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Outline:
Matthew 18:21-35
- First Part (18:21-22)
- We often find it hard to forgive others
- Sometimes we need to forgive someone of the same sin multiple times
- ex. in movie Silence- Priest has to forgive repeat offender
- Sometimes to truly forgive, we need to forgive someone for the same sin multiple times
- Forgiveness is a process
- Sometimes we need to hold up in prayer to God
- What matters most is that we are accept being in the process to forgive
- Second Part (18:22-35)
- Why do we forgive? Because God has forgiven us
- God calls us to act unto others as God as acted to us
- Forgiving others is hard, but think of what God has had to forgive humans for... or even what God has had to forgive us for.
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson
- Adams and Jefferson were good friends who helped found our country.
- Adams was the second President, Jefferson the third
- Adams was a Federalist, Jefferson a Democratic-Republican
- Vicious fight for Adams' second term, Jefferson beat him
- Hurtful things said by both parties, Hamilton, a Federalist, doesn't help relationships by his support of Jefferson
- Long time, didn't talk
- Adams and Jefferson started writing letters to each other later in life, built back friendship
- Both died on July 4, 1826, each saying the other still lived (Adams was the second to die)
Conclusion
- Question we must ask for forgiveness is whether anger is worth our friendships
- When friendship is not helpful or possible, forgiveness frees us
- Say: let's go our separate ways, but I hold no grudge against you
- Sometimes need to step away so that we can continue to forgive
- Friendships, or at least acquaintances, can rise out of setting the past aside
- When we have to continue to work with people we don't like, we do have to find a way to forgive. Other Christians can help with that