18th Sunday After Pentecost - Forgiven

This was the sermon preached on September 14, 2008. The Power of Forgiveness continues and builds on a theme originally brought up in last weeks texts. Is there power in forgiveness? What do we gain in granting such grace to our neighbors, friends, spouses, children, and family? Can the church be a "fount of forgiveness"? Read on to learn more about forgiveness and also check out the audio version of this online through Podbean through the link on the left of this page.

The Power of Forgiveness

Researchers have recently become interested in studying the effects of being unforgiving and being forgiving. Evidence is mounting that holding on to grudges and bitterness results in long-term health problems. Forgiveness, on the other hand, offers numerous benefits, including:

* Lower blood pressure
* Stress reduction
* Less hostility
* Better anger management skills
* Lower heart rate
* Lower risk of alcohol or substance abuse
* Fewer depression symptoms
* Fewer anxiety symptoms
* Reduction in chronic pain
* More friendships
* Healthier relationships
* Greater religious or spiritual well-being
* Improved psychological well-being

If forgiveness gives us such benefits, then why do we resist it? Why do we seek repayment for when we are sinned against? This ideology of repaying wrongs for wrongs stands in opposition to these teaches of Jesus today - how many times dear Lord must I forgive? If there is such strong evidence that forgiving someone has such great benefits then why are people holding onto grudges?

A lawyer was reading out the will of a rich man, who had recently died, to the people mentioned in the will: “To you, my loving wife Rose, who stood by me in rough times, as well as good, I leave her the house and $2 million.”


The lawyer continued, “To my daughter Jessica, who looked after me in sickness and kept the business going, I leave her the yacht, the business and $1 million.”

The lawyer concluded, “And, to my cousin Dan, who hated me, argued with me, and thought that I would never mention him in my will, well you are wrong. Hi Dan!”

Joseph’s brothers expected him to still have a grudge in his heart for them especially after all they had done? Think of it! His brothers despised him, sold him into slavery, and made their father think he was dead. “And pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?”

The surprise of grace is truly amazing. They expected to be slaves at best for Joseph. They would have been happy with sitting at the lowest level in society and finding scraps of food from Joseph’s table. But what happened? “But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear, I myself will provide for you and your little ones.’ In this way he reassured them.” Grace came to these weary brothers who knew they deserved nothing short of death for what they had done to Joseph. God through Joseph’s heart granted new life. This is the POWER of forgiveness. Have you encountered that kind of liberating power?

Applying the Text

(1) The Power to Heal

Research conducted at our own church college in Decorah, Iowa concluded in 2001 that only 52% of Americans they surveyed had forgiven others for hurtful acts. The survey found that those 45 and older who forgave others were more likely to report better health overall mental and physical health than those who did not.


What does forgiveness “feel like”? It feels like shedding the load of trying to carry an elephant around on your shoulders.Forgiveness from God feels good. Forgiveness granted from a person we have wronged also carries with it the feeling of having a load lifted. It is a humbling experience for the one who wronged another - to admit, to clear consciences, and to regain a relationship. That is power which moves mountains and renews not only the direct relationship of one or two people but think of what would happen within entire families, communities, and churches when one act of forgiveness catches on like a giant flu bug?

Religious writer Hannah More offers this, “Forgiveness is the economy of the heart . . . Forgiveness saves expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits.”

Beyond mere physical costs of holding a grudge and not forgiving can spread into other realms of our lives as well. What would it be like to break the bondage to a twenty year battle over hurtful words, a wrongful act? Could we be the one that goes to another and forgives again?

“Why do you pass judgement on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgement seat of God.” The same Lord Christ who grants pardon for our sin has granted pardon for the sins of those whom we may judge. All have fallen short of God’s glory - but thanks be to God for the saving act of Jesus on the Cross. Let the words, “Because Christ has forgiven me I too can forgive you my brother.” Indeed the truth of the Lord’s Prayer speaks to us, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive the sins of those who have sinned against us.”

(2) The Power to Restore

“Then Peter came and said to him, ‘Lord, if another member of the church sins against me how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Not seven times, but I tell you, seventy times seven.” Jesus goes onto explain the need to forgive from the bottom of the heart.

Why do we hold the story of the prodigal son close to heart?

Luke 15:8-24
I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

Forgiveness granted the pathway for the son to be restored into the family. Sometimes we want to protect ourselves from further hurt and utter words like Peter, “How many more times do I have to forgive this person, Lord look at how they have hurt me.”

How can we be agents of grace in our families, in our relationships, and in our churches to bring about restoration? Is Christ calling us to be a bunch of doormats and be completely passive in reaction to the hurtful actions of others?

Fine line here folks. There is a difference between forgiving the actions of another person and tolerating their behavior. The difference comes when we learn from the past and allow that to shape how our restored relationship will be different with that knowledge.

(3) The Power to Renew

These are haunting words from Matthew:

“Then his lord summed him and said to him, “You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?”

The power of forgiveness renews our minds and grants us the grace to live in the law of love. If God has forgiven me of my sins as vile as they are so too can I forgive the hurtful acts of my spouse, my children, and those in the community.

"We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love." Martin Luther King Jr.

Let us be a people of God maintaining the capacity to forgive. Live by the law of love which compels us to act and be grace to our neighbors, those who have sinned against us even if it be as many as seventy times seven. How often has our Heavenly Father forgiven us.