Greater Forgiveness Part II

This was originally posted in October, 2009 but it has such a great message so I am sharing this again. I pray that it blesses you. 
 

"I am free"

A couple of weeks ago, Senior Pastor Rich Nathan’s message was called ‘Greater Forgiveness’. The central theme of the message was that God’s forgiveness through Jesus Christ is full and complete. One thing that God has laid on my heart the past several days is the problem of what Rich referred to as ‘moralism’ that is ‘when we try to straighten other people out’.

Rich stated that this has two aspects to it: ‘those who try to do this are usually caught up in the same sin’ and ‘people don’t like other people condemning them’. The passage that brings this to light is John 8:4-7

“4 and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." “

I have lost many who I considered to be my friends over the past two years. It hurts me that a number of them have chosen to not see the miracle of what God has done in me – taking this completely broken vessel, restoring it, and watching it blossom. And yes I can say blossom in spite of being without a job the past 10 months and other unanswered prayer. But the core of friends that I do have remained strong (including my children) and as God has added the ‘yeast’ I have seen friendships multiply. Many of them know what has transpired and many could care less. They love me and pray for me simply because of who I am – a sinner saved by Jesus Christ.

Some verses God laid on my heart this morning to share:

Psalm 62:7-8   

7 

7 My salvation and my honor depend on God ; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 

8 Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Psalm 63: 1-8 

1 

"1 You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. 

2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 

3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 

4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. 

5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. 

6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 

7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 

8 I cling to you; your right hand upholds me."

Colossians 2:13-15 “13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

John 5:17 “Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." ‘

God has placed a calling on me to be reconciled with those who have chosen not to see what God has done through me. And this is solely because of what is in my heart towards them – seeking their forgiveness for anything I am harboring against them. I am going to be persistent simply because Christ demands that we be reconciled:

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 “16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Let me close with a line from a song:

“Are you free ? I am free !”

"I Am Free" by the Newsboys 

Through you the blind will see
Through you the mute will sing
Through you the dead will rise
Through you all hearts will praise
Through you the darkness flees
Through you my heart screams
I am free
Yes, I am free

I am free to run
(I am free to run)
I am free to dance
(I am free to dance)
I am free to live for you
(I am free to live for you)
I am free
(I am free)
Yes I am free
(I am free)

Through you the kingdom comes
Through you the battle's won
Through you I'm not afraid
Through you the price is paid
Through you there's victory
Because of you my heart sings
I am free
Yes, I am free

I am free to run
(I am free to run)
I am free to dance
(I am free to dance)
I am free to live for you
(I am free to live for you)
I am free
(I am free)
Yes I am free
(I am free)

Who the son sets free-is free indeed
(Who the son sets free)
Who the son sets free-is free indeed
(Who the son sets free)

I am free to run
(I am free to run)
I am free to dance
(I am free to dance)
I am free to live for you
(I am free to live for you)
I am free
(I am free)
Yes I am free
(I am free)