for the person?
(Mt 5:43-45)
The healing power of genuine forgiveness
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(Matthew 5:43-45 NKJV) “”You have heard that
it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate
your enemy.’ {44} “But I say to you, love your
enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to
those who hate you, and pray for those who
spitefully use you and persecute you, {45} “that
you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He
makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good,
and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
The healing power of genuine forgiveness
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Is this hard? Yes! But it is God's will and we
can do it!
The healing power of genuine forgiveness
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"A true Christian is a sign of contradiction-a living symbol of the Cross. He or she is a
person who believes the unbelievable, bears
the unbearable, forgives the unforgivable,
loves the unlovable, is perfectly happy not
to be perfect, is willing to give up his or her
will, becomes weak to be strong ... and
finds love be giving it away."