Steve Hyndman - Class 4: Forgiveness - The Response

Automatically transcribed. Accuracy is good but not perfect, and words are sometimes wrong. Trust the audio over the text.

1. 0:01

   Thank you very much, brother Nathan, and good morning brothers and sisters. Thank you for braving the the. Cold. Well, I think it’s. Cold anyway, being a Queenslander. Well. Brothers and sisters, this is. Where God gives us the opportunity. To sit in the. Driver’s seat, so to speak. One of the important things about coming to know God and coming to. Reflect his character.

2. 0:30

   Is that we need to know. What he goes through every day. For us and what he’s done by giving us. The power to forgive. He’s encouraging. Us to think like him so in. Actual fact he’s putting. A lot of control in our hands and he’s saying. It’s up to you. You have a go.

3. 0:54

   See how you go. So we come then to this response. And this is very challenging. It is a challenging. Part I find it challenging, personally. Because it involves the. Application of all. The principles we’ve. We’ve looked at this weekend, our personal involvement. This is the part where we come to understand really what God is doing for us, and it’s. This this section.

4. 1:19

   This morning, brothers and sisters, really is the true measure. Of our understanding and appreciation. Of what it really means to be reconciled with God? No, we we talk about God. Manifestation reflecting God’s character. And we say it’s a wonderful subject. To consider and it is. It’s a, it’s a. A beautiful subject. It’s amazing honor for human beings. To have that privilege to try and act out, I say try. Because we all.

5. 1:50

   Fail miserably at this. To try and act out the character who. We are instinctively. At enmity with our instincts are opposite even our Lord. Jesus Christ instincts were opposite to his father’s. Not my will, but thine be done. We don’t like to forgive. It’s contrary to our nature. We don’t like to. Forgive and forget for those of who have wronged us.

6. 2:17

   Because we think the. Kind of mind thinks. That they need to pay. For what they’ve done, and we harbor things in our minds we need. Brothers and sisters. To come to an understanding that those things have to be let go. So remember our three conditions. The process that we’ve looked at here is the confession of sin, the repentance.

7. 2:47

   And conversion and So what this morning we’re going to look. At this this 4th condition. So come to come to Matthew. 6 This is a critical. Condition and God cannot work with us unless we involve ourselves in this process. So Matthew 6 and verse 12, let’s come in. Halfway through the Lord’s. Prayer here where we read.

8. 3:17

   Forgive us our. Debts, as we forgive our debtors, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. And the first thing he says immediately after that prayer. For if you forgive men, the trespasses your heavenly. Father will also forgive you.

9. 3:41

   But if you forgive not men, the trespasses neither. Will or can? Your father, forgive your trespasses. He’s not in a position. To forgive us. Because we’re not forgiving others, Mark, 11, says. This, And when you stand praying. Forgive if you have aught against. Any. That your father also witches. In heaven may forgive your.

10. 4:06

    Trespasses again. God wants to forgive. Us. He awaits our response. But if you do not forgive. Says Mark. Neither will your father, which is in. Heaven, forgive your trespasses so. You can see then that my personal forgiveness from God. Is. Conditional upon the way that. I forgive others. And there is one little extra thing that we need to know here, brothers and sisters.

11. 4:36

    That’s this. Remember in our last session. We saw how God was proactive, how he initiated. The forgiveness, that process. Wherever he could. Well, he wants us as we sit in the. In the driver’s seat, so to speak. With the controls to do that as well. He wants us to try and initiate the process.

12. 4:56

    If indeed we. Think that someone has something against us and we know that from Matthew 5. Shall we have a look at that too? Matthew 5 and verse 23 And that says. This therefore, if they’ll bring thy gift. To the altar. And there remembers that thy brother hath aught. Against thee.

13. 5:17

    So it’s not you with the problem, your. Brother has something against you. God said Christ says here verse 24 leave there thy gift before. The altar. And go thy way. First be reconciled to thy brother, and then come. And offer your gift. Now if both parties do this, we have success and if. One party is not doing it and the other one is. Success as well.

14. 5:50

    Initiate if you think. That you’ve been wrong. Or whatever it is initiate. That process. Take the initiative in saving your brother or your sister. Whatever that the case may be. See the the Spirit of God in which he would like us to. To frame our relationships. It’s a desire to be. To be in fellowship with each.

15. 6:12

    Other That’s what it is. No, not. Now that we it’s not going to be. Always possible brothers and sisters. To do that, But God says I want you to drive. Toward unity with your brothers and sisters, whether it’s on an Ecclesia level or a personal level, whatever that may be. That should always be our goal. Remember, an old brother said once. If we know anything.

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    About God at all, We know that he. Loves unity. And why is that so? Because God is. One he’s not 2. Or three he’s. One God he loves. Unity. He loves this cohesive spirit.

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    So. This is a major condition. This is a big condition. Now we’ve just read from first John 4 this chapter. We have the core motivation glaring out. Of why God does what He does, it’s because. Of love. Love is of God. The word love. Appears in John’s Gospel. And his epistles more than any other gospel. Or epistle in the Bible, the New Testament, because he is so focused on this concept of love.

18. 7:25

    But if God. Loves. What he creates the converse is equally true. He hates that which he. Doesn’t create because. It’s opposite to him. Opposite to the way he thinks so. First grin thins 13 Verse three says this. You know this. You don’t have to turn this up, says this. Though I bestow. All.

19. 7:45

    My goods to feed the poor. And though I give my. Body to be burned. Now that’s extreme, Paul says. If I have not love, I have nothing. I have no thing. Nothing at all. It’s actually empty. That’s. That’s incredible, isn’t it To. To think that we could live our lives totally in the truth, but we we do so without love, it profits. Me nothing.

20. 8:30

    Look how that. You think about the. Concepts of love here. Oh, there we go. OK, so proverbs. Is this proverbs? Says hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins. He that covereth A transgression seeks love, but he that repeats a matter separates very friends. The contemporary English version puts that. You will keep your friends if you forgive them, but you will lose your.

21. 9:02

    Friends, if you keep talking about what they did wrong, love. Must be at the core of everything we do and this. Self. Sacrificing love, which we know is agape love. Is the key to forgiving. Others I will forgive. You. At my personal expense, that’s what God is actually looking for. So we’ve got to ask the question. Then as we think about this, is there a sin? That God will not forgive.

22. 9:33

    We looked at this yesterday. And we decided the answer was no. Apart from thinking that God can’t forgive us, there is actually no sin that God will not forgive. He knows our thoughts. He knows our frame. He knows the frailness of our thinking so. He’s prepared to cover all sins, whatever they are. Is there then a?

23. 9:56

    Sin that you can’t forgive. Is there a sin? That you can’t forgive. And in our minds there’s very grave sins and there’s very small light, light things. It’s a good thing to think about. But just a word of. Explanation here about what he’s actually. Got is. Expecting of us. So at the moment there’s only. 2 beings in the universe. That can forgive sins.

24. 10:27

    That’s God and his Son Jesus Christ to forgive actual sins. Involves power. We know that. To be true, it involves power to forgive sins. So the man that was let down. And he was. He was paralyzed. He was. Let down through. The Roof to show people their God’s power. Jesus went to the.

25. 10:50

    Core of the problem. And he forgave his. Sins now he went to the very. Root of the issue, he said. As far as your paralysis, paralysis is concerned. Don’t worry too much about that. That’s only a temporary element. I’m going to. Fix the real problem. And in his power he forgave sins. The Pharisees grumbled and said, Who is this that can forgive sins? Of course he to show the Pharisees that indeed he had. That power, he went on.

26. 11:16

    To to to heal the. The man that was sick of the posing, so we need power to forgive. Power. To discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. Only those two beings can do this. To forgive. To determine motives and objectives. Of the mind. So can you see that? This is actually not our our role or purpose.

27. 11:37

    It’s not our responsibility. We don’t have that power. To decide, you know, like. Brothers and sisters, I am hard pressed to discern my own motives. Let alone judge yours so this role. Primarily belongs to God and now his Son. So our response then is limited to. Forgiving the. Person not the morality of what they have done or haven’t done. We forgive the person.

28. 12:07

    Let me let me show you. Matthew 6 says this. Forgive us our debts as. We forgive. Our debtors, it doesn’t say forgive us, our sins, our debts. As we forgive the sins. Of those who have wronged us. It’s the. Person that we forgive. And one more Luke 11 verse 4. Forgive us our sins, for we are, for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us.

29. 12:40

    Can you hear that difference? We don’t forgive the sin. We can’t. We don’t have that power, that authority, to do so. Only God. Forgives sin the deed done. Or the wrong thought. Wrong action that that we need to. Leave that to God. He’s merely asking us to forgive the person. It’s really important that we make that clear difference between God’s work and our work.

30. 13:06

    Because the implications are actually quite big, you see if. We’re in the business. Of forgiving sin. Itself, we would need to. As God. Does look and wait for confession, repentance and conversion, and that might not happen. At all or. For years and years after.

31. 13:28

    We can only judge. After the seeing of our eyes and the. Hearing of our ears, and even then even. Then our judgment is faulty, often, in my personal experience at least.

32. 13:43

    So we do not. Need to wait for those things. Confession, repentance and conversion. It’s not our job, so we can forgive. Leave the sin to. God, that’s. God’s area to deal with, to deal with that individual or those individuals, whatever the case. Is Leave it to God. Let him work his good work with. Them as well.

33. 14:08

    Now I want to. Say this as well, brother. And sisters, that God is very, very aware of our. Weaknesses in this area now. If we have trouble with sin. And we know that we’re never, ever going to get on top of sin in the days of immortality. Where then it’s. Equally true that we’re going to struggle with forgiveness, that’s a given we will struggle with forgiving each other.

34. 14:33

    We can’t forgive and forget. Well, I don’t. I don’t forgive and forget. I know God. Does because. God says I’ll remember thy sin, the sins no more. And we can’t do that. Do you know what we do instead? We forgive and we keep. Remembering that we have forgiven, we remind ourselves. Of that fact and also. Forgiveness.

35. 15:00

    Between ourselves can sometimes take. A lot of time because often there’s a lot of damage. It can take time. Because of our limitations. Our emotions. There are some. Shocking things that we do. Against each other. And these matters can sometimes be not an overnight fix, but matters that we need to present to God in earnest prayer, asking for strength and the foresight and foreknowledge.

36. 15:29

    To be able to forgive your brother. Or sister we need. To seek his help. And rest upon his kindness, that he knows our frame. Just exactly how frail we are. Whether. That’s emotionally. Psychologically, spiritually, whatever it is. We are frail creatures. We are. Frail of mind and body, and not to think that well, it is at the end of the matter.

37. 15:54

    It is this is, this is the end of the world. Because I I can’t find it in myself to forgive. And I I feel so wretched that I maybe I should be forgiving, and I’m not. Prayer Brothers and sisters, pray to God for strength that you can arrive at that frame of mind where you can say yes, I think I can, just let go of this now. Because I’m so.

38. 16:16

    Appreciative of how God? Continually forgives me and allows me to turn from my own iniquities. So God is very, very aware of the. Frailness of our own nature. It’s a struggle that’s. What’s important to God? He needs to see us. Try to make a genuine effort and it’s not the end of the world if we’re struggling on this matter, so maybe it’s a good exercise if we are struggling with this at the moment.

39. 16:45

    You know, we think that we’ve been wronged and we probably in some cases have been. Badly wronged and mistreated. Maltreated And God doesn’t discount. That what? What’s one little? Bit. But can it be a good exercise, then, to put our grievances next to a man? Who is enduring a? Horrific crucifixion. He’s hanging on a cross, utterly naked.

40. 17:12

    Now this is the most moral man that ever lived and. Look at him. He’s hanging on this cross. He’s bleeding all over. He’s and while the, the, the. Perpetrators are inflicting this upon. Him and laughing at him, he says forgive them because they don’t. Understand what they’re doing. So you talk about physical abuse? Talk about.

41. 17:41

    Moral abuse, Mental abuse, whatever it is, how does it right? Next to that man, and he’s. Asking to forgive the people whilst the very act. Is taking place. Not the next day or the next year, the next Millennium, whatever it is. It’s right then he’s. Dealing with it in his mind, he’s letting it go because he understands.

42. 18:09

    To hold that. Grudge can be so, so debilitating. And he He’s not going to do that. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father, which is in heaven, forgive. Your trespasses. Now does that mean then? We’ve got to race up to. The person or persons that have hurt us. Right. You know, race up. To the.

43. 18:33

    Perpetrator. The culprit, The offender, whoever it is. And tell them wonderful news. I forgive you. Is that it? Is that the answer? I don’t think so, not at all that can. Actually be quite damaging in the healing process for both parties. It may well have the. Opposite effect because every situation is different. I think the answer.

44. 19:00

    In fact, let’s turn this show. Matthew 18. You have a look. Here’s the answer to the problem. This is where. God wants us to work. So Matthew 18 the verse 35 says

45. 19:15

    so now. This is the chapter. Of forgiveness. We’ve been looking at this weekend, this so likewise shall my Heavenly Father. Do also unto you if ye Now here’s the key. From your heart, forgive not everyone his brother. Their trespasses. That’s it there from your heart. That’s where it occurs. It’s in your heart where that forgiving act takes. Place not necessarily even out loud. So then the forgiveness.

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    Of your brother and sister in the end. Brothers and sisters, you know it’s between. It’s between you and God. Leave God to deal. With the brother or sister, friend, whoever it is. Leave. Leave that to God. But you forgive from your. Heart that’s is well. Pleasing to our Heavenly Father. God is looking for.

47. 20:21

    Something from us rather than sisters, that is a. Willing spirit of forgiveness. An attitude that is merciful and kind, long-suffering, compassionate, recognize. Those characteristics. God says. Jeremiah says this of God understand and know me that I am Yahweh which. Exercised. Loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness. In the earth for in. These things I did.

48. 20:46

    Not say to Yahweh. Some years ago I was. Talking to an elderly lady. And. I was aware that she was abused by her father when she was a little girl. And her father wasn’t in the truth at that stage. And I knew it was taking its toll on her and many, many years.

49. 21:17

    Later, her father was baptized because of the wonderful example of her, the girl’s. Mother and the consistent way in which her mother handled her life. And and I said to. This elderly sister, I said.

50. 21:37

    What are your thoughts? On on all that now that he’s a baptized brother and. How have you dealt with? That in your mind and. Harasser was very, very logical and simple, She simply. Said this the hurt? Is still there. So that’s the consequence. The hurt is still there. But she said with all my heart.

51. 22:01

    I hope. He’s in the Kingdom. Of God with all my heart, And she never told him that. Because he had passed away. So he doesn’t have to know that

52. 22:21

    she had forgiven him from her heart. And she wants. Him to be in the Kingdom of God, because at that point, she said. I know. That this. Whole thing. Will be healed. And she also said. I know that that suffering has shaped my life to become a softer person. So she understood what God was actually. Doing Remember we looked at the parable of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18.

53. 22:49

    You’re probably. Still there, which is good. Verse 27 just picking up where we left off yesterday. He loosed him and. Forgave him the debt loosed. Him and. Two things forgave the dead. And of course we saw that that was. Much more than he ever asked. That term, that lovely term, much more. Right through Romans 5.

54. 23:12

    Now, here, now, is the proof that this servant did not in any way. Appreciate the gravity of. His sin, or indeed what had been done? For him, let me just. Just show you that. Just have a look at. I meant to show you this before. See the way, John? Focuses on love. His Gospel 27 His Epistle 28. Look at the rest.

55. 23:36

    Of the I think John is making a point, don’t you think? So here we go, verse 28. But the same. Servant went out and found one of his fellow servants. Which owed him 100. Pence, and he laid hands on him. And took him by the. Throat saying, Pay me that thou owest. Now he obviously owed.

56. 23:59

    Something. And that’s God acknowledging, yes, I know that you have actually been hurt. You have. Been offended and you are hurting. I acknowledge that 100 pence. But he. Grabs him by the throat and he says. Pay me that you are. He wasn’t treated. Like that his Lord didn’t grab him by the throat. He reasoned gently with him.

57. 24:26

    You know, I think brothers. And sisters, I think it’s true for all of us because God will want to. Test us. All of us. In this area. I think sometime or other. We all will. Come upon a. Circumstance in which God will. Rest will test and our reactions. To the to to this.

58. 24:47

    Type of thinking. He will test us to a fellow brother or sister somewhere along the line in God’s purpose and Providence. We will be tested. In our lives. And at that point we’ll have to make. Decisions as to whether. We are going to worry about the 200 pence or whether it be able.

59. 25:10

    To be forgiven. So think about this. When we, when we. Hold out against. People we sort of think about. Here’s a bit of a list about. Perhaps some of the things that are in our minds maybe a financial debt. It might be an argument. Which has caused ill. Feeling it might be gossip.

60. 25:29

    Misunderstandings, different opinions, and of course, abuse. We’ve touched on that one, whether that’s. Mental, physical, sexual abuse. They’re all covered. Under the in in this this. Context. What about false accusation? Mocking derision. Spitting. Scourging crucifixion. All those things. There’s a little. Room that’s often. In our minds we we hold that and makes us. Feel as if we’re making that person pay for the ill. Done.

61. 26:06

    Imagine if we were to open that door we were able to get. Into the mind, your mind walk along the corridor. And here we come to the big door. The big. Solid grudge door and we open all. The locks. That are all round the door. And we swing. The door open, it’s because we’re going to clean it out.

62. 26:31

    And there in the center of the room is 1 solitary person and that person is actually you. I heard a saying recently and it went. Like this to forgive.

63. 26:54

    To to forgive is to set the captive. Free and then you suddenly. Realize that the captive. Was me. That person has probably moved. On or not even worried about things in some some circumstances. But we lock ourselves up if we hold grudges. We are not only we. Throwing out fellow fellow servant in prison.

64. 27:24

    We are throwing ourselves there as well, and more often than not. We we stay there. We are imprisoning or binding our very own selves and that’s why God is now saying I want. You to forgive because. You know what, brothers and sisters? You think about this, just think about this little. This little fact here. If we receive forgiveness of God. Who’s the beneficiary we are?

65. 27:52

    I am. If I receive forgiveness, I’m the beneficiary. If we forgive. Others from the heart. Who’s the beneficiary? The others? No, they’re not. I am. So on both counts, God is saying you benefit. Yourself.

66. 28:17

    And so verse 32 says. Then his Lord, after that he had called him, said to him, Oh their wicked. Servant. I forgave thee all that debt because you asked me to. So this. Wicked servant here had misrepresented God he’d misrepresented. What God was all about, He had misrepresented this. Concept of God manifestation.

67. 28:41

    He had misrepresented God in that. He had just been forgiven. And he’d left God’s. Presence and soon after. Had been exactly in God’s position. And had shown his brother what he thought God was. He had failed to. Exercise loving kindness and righteousness. He had distorted God’s character. To his brother and sister, make no mistake, brothers and sisters, our understanding of forgiveness.

68. 29:10

    Will have a direct impact on how we treat others. There is a distinct correlation. Between those two things. How you see God is how you will treat your brother. And if we believe, believe God is. Hard and. Austere reaping where he doesn’t. So then there’s a. Very, very high chance. We’ll reflect that in our own lives and we’ll hold out. Because the other people need to pay. So then this has.

69. 29:45

    Actually gone up a notch now. This has gone to next level. You see this is more. Than just about being merciful or otherwise. This is about portraying God to one another. Now that’s another level altogether. What a. Responsibility, that is, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all the debt shouldest. Not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant.

70. 30:12

    Even as I had pity on thee, can you hear that responsibility? We are portraying God. To one another. That’s what John says. John says we all agree. That nobody has seen God at any time, Is that not true? Says. John, but if the love of God. Dwells in your brother, then you’re looking at God.

71. 30:42

    What a responsibility that is now. This is why Matthew. 18 verse 18 says this verily I’ll say. Unto you whatsoever ye shall. Bind on Earth. Shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall. Loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. So there is a counter action. There is a. Correlation between those two things.

72. 31:11

    Again, I was saying to you that if two of you shall agree. On earth as touching anything that they should ask, it shall be done for them of my Father. Which is in. Heaven. So there is. A connection between how we. Treat each other on Earth. And God’s response in heaven. And that’s why.

73. 31:37

    The very next parable. In Matthew 18. Is the parable of the. Unforgiving Servant, verse 27 he is loosed and verse 30 he’s bound in prison. There’s. Losing and there’s bonding. Again, our understanding of forgiveness will have a direct impact on how we live. You know in in the Lord’s Prayer, think about the Lord’s. Prayer for a moment, you know.

74. 32:02

    Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And we say, you know, yeah, that’s. I can relate to that. I think that’s fair. If God, if God expects us to forgive others, well, that’s fair. Enough, because he’s forgiving us, you know, brothers and sisters, what we’re saying to God, actually. We’re saying to God this forgive us 10 million. Dollars.

75. 32:26

    As we forgive $20. That is that fair? Can you see how it’s? All out of balance in our favor and I think this is the one of the the. Core ideas of this parable? The main. Reason we need to be given our lives is so that we appreciate. In a such a small. Way the.

76. 32:55

    Enormity of what God, the King of heaven, has already done for us. That we might experience that position that God is in. It’s a very very see it your your ability you you’re having the control to forgive. See it as a very big privilege. It’s an honor to forgive because I’m. Mimicking the God of heaven.

77. 33:17

    What a privilege that. Is this is not. We shouldn’t do this grudgingly. It should be an absolute pleasure for us to forgive. You come to 2nd Corinthians 5 and verse 17. Let’s let Paul. Pull this all together this. Marvelous way he he writes in 2nd Corinthians 5 and verse verse 17.

78. 33:44

    He brings together God’s. Reconciliation And now, if you like, the. The mirror image in which we should. Treat each other, therefore verse 17 of chapter 5. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Reading this from ESV, he’s a new creation. So this is a. Work of God with us. The old has passed away.

79. 34:11

    Behold, the new has come. All this is from God. Who through? Christ reconciled us to himself. And gave. US The Ministry of Reconciliation. Oh, that’s interesting. So now. It’s our turn he’s given. US The doctrine of reconciliation. That is verse 19 in Christ. God was reconciling the world to himself. Not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting us. With the message.

80. 34:46

    Of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ. What does an ambassador do? He’s a representative. And he acts the same as and speaks the same language as from this country of origin.

81. 35:06

    We’re ambassadors for Christ, so we are representatives. God is making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ. Be reconciled to God and don’t see reconciliation. Like that? See it like that one. That they may be one in us was Christ’s prayer and Matthew in John 17. So I want you to think about now, brothers. And sisters, just quickly, this occasion where Christ washed his.

82. 35:46

    Disciples feet, and the recommendations that He left with his disciples on that occasion in relation to forgiving one another. He said. When we come to John, we don’t find. Any record. Of the details of the Last Supper, as we do in Matthew. Mark and Luke instead, do you? Know what we find, you know? What John does.

83. 36:07

    He deals with the absolute. Essence. Of what the emblems are all about, He puts the atonement in action. Shall we have a look at that? This is John 13 and verse three. We’ll come in there.

84. 36:22

    John 13 and verse 3. This is the atonement in action. This is. Forgiveness. This is how it works. This is the ministration of the Son of God to. Those who he loved verse. 3 John 13 Jesus knowing that the Father had given. All things into his hands. And that he. Was come from God. And went to God, and I want you to. Notice the the intricate detail.

85. 36:49

    In the text here. It’s very interesting. It’s sort of like a. Magnifying glass comes down onto the text. Now let’s look at this. He rises from supper, lays aside. His garments takes a. Towel and girds himself. Now the disciple is all watching this, and they’re probably looking at each other going, what is he doing now?

86. 37:22

    And after he’d done that, verse 5. He poured water. Out into a basin and he began to watch the disciples feet one by one, and they’re all probably sitting back, lounging on a on a couch in a in a reclined position, and he began to wipe. Them with the same. Towel. Wherewith he was girded, he’s.

87. 37:51

    Taking upon himself their dirt. Their iniquities their. Sins. He’s bearing them himself. He wanted them all to know this and all of us today, brothers and sisters, to make no mistake about what he was doing. He was bringing together 2. Concepts and here’s the concepts. Washing through the act of service, those two things. Washing through the act of service. This is him laying his.

88. 38:28

    Life down for his disciples and us. He’s displaying to them what he was about to undergo in the process of the crucifixion, and that was that he was going to. Wash their filthy, dirty walk at personal cost to himself. These own tower he was taking. On the soiled things that were coming off their feet. And we all know that.

89. 38:53

    The feet they are not. The most attractive? Part of our body, but he says with desire, with. Desire I have desired. To eat this Passover with you. I’ve been looking forward to this occasion for such a long time. I’ve been really looking forward to washing your feet. Is that how we feel? I want to do this for you. I want to forgive you.

90. 39:23

    But I can only do this if you let. Me I need. You to work with me on this. I need you to give me your feet. Give. Me that that soil. We let’s work together. On this let’s say what happens. Verse six Then cometh here to Simon Peter, and Peter saith unto him, Lord, no way, he says, Are you going to wash my feet? Jesus answered and said to him.

91. 39:49

    What I do now, you probably don’t understand this, You know not, but. You’re going to actually. Think back to this occasion and you’re going to understand what I’m actually doing. Let. Me tell you what he didn’t. Say when he came to Peter, he didn’t say. Oh for goodness sake Peter, look all. Your all the other disciples here, all your friends here, they’ve happily.

92. 40:14

    Let me wash their feet. And here we go again. Why is it always you he? Didn’t say that at all. He was very, very. Gentle. And he’s very understanding and he says, I know you’re not going to understand this, Peter. But you will in the future you’ll. Get it? And Peter said to him verse 18, No, not going to happen.

93. 40:43

    You will never. Wash my feet. Now Jesus, I think he. Gets a little bit firm and says now Peter. If I. Wash thee not. You have no part in me meaning. You have no share. You cannot share the Kingdom of God with me if I don’t wash you. Ears, Face says. You have. No share with me at.

94. 41:06

    All. No portion, no part. Of. Eternity, you imagine the scene, Just try and picture the scene. He’s the king of the. World sitting at. Peter’s feet and he’s sitting. On the ground, he’s got a bowl in front of him. He’s got the town in his hand. Everybody’s watching this discussion. There’s Peter sitting on his little couch with his feet drawn up under him, saying, you’re not going to do this. I won’t allow you to do this.

95. 41:36

    He’s probably being honorable. In his own mind. And there’s Christ. Sitting there, his hands are. Ready to go dripping with water from the. The last pair of feet. And he’s having this. Conversation. We’re saying Peter. You’ve got. To let this happen.

96. 41:55

    It is saying to Peter this, this is all figurative language. He’s saying if I. Don’t wash your. Feet, you have no forgiveness of sins, That’s actually. The essence of what’s being said here there is no forgiveness of sins. If I. Cannot wash your feet. Do you know every Sunday? When Christ’s disciples. Come together in 2022, we keep the. Feast and we do exactly this.

97. 42:20

    We understand. What he is doing for. You and I. And there’s something else that he he need that we need to know. It’s not a grudging act. He’s pleading with Peter. Come on, Peter. I want to do this for you. This is not reluctance on Christ’s part. He really does want to do this with desire. I’ve desired to eat this.

98. 42:41

    Passover. With you before I suffer. So what happens then? Peter automatically sees a bit of a picture and says, Oh well, in that case he says verse, verse 9 Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus said to him he that is washed needs not saved to wash his feet, but is cleaned every wit and you are cleaned but not all. And what?

99. 43:07

    On earth is. John saying here saying this my mouth says anyone who has recently bathed does not need to wash more than. His feet but is clean. All over. And you, my disciples, are all clean, and yet that is not. True of all of you.

100. 43:29

     So Peter has just said wash all of me. And Christ says to Peter, Peter, I don’t need to do that. You’ve actually been baptized. You’re totally washed, I. Need to. I need to. Wash your feet periodically. In the process of forgiveness, you don’t need to keep being rebaptized, and you’re all clean except one of you, for he knew verse 11 who should betray him.

101. 43:58

     That’s why, he said. You are not all clean and by the way. When Jesus Christ came to a pair of feet and attached to those feet. With two legs. And the body in the face of Judas. He didn’t take his bowl and look up and go next. He washed his feet, like all.

102. 44:28

     The others and he knew. Exactly what Judas was about to do. How do we go with that? How do you go forgiving? Someone in your heart when you know probably actually, they’re not really interested in forgiveness at all and they’re about to go ahead and. Harm you majorly. What a challenge that is for a human being with the carnal mind.

103. 44:53

     You see, this is all about forgiveness. Washing away of sin true, genuine service in this context, brothers and sisters, is all about forgiveness. That let’s stay with Weymouth. So verse verse 12 says this, so, so. After he’d washed their feet. Put on his garments again and returned to the table, he said to them now. He said.

104. 45:13

     Do you? Understand what I have done. To you? Do you get? This. You call me. Rabbi and master and rightly. So for such as I. Am so I am your master now, he says. If. I then your master, if I can do that as your master and I’ve. Washed your feet. It’s also your duty to forgive. One another wash others feet.

105. 45:47

     For I have set you an example in order that you may do what I have. Done to you to each. Other so the ultimate act of service with one another. Brothers and sisters is. Forgiveness. That’s the ultimate act of service and that. Makes you a living. Sacrifice.

106. 46:13

     A living sacrifice. Because you are. Putting to death the inherentness the kind of mind which says. I will not forget or forgive you are. Suppressing that and you’re. Offering a sacrifice to. The God of heaven and earth. And he is very pleased with that act. It’s total. It’s free and the it’s not.

107. 46:38

     Earned your forgiveness. Is not earned or won. It’s a gift. And the same when you. Give that. To other brothers and sisters when Christ come to a. As we said before, this particular pair of feet with Judas attached to it. There was no difference. It was exactly. The same our gift our. Free gift to each other.

108. 46:56

     Is forgiveness. Between ourselves, it’s our service to one another, and it’s a service. Which can only be brought. Or bought out of appreciation. It’s a service that involves. A death. And so that’s why. Paul says we die daily. We are. Suppressing the carnal mind. It’s a death of our natural inclination to hold a grudge.

109. 47:24

     I have set you an example in order that you may do. What I. Have done to you What a wonderful man. What a credible character he was. And Paul says this in Ephesians 4 as we. Wrap our thoughts up for this morning, he says. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor. And evil speaking be put away from you with. All malice and be kind one to another. Tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.