Elements of Grace: God’s Grace Must be Reciprocated
Pastor Scott Applegate
Sermon Notes:
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.’” Matthew 18:21-35 NIV
Why must grace and forgiveness be reciprocated?
• Because God expects me to do for others as He has done for me
“The servant’s master took pity on him, and canceled the debt and let him go.” Vs. 27
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31 NIV
• Because it is evidence that I have truly received God’s grace
“Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servants just as I had on you? In anger his master turned him over to the jailer to be tortured…” Vs. 33-34
“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Colossians 3:13 NLT
• Because I will need grace myself in the future
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brothers from your heart.” Vs. 35
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7 NIV
• Because unforgiveness makes me miserable
“See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” Hebrews 12:15 NIV
What forgiving others does not mean:
• Forgiving is not excusing, approving, or pretending
• Forgiving is not forgetting
• Forgiving is not the same as reconciliation
Forgiveness is:
• Releasing it to God
• Refusing to take revenge
• Refusing to bring it up
Who do I need to show grace and forgiveness to?
• The blame test: Who do I blame for my unhappiness and circumstances?
• The bitterness test: Who am I keeping score with?
• The behavior test: Who do I find myself reacting toward?