Every time we sin, there is a debt to be paid. Jesus the King chose to take that debt upon himself that we might receive 100% forgiveness, something that makes him very different than the Messiah his followers were expecting. Recorded 11/4/17.
Forgiveness—Sermon Notes
God, open our eyes to see the truth as we continue our study of “Jesus the King.”
Skit: Two guys are tossing a football inside a house. The homeowner is concerned about his new
big screen TV. Sure enough, the football hits the TV and breaks the screen. The thrower says, “He just
didn’t catch it!”
Every offense (sin) creates a debt.
There is a cost for what we do. Who will pay for it? In the skit, there are two options: the owner can
demand payment or he can absorb it himself.
Skit: Three women. One says, “I’m going to be giving out decorating advice. #1 is a retro look with
old board games on the wall. #2 is geometric look with diamonds, circles and trapezoids on the wall.
#3 is a sport motif with a deer head over the fireplace andbaseballs all around it. What do you think?”
One of the other two women says something encouraging but the other one says, “Those are horrible
ideas!” Her input was not kind andloving. The cost was that it created division in the relationship. The
options were for the “decorator” to deal with it and absorb it or she could keep the cycle going by telling
others what unkind things the woman had said.
Every sin we have ever committed has to be paid for. Every relationship has a debt caused by
selfishness and insensitivity. Every argument causes things to be said. Who will pay so that the parties
can be reconciled?
1 Cor. 13:4-8 The opposite of each characteristic named in this chapter will cause debt (faith vs.
unbelief, patience vs. impatience, etc.). How many times a day or times a year do we commit some
unloving act?
Every debt must be paid.
Every sin is an offense against God. Our sin creates a debt between us & God. For every offense
(sin) the cost has to be paid. Who will do it? You do or Jesus does.
Jesus paid your debt.
Mark 8:27-33 Jesus was willing! “Who do people say I am?” With his answer in verse 29, Peter was
in a good spot—for just a minute. Then he had a strong reaction to what Jesus said about suffering and
paying the price. Jesus had the big picture but Peter had only the little picture. Peter wanted Jesus
to win and not let “them” win. It did not make sense in Peter’s understanding for Jesus to willingly die.
There is a line in “Wonder Woman” about having to save eternity versus having to save the day. This
was Peter’s feeling. Jesus wanted to pay the price for sin for us. It was the only way. It was either
him or you. He didn’t want you to have to pay.
Heb. 9:22 The sin between us and God takes the blood of Jesus to pay. If he didn’t go to the cross, we
would have a dark situation. Praise God that Jesus was willing! But the cost was his blood.
John 3:16 God loved us so much that He was willing, also.
Eph. 3:17-19 “… I pray that you grasp….” Would you pay for someone’s debt if it cost you your life?
Jesus did because he loved us! He didn’t want you to have to do it! He loved us so much! “One of
us has to do it—I will!”
Parents want to take on all the hurt from their kids. That is the love God has for us. The cross is not
a downer story but an amazing story! “I will pay your debt andclear your account. You mean that
much to me,” Jesus said. We are so special to God that He let Jesus go to the cross for us. Jesus
wants us to use that grace and not just hang it in the closet.
Now that we are debt free, we should participate!
Mark 8:34 Jesus called those who followed him to do the same and lay down their selfishness for
others. To be a light in the world.
Matt. 6:12 Jesus opened the door for us to keep the cycle going to pay down the debt because of
God’s love.
Let’s let this concept sink in and really get into our hearts. Let us be grateful and examine ourselves to
see if we are participating. Be aware if we are participating and forgiving others.
Video of song “Forgiveness” by Matthew West. “The person that forgiving really frees is you!”
