The Transforming Power Of Forgiveness

Today on the Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ. The people on save and relative centers and you'll say don't ask… And ask you what base of my knowledge and my habit, I figured I would tell all telemark. I was a pretty good person.

I'll tell him that I was never been every I never getting really tell never murdered anybody or anything that's not saying that the dissenter self-righteousness. By the way, that can be fatal for joining us today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana going faster go get her now is once again he shows us how God's word. One of the more thoughts that I've had.

After all these years of ministry. Is this why are some of you so on fire for Jesus Christ and others are barely 1 wire.

Some of you all in. Some of you just barely in wire. Some of you so dramatically passionate for Christ in his agenda and others apparently in different Bibles first to Revelation chapter 2 to the angel of the church of Ephesus write this one holds the seven stars in his right hand in the one walks among the seven golden lampstands says this I know your deeds and your toil and your perseverance then you cannot tolerate evil men, and that you put to test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not you found them to be false. Me sitting you have perseverance and have endured. He says for my namesake have not grown weary. He commends the church. It sounds a lot like our church.

If these are people who are doctrinally sound they will not tolerate false teaching. They seem to get about the business of doing the church and serving the Lord. But then he said something to the and perhaps to us, but I have this against you, you left your first love the word love. There's a word agape and he says you really don't love like you did. You've left it know why. How you fix that in the next verse he says.

Therefore, remember from where you are falling and repent and do the deeds you did at first. Ross I'm coming to you and remove you from the lampstand out of its place unless you repent. There's always a lot said about repenting or something else in this verse that I think is a really important reminder to us. He says therefore remember from where you have fallen. You see, they forgot the depth of their past sins before Christ forgot about. They just went on about their business. They were strong doctrinally.

They did church in a very good way but they have lost the passion, the fire, the love for Christ because they have forgotten the depth of their past sins turn just a page or two with me the chapter 3 verse 14 to the angel of the church and Leota Seawright the amen the faithful and true witness, the beginning of creation of God, says this I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.

I wish that you were cold or hot.

So because you are lukewarm, neither hot or cold. I will spit you out of my mouth because you say I'm rich and become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. In other words they're talking about the present text, not the past the church away.

The seer forgot the depth of their current sins before the Lord.

They were doing just fine. That happens often to us. We forget about will begin from and what God's forgiveness meant to us. We forget just how important and how much we rely on God's forgiveness every day of our lives. There is a connection, a correlation between love for Jesus Christ passion for Jesus Christ and remembering and embracing the forgiveness of God.

There is a connection now the start of the main text Luke chapter 7 verse 36 religious and self-righteous people, by the way, misunderstand or memorize the forgiveness of God that were going to see in this little story in Luke seven.

Let's look at the circumstances. Verse 36 now one of the Pharisees was requesting him to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisees house and he reclined at the table at the tables added. It's not in the text that sounds like a benign beginning of the story. Nice man, a Pharisee invites Jesus to dinner. There's nothing nice about the civil. The Pharisees already made their mind up concerning Jesus Christ. It's very pointed the Jesus Christ accepted this work Pharisee means separatist in the Pharisees were separatist.

There probably a couple thousand in June. At the time of Jesus Christ.

They were claimant and one priest, and what they did is they took the law of Moses and enhance the probably tenfold and they practice the religion with tremendous dedication and zeal. There were highly respected by the people, but not very respected by the Lord. They were infinitely religious and abundantly self-righteous holy place with me and just look at chapter 18 of Luke. In verse 10, two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself, God, I thank you that I am not like other people, swimmers, unjust, adulterers, or even any must've seen a modest peripheral vision.

Even this tax gather high fast twice a week I pay ties of all that I get that self-righteousness. He standing for God in the temple grounds know what's the inside of the tax gather with a tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but beating his blessing God be merciful to me, the sinner will notice one of them needs forgiveness and clearly knows and he says the Lord. I'm not even worthy, but I need to be forgiven.

The other one.

You can see needs no forgiveness. He's just thankful to God that is not like this terrible sinner beside that's the Pharisee. In fact, this go back to Luke seven the opinion of the Pharisees in verse 34 Jesus, the Son of Man is come eating and drinking in you, the Pharisee, say, behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard and the friend of tax collectors and sinners.

Pharisees are already in the state of the Lord's life plotting to do away with the Lord. They Christ. So this Pharisee invites Jesus probably try to trap in some way as they already begin and requesting him to dine with him, that were part with an option unusual Jesus when he went to community usually went to the synagogue.

He usually stood up and taught when he did, you could invite a visiting rabbi to your home you vitamin your home and what you would do is I was called a special Sabbath meal and then there was a little bit different. You you you made the formation for the mill was a you and in the base of the right in the middle would be the guest of honor, and then everyone else was a delay facing that direction on one side, so there really wasn't a table and ball. They were really sitting up at a table. The other thing about this type of mill that was unusual. We had a visiting rabbi, you let the door open and the people in the community could commit and make a commitment. As long as he stood against the walls and did not get engaged in the conversation.

All they could hear what's going on.

I remember this is this is before the Internet. This is before this is before even newspapers. If you want to find any kind of a scoop name when you want to gossip you want to know what's happening. Jerusalem you see something like that.

These people come in and listen so that's the scene that you have here. There is a second character, though there was a woman in the city who was a sinner undoubtably was a prostitute and there's something else you need to know about or she is already encountered Jesus Christ, she is her Jesus Christ teach because we know she's already responded to his message of forgiveness and there was a woman in the city who was a sinner and when she learned that he was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house. She brought a minute alabaster vial of perfume and standing behind him at his feet, weeping and cheese and began to wet his feet with her tears and wiping them with the hair of her head and kissing his feet and anointing them with perfume. Now there's all kinds of stuff going on here. Alarming stop, especially from a religious or self-righteous point of view, that's a personable woman was not allowed to touch and unrelated men in public at all. Not all Jewish women would never touch a man is not related to her in public.

Secondly, a woman is never to enter the home where men are present by herself.

Shealy violates both of those things you do something about her. Some people might say she has a lot of gall I would say she has a lot of passion. She has a lot of love.

She has a lot of gratitude.

She doesn't care what people think and remember that when you became a Christian so much in love with Christ. Enter what people think. I love Jesus Christ. She's a mother goes away force, somehow that's not what once was this woman amazes me, and when she does something else that you guys it says that she brought an alabaster vial perfume. That's not real unusual alabaster is a marvelous like stone imported from Egypt leather strap around her neck. Luke look like in the top narrow neck now Jewish women would add around her neck, but almost only domestically once in a while when they would like that where prostitutes word all the time.

It was one of the tools of the trade. What she does. She standing behind him at his feet began weeping and as she's weeping. She walks over in the word says and she wet his feet. Not exactly the word is Beco wet.

If the word is translated New Testament rain. She rained on his feet. She falling so much of the water just running off of her face on the feet of Jesus and then she does something is unthinkable.

She kept wiping them with the hair of her head. Jewish women never took their hair down public ever. If a Jewish woman would take her hair down in public.

It was grounds for her husband to divorce her. No one put her down public prostitute and then it says she began kissing his feet. You can imagine what the Pharisee thought about this when the Pharisee who invited him saw this he said to himself unusual. If this man were a prophet he would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching him. She's a sinner see the physical look on the Pharisee. I would never let one like that he would touch me if he were a prophet like everyone says he is already know that this woman should not touch. Now it's interesting, but we don't miss this and 39 it says, he said to himself as a medium usually means he thought this he decided sky prophet help what Jesus answered him, he thought it Jesus answers. Now you think then you think this guy is a prophet. I know I just got busy.

These responding to my thought, but he doesn't. Religious people really struggle with the reality of Christ Jesus answered him, said Simon, I have something to say to you, and he replied say it teacher is really disrespectful. He doesn't save say it Ramon, I say it rabbi's essay, you did okay.

That's just the common worker, teacher, that's not a rabbi, Jewish rabbi, Jesus clearly Drew's rabbi often referred to as Ramona rabbi bassist going to say it and I'll Jesus. The site is going to teach you see religious people and self-righteous people misunderstand a minimalized forgiveness of God and people who embrace the forgiveness of God are overwhelmed by it. That's the two characters here Jesus is this, he said a moneylender had two debtors, one owed 500 and Mary. He said in the other 50 knowledge in areas one day's wages. So what about two months and one about two years were the work they both have substantial debt mean there's no doubt about that, but clearly one is 10 times what the other one is and they owed it to moneylender and when they were unable to repay no right to the person. I like the idea answers when unable to repay. They don't have two options. They can become an indentured servant to the payroll offered to take in the rest of her life he could take the months and years or they can be put in debtors prison. That's it.

I know the answer to this but Jesus doesn't go there. He says when they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both moneylender should moneylender do that on nevermind take it or something else goes on here at the heart of forgiveness is substitution, the offended page the offender for the offender see the offender goes free, but the offended one pays you see who had to take who I did take the debt, lender that's real money will generic real dollars is on him, though he had to take his seat at the heart of forgiveness is always substitution always someone pays what's the cost of our forgiveness is what I all got what was the debt the wages of sin is what Beth separation God eternity someone paid for.

That's a lot more than 5500, and Mary said, don't you think you should be just a wee bit excited about. You see this woman is. This woman is beside herself. This woman is overwhelmed with gratitude and love.

Here's the second twist.

He says they were unable to repay graciously forgave them both and then he says this to the Pharisee so winter them will love him more. I didn't expect that you want to say which of them would be more grateful Jesus in the which of them would love him more. See Jesus trying to do some he is definitely attaching something here with great forgiveness. There is gratitude, but there is great love of the Pharisee realizes wait a minute he's asking me a question public. He is seen Jesus action before how the Pharisees make out when they usually have an inner dialogue with Jesus in public.

Inevitably, they always start out well for the Pharisees of the scribes, but it turns out terrible for them.

So he's thinking. Wait a minute you set me up. He set me up with this.

I know him and he works you gotta give him credit Simon Hansen said I suppose I love that okay now I'll play along with this.

I suppose the one whom he forgave more.

So Jesus wanted here. Jesus said to him you judge correctly subsonic right in on where that's another way to serve Jesus you judge this correctly only use your judgment and make my point returning to the woman he said, you see this woman, he said I entered your house, you give me know what if my feet. None. By the way what we learn from the upper room you see in that day and age, and I said this before they had all the sewage was thrown out in the streets and they were mostly dirt, some stone, but mostly dirt and so all the shoes you were were like open sandals. So if you want an open sandals on dirty streets all the sewage is thrown out how you think your feet are doing now, specially, by the way, for going to a Millward Robin recline because you were my head is your feet are my feet are the next guy's head is so what you do is you take the lowest servant in the group whatever household is and he washes their feet.

So when Jesus got to the upper room. What did he do he wash the disciples feet. He's teaching them what humility and service.

He said this is the way I want to be like. I am in this case the Pharisee game give Jesus a common courtesy.

No one wants Jesus feet. Then he says she wet my feet with her tears and she wiped them with her hair even provide her with a tile he says you gave me whenever you greet someone special someone for like a rabbi custom we can we shake hands. They would kiss on the cheek said you give me he says but she's since the time I came in his class seats to kiss my feet. See, this wasn't just one little kiss this ladies all over Street would you do that some of the public. Maybe if you realize what you done for you by forgiving your sins is. She did.

He said you did not anoint my head with oil. Normally, it was customary to take a little bit oiled up and going ahead to grooming idea the show that you're welcome. He didn't do that. She didn't care much for Jesus. He says, but she anointed my feet with perfume. By the way, likely was no hard really expensive stuff so you can imagine the scene you see the funny part for me is the religious person in the Pharisee and the others of sugar invited they were astounded by the woman they were astounded that Jesus let the woman do it.

He then says this. For this reason I say to you, her sins which are many.

He's playing along to the preconceived notion of the Pharisee dealing Jesus believe that she was a much worsening than the Pharisee. I mean clearly her sins were much more socially unacceptable. There's no doubt that she was a prostitute that sin. But then Jesus told group including Pharisees that you say thou shall not commit adultery but I say if you've ever looked at a woman with lust in your heart you committed adultery. So how many times you think this Pharisee committed adultery to Jesus in talking about the fact that she just has more.

He's using the numbers of the Pharisee believes this woman is a much worse center than I am. Thank God I am not like this woman who is a sinner or prostitute. So Jesus plays on that and he says for this reason I say to you, her sins which are many have been forgiven for she loved much and other were his point is this. When you understanding you have a lot of sin and what the consequences that sin are then you have phenomenal amount of gratitude and love for Christ, bearing her sins on the cross. See you filled with love and gratitude. She's aware that she's a sinner. The problem here is, he is not. He says, but he knows the pronoun change he was forgiven little loves little and he put it this way, she believed, as all of her heart that she owed God $1 million for the sin. The Pharisee believe it always RDO got a buck and 1/2. There are people like Mr. Armitage in a Bible study in Pennsylvania and a woman actually said going to Bible study. Are you in the book of Romans. Are you insinuating that I'm a sinner. I said, I'm really sorry I'm not insinuating I'm telling you are see she was offended. I'm a sinner you are, there is none righteous, and on that one. All sinful short of the glory of God. You see, to be guilty of one part a loss of the good of the whole law. That's the whole point. There aren't relative sinners you want to people on save and relative sinners and you'll say don't pay if you asked… And asking what base my college. I have after you die what you don't know sake, I'll tell him I was a pretty good person.

I'll tell him that I was never been every I never did a motel never murdered anybody or anything that's will tell what they say it that big a sinner and self-righteousness. By the way, that can be fatal.

The Pharisee clearly is. So Jesus says look you just love me a little. Jesus knows he doesn't love Jesus all that he says the woman you since been forgiven. Wait a minute you see, wait a minute those reclining at the table with him. Those reclining with him.

Mostly Pharisees and friends of Pharisees are like wait a minute you can say that they began to say to themselves, who is this that can forgive sins because only God can forgive sins and Jesus said bingo see you got it. That's it. Only God can forgive sins I said your sins are forgiven for such is made him hate them all the more. He said to the woman, then your faith is save you natives companies normally what he says is going sin no more.

See the story is an interesting one. Great sinners in their own eyes know that they need great forgiveness. Whenever you receive great forgiveness. See, whenever you receive great forgiveness is great gratitude and great love whereby you that you feel you see are you like the Ephesians and you kinda forgot the depth of your sins before you came to Christ, we are like the Laodiceans you forget about the death your sin today yesterday. Last week, last month you forget about Jesus is look you how that plays itself out you love little she was a tremendous correlation between forgiveness and love. There is a transforming power to embracing the forgiveness of God.

The final question is simple is your love for Christ reveal someone who fully embraces the forgiveness of God in your life. She can hike this really can't. When you really really love someone, you cannot think of anything or anyone you really love cannot member those dating days. No excuse was out of bounds to spend some time together. I do that because you were in love you. See you in love you see you can hide what you love, you can't buy why some of you love just peace and quiet and you will spend the rest the week allowing a room and and you're happy doing it because you love that love is always demonstrated to the question is should be true if you love Jesus Christ should not be as clear as possible.

Are you in love of Jesus Christ to review forgot the depth of your past sins, like the Ephesians are you on fire for Jesus Christ forgotten the depth of your present sins, like the Laodiceans are you overwhelmed with the forgiveness of God like a woman who was a sinner like the Pharisee. Thank God.

You only need a little bit of forgiveness from and therefore you never ever forget transforming power of embracing the forgiveness pastor broke your heart on the radio ministry of fellowship, nor if you ever missed one of our broadcast or maybe you just like the message one more time. Remember the little green website called in one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the fellowship and the word online event website you will find on today's broadcast. So many of our previous audio programs as well have Fellowship in the Word.

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