Lesson 4 of 6: Where Do I Forgive?

Where Do I Forgive?

Pastor David: Hello. Today is lesson four on forgiveness. We've got a six part series, and today is the fourth, and each one is a question about forgiveness. The first lesson was, what do I forgive? The second, who do I forgive? The third, when do I forgive? And, today in the fourth lesson, we'll discuss, where do I forgive? Well, have you ever considered where Jesus was when he said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" in Luke 23, verses 33 and 34? Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." If Jesus could hang on the cross, between two who had committed crimes at that time and were being punished by hanging on the cross as well, surrounded by people, crucifying him and killing him, even as an innocent man, Jesus knew no sin. He never sinned, but He decided to die on that cross and hang on that cross and shed his blood and be treated horribly, for you and I. He wanted to stand in our place. And then he rose again from the dead, where he died on that cross three days later, so that you and I could live with him for eternity. That's how much our God loves us. That's how much Jesus loves us. We can't even comprehend how much He loves us. In Romans, chapter 5, verses 12 through 21, God said He gave us a free gift, and the free gift was Jesus, his only begotten Son, so that we could live with him for eternity. One of the conditions of that free gift of Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the only way to the Father is through Jesus. According to John 14:6, "... no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me" is what Jesus said. So, where do I forgive? Right where you are. Wherever that is. Even on the cross, Jesus forgave all mankind. He didn't say, well, I have to wait until Sunday or when I'm in church. I have to wait until I've got my eyes closed and I've bowed my head, and I'm down on my knees, and then I can forgive other people. I have to wait until I'm alone in my prayer closet. No, those are all wonderful places to forgive people. But Jesus was hanging on the cross, being crucified for you and I and our sins, when he asked the Father to forgive you and I of our sins. So, where do I forgive? Right where you are. Wherever that is. And do so quickly, always, in the name of Jesus Christ. Don't allow anything or any place or any situation to get between you and God, even other people's sins against you. Father, I forgive whoever that is. I forgive that person. I forgive those people. I forgive them in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Amen. Amen. So, where do I forgive? Right where you are. Wherever that is.