Biblically-Based Definition and Description

In this part of the sermon: Martin poses the question of what the most critical issue is after establishing the centrality of forgiveness, leading to the conclusion that a clear, biblically-based definition…

Martin invents the nonsense word 'um kabibab' to illustrate that without a clear definition, any concept, including forgiveness, is meaningless and cannot be understood or discussed effectively.

Well, if you're not sure, let me see if I can help you and we'll all be of one mind. Suppose I were to go back and reword the headings of my first message this way. I'm going to demonstrate the centrality of forgiveness in the revelation of God and His salvation. Point number one.

6:19 - 6:39 Read in full sermon

The point: Care enough to know what biblical forgiveness is, lest you be cursed for spiritual laziness and vulnerable to nonsense.

He uses the analogy of knowing a man's thoughts only when he articulates them in words to explain why understanding God's words is crucial for understanding God's thoughts on forgiveness.

This is what we must start with. And why must we start there? Well, for the simple reason that God, thoughts are revealed in God's words. In 1 Corinthians chapter 2, the Apostle Paul makes this explicit. Notice what he says in chapter 2 in verse 11. For among men, who knows the things of a man save the spirit of a man which is in him? If I stand here in 30 seconds of silence and I say, do you know what I'm thinking? You say, no. And you're right. Who knows the things of a man save the spirit of a man? I would know what I'm thinking because my spirit is in touch with me. That's me. I know. But ...

11:46 - 12:33 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: To further solidify the concept, Martin presents several vivid verbal pictures of forgiveness from the Old Testament. These include God 'putting away' David's sin, removing…

The horrific sins of David (adultery, murder, cover-up) and God's subsequent forgiveness through Nathan are used as a vivid verbal picture of God 'putting away' sin, emphasizing its complete removal.

So I want you to tighten your seat belt and go with me through some very vivid verbal pictures, pictures of forgiveness in our Bibles. First one is 2 Samuel chapter 12. You remember the horrific sins that David has fallen into. He's fallen into willful, deliberate adultery, calculated murder, cover-up, months of a backslidden state, living the life of a hypocrite.

23:59 - 24:32 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: To further solidify the concept, Martin presents several vivid verbal pictures of forgiveness from the Old Testament. These include God 'putting away' David's sin, removing…

The phrase 'as far as the east is from the west' is used to illustrate the infinite distance God removes our transgressions, emphasizing the completeness of divine forgiveness.

He doesn't say, as far as east is from west, so he has forgiven us. No, he wants us to get the message. This is forgiveness. This is God removing our transgressions from us, separating our sins from us, not an inch away, a foot away, not a north or south pole away, but east and west.

28:23 - 28:52 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: To further solidify the concept, Martin presents several vivid verbal pictures of forgiveness from the Old Testament. These include God 'putting away' David's sin, removing…

The imagery of blotting out ink from a parchment until no trace remains is used to explain God's blotting out of transgressions, signifying their complete erasure and non-remembrance.

I, even I, am he that blots out your transgressions for my own sake and will not remember your sins. Here, the prophet is most likely using the imagery of what some of his disciples were doing in removing the ink from a parchment, so blotting it out that the parchment once again would be clean. You look upon the parchment and there is no sign, no trace of the former ink and writing upon it. It's been blotted out, not partially, not by incremental portions.

31:41 - 32:22 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: To further solidify the concept, Martin presents several vivid verbal pictures of forgiveness from the Old Testament. These include God 'putting away' David's sin, removing…

The analogy of a thick cloud cover quickly disappearing in the Palestinian sky due to shifting winds is used to illustrate how God blots out sins, making them vanish completely.

And then a little different nuance in chapter 44 and verse 22. I have blotted out as a thick cloud your transgressions and as a cloud your sins. Return unto me for I've redeemed you. I've blotted out as a thick cloud.

32:40 - 33:02 Read in full sermon

Driving home: God is saying, I have self-imposed amnesia with respect to your sin. I will remember it. No more.

God's commitment not to remember sins is described as 'self-imposed amnesia,' emphasizing His deliberate choice to treat forgiven sins as if they never happened in His dealings with us.

I make a commitment of will that the sin that is forgiving will never enter the picture in the way I deal with you. And it must not enter the picture in the way you deal with me. That's what God is saying. God is saying, I have self-imposed amnesia with respect to your sin.

35:07 - 35:28 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: To further solidify the concept, Martin presents several vivid verbal pictures of forgiveness from the Old Testament. These include God 'putting away' David's sin, removing…

The imagery of sins being cast into the depths of the sea is used to convey their complete burial, being out of sight and out of mind forever, with a humorous addition of a 'no fishing here' sign.

He will again have compassion upon us. He will tread our iniquities underfoot. And you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. When something is cast into the depths of the sea.

36:52 - 37:11 Read in full sermon

Driving home: It has nothing to do with my stinking feelings. I may feel like punching him in the face. For what he did. And my feelings haven't calmed down yet. But when I forgive him. I'm making a commitment of my will.

Martin shares a personal feeling of wanting to punch someone in the face for what they did, to illustrate that human forgiveness is a commitment of the will, not dependent on feelings.

Asking forgiveness. I the offended party make a commitment of my will. It has nothing to do with my stinking feelings. I may feel like punching him in the face.

44:09 - 44:21 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He then offers a definition for human or mutual forgiveness: 'a gracious, God-like act of one forgiven sinner to another forgiven sinner, by which the offended party makes a…

Martin shares his personal joy and feeling 'more like God' when he can freely and cheerfully forgive people who come to him asking for forgiveness.

And say oh pastor. I did this wrong. Can you forgive me? I say I never feel more like God.

47:21 - 47:29 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not keep a ledger of previous wrongs, as true forgiveness does not keep account of evil.

The concept of forgiving seventy times seven is explained by saying that if truly forgiven, each time a person comes, it's like the first time, because the previous sin is 'put away' and not remembered.

Each time the person comes. It's the first time. You follow me. You put the other way.

49:10 - 49:19 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not keep a ledger of previous wrongs, as true forgiveness does not keep account of evil.

The idea that 'love takes no account of evil' is used to illustrate that true forgiveness does not keep a ledger or book of previous wrongs, mirroring God's non-remembrance of sin.

It's not there. It's not there to write the book. Love takes no account of evil. Love keeps at your book.

49:19 - 49:28 Read in full sermon

The point: Never use the language 'I can't forgive' or 'I won't forgive,' as it is dangerous and contrary to the nature of a forgiven person.

The parable of the man forgiven millions who then refuses to forgive a small debt is referenced to warn against the danger of saying 'I can't forgive' or 'I won't forgive,' highlighting the severe consequences.

I won't forgive. That's dangerous language. Remember the parable. The man who's forgiven his millions.

50:26 - 50:37 Read in full sermon

The point: Have the inside of your heart's door worn thin from the knuckles of your soul, pounding to get forgiveness out, eagerly welcoming those who seek it.

The imagery of the inside of the heart's door being worn thin from the knuckles of the soul 'pounding' to get forgiveness out is used to illustrate an eager, overflowing desire to forgive others.

And I'll use this imagery in a subsequent message. The inside of the door of our heart ought to be worn thin from the knuckles of our soul, ponding, saying, I want to get this forgiveness out. I want to get this forgiveness out. And you welcome someone coming.

54:31 - 54:50 Read in full sermon