Pastor Cho's Sermon Outline - Yoido Full
Gospel Church - Seoul, KoreaForgiveness and Reconciliation Mark 11:25 2003-02-09
When Germany occupied the Netherlands during World War II, the Nazis captured the family of Corrie ten Boom and sent her and her family to a concentration camp for having harbored Jews. Her father and sister could not bear the hardship and passed away; only she and her brother were freed. After the war, she spread the Gospel. As she was shaking hands with people following a revival meeting, she saw the notorious overseer from the concentration camp approaching her. Overwhelmed with rage and bitterness, she prayed earnestly. Then the love of Christ washed over her and melted her anger, and she extended her hand to the overseer. She felt great joy as she forgave him for all her family had suffered under his rule. After that, she had a worldwide ministry, preaching that the love and forgiveness of Christ was stronger than hatred.
God's ministry of forgiveness, reconciliation, and healing. Christ became the Sacrificial Lamb on the cross of Calvary. Despite the ridicule and insults by the Roman soldiers, the high priests, the scribes, the Pharisees and the crowd, it was God's intention toward forgiveness that placed Christ on the Cross (Isaiah 53:5,6). God invites us to be reconciled with Him (2 Corinthians 5:18,19). We must also spread the message of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:20,21). Reconciliation brings great joy.
There is punishment without forgiveness and reconciliation. In the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:23-34), Jesus taught about the servant who owed 10,000 talents (millions of dollars) and the one who owed only 100 denarii (a few dollars). The master cancelled the debt of 10,000 talents, but the unforgiving servant had the man thrown into prison who only owed him 100 denarii. "If you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins" (Matthew 6:15). Reconciliation is twofold: 1) God forgives us; 2) we forgive others. If we do not forgive others, we will be prisoners of anguish, illness, and despair (Psalm 107:10,11; James 5:9).
Forgive and reconcile with each other. We are great debtors. Forgiving others is not an act of benevolence; it is repaying our debt of forgiveness to God. When God forgives our sins, He forgets them (Colossians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 2:10). Hatred and anger will sever our relationship between God and others (James 1:20; Romans 12:10; 13:8; Matthew 5:44,45). Hatred and anger will steal the peace, joy, and happiness from our minds and hearts (Proverbs 22:24,25; Romans 12:19,20). Hatred and anger jeopardize our physical and mental health, causing disease and lowering the response of our immune systems (Proverbs 19:11; Ephesians 4:25-27). Let us always extend a hand of forgiveness and reconciliation to one another (Ephesians 4:32; Matthew 5:24).
“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins”(Mark 11:25).
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
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