Forgive 1 WS329
Forgiveness And Immorality
by Wesley Simons
Introduction
1. The purpose of this lesson is to show a proper Christian attitude toward
thosewho formerly practiced grossly immoral lifestyles: homosexuality,
adulterers, and those constantly lapsing into sin.
2. Forgiveness is something we all need.
3. If we will not forgive others, then God will not forgive us: Matthew
6:14-15 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will
also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will
your Father forgive your trespasses.
4. I must always have the attitude of forgiveness: Matthew 18:21-22 Then
came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me,
and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto
thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
1. The Lord had a forgiving attitude: Luke 23:34 Then said
Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do....
2. Stephen had a forgiving attitude: Acts 7:60 And he kneeled
down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.
And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
I. God Forgives When People Repent.
1. The Lord will not forgive until one repents. We are not to forgive people
until they repent: Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother
trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
2. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because they would not repent; not
because God was unforgiving (Gen. 18-19).
3. If a member of the church gets involved in homosexuality, we cannot do as
some in the religious world and try to forgive him in his sin. If this
individual will not repent, then we are obligated to stand against him.
4. If a member of the church leaves his wife for another woman, we cannot go
around saying let usbe big enough to forgive him. If this individual will not
repent, then we are obligated to stand against him.
5. If one of our young ladies gets pregnant out of wedlock, we cannot say
well, that is no big deal now, let us give her a baby shower. If this young
lady will not repent, then we are obligated to stand against her.
6. Ihave known of members of the church who would help young ladies get
abortions. This is not the way to pursue forgiveness.
7. However, if the aforementioned people repent, thenwe are under a
God-given obligation to forgive them and to help them on their journey
fromhere to heaven.
II. Example Of Those Who Have Fallen Into Immorality.
1. Rahab the harlot. The Bible speaks of her great faith and works (Heb.
11:31; James 2:25).
2. David and his adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1-5).
3. Matthew 21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and
ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye,
when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
4. John 4:16-17 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her,
Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
5. Mark 6:18-19 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to
have thy brother's wife. 19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him,
and would have killed him; but she could not:
6. John 8:10-11 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the
woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no
man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto
her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
7. 1 Corinthians 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among
you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles,
that one should have his father's wife. 1 Corinthians 5:4-5 In the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my
spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one
unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in
the day of the Lord Jesus. 1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written
unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a
fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an
extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
8. 2 Corinthians 2:6-11 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which
was inflicted of many. 7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive
him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up
with overmuch sorrow. 8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm
your love toward him. 9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know
the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 10 To whom ye
forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I
forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 11 Lest Satan
should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
1. Discipline is called a punishment.
2. It inflicts sorrow.
3. We are to confirm our love toward the brother that has repented.
4. If we do not forgive,Satan will get an advantage over us.
9. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit
the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves,
nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the
kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed,
but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord
Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (NKJV)
III. Wrong Attitudes Toward The Immoral.
1. Leave them alone. They cannot control themselves anyway.
2. We do not need their type.
3. What good would they be if we got them back.
4. We don’t want the worldto know that people like that attend here.
5. We would be better off without them.
6. They know right from wrong so leave themalone.
7. I don’t want them around my children.
8. I cannot forgive them because they do not deserve it. (Did we deserve
God’s forgiveness?).
IV. The Right Attitude Toward The Immoral.
1. We are to realize that we are not perfect and one day we will need the
help and forgiveness of others.
2. God forgave us after we had done many immoral things against Him.
3. Do not gossip!!!!!! What we say about someone might mean the difference
between his repenting or his not repenting.
4. We are to realize that this is our brother or sister for whom Christ died.
5. Do not try to defend his ungodly actions.
6. If the elders and the church have to stand against him, then take a stand.
7. When he repents, forgive him, and as much as is humanly possible, forget
it.
Conclusion
1. We must make Christianity beautiful by loving one another.
2. We must practice the great principle of forgiveness when one repents.
3. Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
4. James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no
mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.