Forgiveness – The Most Precious Heavenly Blessing
Pastor Tan Thai · May 19, 2018
This sermon presents forgiveness as the most precious heavenly blessing God grants to those who believe in Jesus Christ, based on Ephesians 1:7. The pastor explains why believers must forgive others, while calling the congregation to humility in acknowledging fault and seeking forgiveness.
This sermon is part of a series titled 'Blessed with Every Heavenly Blessing' based on Ephesians 1:3, emphasizing that all spiritual blessings are received in Christ. The pastor focuses on Ephesians 1:7, declaring that the forgiveness of sins is the first and most essential condition for believers to receive all other spiritual blessings, including adoption as God's children, a share in the inheritance, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
The pastor explains the theological meaning of forgiveness: to forgive is to absorb a debt that another person owes, because Jesus Christ bore the punishment for sinners on the cross. Biblical figures such as Peter, Paul, Joseph, David, and Moses are cited to illustrate the transforming power of forgiveness. The sermon also references Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:14-15 and the parable of the two servants in Matthew 18 to emphasize that those who refuse to forgive will not be forgiven by God and their prayers will not be heard.
The pastor points out the troubling reality that believers freely receive God's abundant forgiveness but are very slow to forgive others. Using data from the Barna Group, he shows that young people typically describe Christians as judgmental, accusatory, and unforgiving. The physical consequences of unforgiveness are also noted, including stress, high blood pressure, and insomnia.
The sermon calls the congregation not only to forgive others but also to have the courage and humility to admit their own faults and seek forgiveness. Illustrations include marriages that fell apart because neither party would accept blame, and the historic resolution of the East German parliament apologizing to the Jewish people. The story of Jonah and the Pharisees in John 8 are used to warn that we are often the ones causing turmoil while remaining unaware of our own sin.
The pastor concludes that both forgiving and seeking forgiveness require faith: faith that when we forgive, God will restore what was lost; and faith that when we humbly confess our fault, we will not lose honor but will receive God's forgiveness. The entire sermon reminds the congregation that forgiveness is the clearest first expression of God's love, and the foundation of every healthy relationship in the church and family.