TITLE: Forgiveness: Letting go of the Debt that is owed. TEXT: Colossians 3:1-13 THEME: Follow Jesus example by forgiving others.

Two questions “Should we forgive a person of doing such a thing?”

Two questions “Should we forgive a person of doing such a thing?” “If so, how is it possible to forgive such a thing?

What should be the nature of the believer’s forgiveness toward others?

I.It should reflect the believer’s new nature. (1-12)

A. Focus is on eternal things- not earthly things.

Colossians 3:1-4 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

I.It should reflect the believer’s new nature. (1-12) A. Focus is on eternal things- not earthly things. B. We are raised with Christ- put to death our old nature.

Colossians 3:11 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Colossians 3:11 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

I.It should reflect the believer’s new nature. (1-12) Focus is on eternal things- not earthly things. We are raised with Christ- put to death our old nature. Replace the old clothes with new.

Colossians 3:12 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Anger is like taking person and waiting for the other person to die. Anger and resentment is the poison and we must let it go. We cannot move forward in our faith until we put those things to death. It requires a divine enabling possible only through dying with Jesus

What should be the nature of the believer’s forgiveness toward others?

II.It should enable our relationships with others. (12-13)

Colossians 3: Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.

II.It should enable our relationships with others. (12-13) A. It enables us to live out noble attributes

II.It should enable our relationships with others. (12-13) A. It enables us to live out noble attributes – Compassion – relentless tenderness: Relentless tenderness towards the suffering, miserable, rejected, abandoned, honoured, arrogant

II.It should enable our relationships with others. (12-13) A. It enables us to live out noble attributes – Compassion – relentless tenderness: Relentless tenderness towards the suffering, miserable, rejected, abandoned, honoured, arrogant. – Kindness – goodness, kindliness and graciousness towards others.

II.It should enable our relationships with others. (12-13) A. It enables us to live out noble attributes – Compassion – relentless tenderness: Relentless tenderness towards the suffering, miserable, rejected, abandoned, honoured, arrogant. – Kindness – goodness, kindliness and graciousness towards others. – Humility and Gentleness –The pagans at Colossae did not consider these to be virtues but to be weaknesses of character and life

II.It should enable our relationships with others. (12-13) A. It enables us to live out noble attributes – Compassion – relentless tenderness: Relentless tenderness towards the suffering, miserable, rejected, abandoned, honoured, arrogant. – Kindness – goodness, kindliness and graciousness towards others. – Humility and Gentleness –The pagans at Colossae did not consider these to be virtues but to be weaknesses of character and life. – Patience – that self-restraint that enables one to bear injury and insult without resorting to hasty retaliation.

II.It should enable our relationships with others. (12-13) A. It enables us to live out noble attributes B. It enables us to set aside grievances

When pope John Paul forgave "One forgives in one’s heart, in the sight of God, as the pope did, but the criminal still serves his time in Caesar’s jail.“ (Reporter)

What should be the nature of the believer’s forgiveness toward others?

III.It should resemble the forgiveness Jesus. (13)

Colossians 3:13 “Forgive as the Lord forgave you”

III.It should resemble the forgiveness Jesus. (13) A. Christ forgave the men who killed him.

I Peter 3: “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

Luke 23:33-34 ESV And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. (34) And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

III.It should resemble the forgiveness Jesus. (13) A. Christ forgave the men who killed him. B. Christ forgives in spite of our merit.

1 John 2:12 ESV I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.

III.It should resemble the forgiveness Jesus. (13) A. Christ forgave the men who killed him. B. Christ forgives in spite of our merit. C. Christ’s forgiveness let’s go of our debt against God.

Colossians 2:13-14 ESV And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, (14) by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Romans 4:7-8 ESV “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; (8) blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

The question is “What are you going to do with the debt of pain, injury, hurt and injustice that people have done against you?”

The question is “What are you going to do with the debt of pain, injury, hurt and injustice that people have done against you?” – How you answer that question is at the very core of who you are in Christ this morning.

The question is “What are you going to do with the debt of pain, injury, hurt and injustice that people have done against you?” – How you answer that question is at the very core of who you are in Christ this morning. – How you answer that question is at the very centre of how you will live your life from this day forward

The question is “What are you going to do with the debt of pain, injury, hurt and injustice that people have done against you?” – How you answer that question is at the very core of who you are in Christ this morning. – How you answer that question is at the very centre of how you will live your life from this day forward. – How you answer that question will in fact decide the intimacy you have with God today, tomorrow and on into the future.

APPLICATION Identify who has hurt and offended you that you harbor anger and resentment toward. Maybe it is from childhood, or a spouse, or a friend or someone you trusted.

APPLICATION Allow the old nature to die with its hurt and offenses and jealousy and anger and resentment. Put it on the cross with Jesus who knew no sin but took upon himself the penalty of every sin.

APPLICATION Change your focus and cravings from earthly things to heavenly things.

APPLICATION Put on the new nature that comes with placing our faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone and where we are raised with Him to new live. Like putting on new clothes let them be shown to all those around us.

APPLICATION Forgive others in the same way that Christ forgave you.