Embracing Forgiveness: A Journey to New Life

Devotional

Day 1: Forgiveness of Sins Is a Gift, Not Earned

Forgiveness is not something we can achieve through our own efforts or righteousness; it is a gift freely given by God through Christ. No matter how burdened we may feel by guilt or shame, God’s grace is sufficient to release, restore, and redeem us. When we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, making us new and freeing us to love others as we have been loved. [14:08]

1 John 1:9 (ESV)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Reflection: Is there a sin or burden of shame you have been carrying that you need to bring honestly before God today, trusting that His forgiveness is a gift and not something you have to earn?

Day 2: Those Who Are Forgiven Much, Love Much

The story of the woman with the alabaster jar shows that those who recognize the depth of their need for forgiveness respond with great love and gratitude. Jesus teaches that the more we understand how much we have been forgiven, the more our hearts overflow with love for God and others. This challenges us to move beyond self-righteousness and to embrace humility, recognizing our own need for grace and responding with compassion toward others. [38:16]

Luke 7:44-48 (ESV)
Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Reflection: In what ways can you express your gratitude to God today for the forgiveness you have received, and how might that overflow into love for someone in your life?

Day 3: We Are Called to Extend Forgiveness Without Limit

Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant reminds us that God’s forgiveness toward us is immeasurable, and we are called to extend that same forgiveness to others—without keeping count. Holding onto grudges or refusing to forgive can trap us in bitterness, but releasing others from their debts mirrors the mercy God has shown us. True forgiveness flows from a heart that knows it has been forgiven much, and it is a continual practice, not a one-time event. [42:07]

Matthew 18:21-22, 32-35 (ESV)
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. … Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Reflection: Who is someone you need to forgive or seek forgiveness from today, and what step can you take to begin that process, trusting God to help you let go?

Day 4: Resurrection Means God Will Make All Things New

The resurrection of the body is not just about life after death, but about God’s promise to make all things new—restoring creation and giving us imperishable, transformed bodies. Our hope is not limited to a disembodied existence in heaven, but in the assurance that God will one day set everything right, raising us to new life in a way that surpasses our current understanding. This hope gives us courage to live faithfully now, knowing that death does not have the final word. [57:19]

1 Corinthians 15:35-44 (ESV)
But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

Reflection: How does the promise of resurrection and God making all things new shape the way you face challenges, grief, or uncertainty today?

Day 5: Life Everlasting Is Life as God Intended—With Him at the Center

Eternal life is not merely an endless stretch of time, but the fullness of life as God designed it—life in perfect communion with God and others, free from suffering, death, and separation. This is the hope we affirm: that God’s story for us does not end at the grave, but continues in a restored creation where love, peace, and joy are complete. Living in light of this hope calls us to center our lives on God now, seeking His presence and sharing His love with the world. [01:01:27]

Revelation 21:3-5 (ESV)
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally center your day on God’s presence and the hope of life everlasting, allowing that hope to shape your actions and relationships?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered to reflect on the final affirmations of the Apostles’ Creed, focusing especially on the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. At the heart of our faith is the conviction that forgiveness is not something we earn, but a gift freely given by God through Christ. This forgiveness releases us from the burdens of guilt and shame, restoring us to new life and freeing us to love others as we have been loved. The story of the woman with the alabaster jar in Luke’s Gospel beautifully illustrates this: her extravagant act of love flowed from the deep well of forgiveness she had received. Jesus’ parable of the two debtors reminds us that those who recognize the depth of their forgiveness are moved to greater love and gratitude.

Yet, forgiveness is not just about what we receive from God; it is also about how we extend that grace to others and even to ourselves. The parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18 challenges us to examine whether we truly feel forgiven, or if we are still carrying the weight of our own debts, making it difficult to forgive others. Sometimes, the hardest person to forgive is ourselves, and unresolved shame can make us harsh and judgmental toward others. Each time we affirm, “I believe in the forgiveness of sins,” we are not only claiming God’s mercy for ourselves but also committing to be agents of forgiveness in the world.

Turning to the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting, we explored how Christian understanding has evolved over time. While early believers expected a literal, physical resurrection, our hope now is rooted in the promise that God will make all things new. Paul’s analogy of the seed in 1 Corinthians reminds us that what is sown perishable will be raised imperishable. Our future is not just an endless stretch of time, but life as it was meant to be—life with God at the center, free from suffering and death, in perfect communion with God and one another. This hope shapes how we live today, reminding us that death does not have the final word and that our lives are lived in the light of eternity.

Key Takeaways

1. Forgiveness is a gift, not a transaction. It is given freely by God, not because we deserve it, but because of Christ’s love and sacrifice. When we truly grasp the depth of our own forgiveness, it transforms our hearts and enables us to love more deeply and freely. [14:08]
2. The measure of our love often reflects our awareness of how much we have been forgiven. Like the woman with the alabaster jar, those who know the weight of their sin and the wonder of God’s mercy respond with extravagant love and gratitude, while self-righteousness can dull our compassion. [38:16]
3. Extending forgiveness to others is inseparable from receiving forgiveness ourselves. Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant warns that an unforgiving heart may reveal an unhealed wound within us—a place where we have not yet accepted God’s grace or released our own shame. [46:54]
4. Forgiving ourselves can be the most difficult aspect of forgiveness. Unresolved guilt or shame can make us harsh and judgmental toward others, but when we allow God’s forgiveness to reach even our deepest wounds, we are set free to extend true grace to those around us. [48:27]
5. The resurrection of the body and the life everlasting are not just about life after death, but about God’s promise to make all things new. Our hope is not merely for a disembodied existence, but for a transformed life in God’s presence, where suffering and death are no more, and where we are raised imperishable to live in perfect communion with God and each other. [59:58]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Call to Worship: Forgiveness of Sins
[03:10] - Affirmation of Faith: The Apostles’ Creed
[07:30] - Offering and Stewardship as Faith
[14:08] - The Gift of Forgiveness
[24:43] - Prayer and Community
[29:00] - The Complexity of Forgiveness
[38:16] - The Woman with the Alabaster Jar
[42:07] - Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
[46:54] - The Challenge of Forgiving Others
[48:27] - The Struggle to Forgive Ourselves
[57:19] - Resurrection: Ancient and Modern Perspectives
[58:08] - Paul’s Analogy of the Seed
[59:58] - Raised Imperishable: The Hope of Resurrection
[62:49] - Living in the Light of Eternity
[66:18] - Announcements and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1. Luke 7:36-50 (ESV) – The Woman with the Alabaster Jar — > 36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. ... 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little. 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

2. Matthew 18:21-35 (ESV) – The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant — > 21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. ... 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

3. 1 Corinthians 15:35-44 (ESV) – The Resurrection Body — > 35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” 36 You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. ... 42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.

Observation Questions

In the story of the woman with the alabaster jar, what actions did she take to show her love and gratitude to Jesus? How did Jesus respond to her, and what did he say about her sins? ([38:16])
In the parable of the unforgiving servant, what was the difference between the debts owed by the two servants, and how did each master respond? ([42:07])
According to 1 Corinthians 15, what analogy does Paul use to describe the resurrection of the body? What does he say about what is “sown” and what is “raised”? ([58:08])
In the sermon, what connection is made between feeling forgiven and the ability to forgive others? ([48:27])

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus say that “whoever has been forgiven little loves little” in the story of the woman with the alabaster jar? What does this reveal about the relationship between forgiveness and love? ([38:16])
In the parable of the unforgiving servant, what might be the reason the forgiven servant was unable to forgive others? How does this relate to our own struggles with forgiveness? ([48:27])
The sermon mentions that sometimes the hardest person to forgive is ourselves. How can unresolved shame or guilt affect our relationships with others and our ability to extend grace? ([48:27])
Paul’s analogy of the seed in 1 Corinthians 15 suggests that our resurrection bodies will be different from our current bodies. What hope does this give for life after death, and how might it shape our perspective on suffering and mortality? ([59:58])

Application Questions

The sermon says that forgiveness is a gift, not a transaction. Is there an area in your life where you are still trying to “earn” God’s forgiveness or prove yourself worthy? How might it change your heart to truly receive forgiveness as a gift? ([14:08])
Think about a time when you felt deeply forgiven. How did that experience affect the way you treated others afterward? Is there someone in your life now who needs to experience that same kind of grace from you? ([38:16])
The parable of the unforgiving servant warns about the dangers of an unforgiving heart. Is there someone you are struggling to forgive? What steps could you take this week to move toward forgiveness, even if it’s just a small step? ([46:54])
The sermon suggests that people who are harsh or judgmental toward others may be carrying unresolved shame or guilt themselves. Are there areas in your own life where you find it hard to forgive yourself? How might bringing these to God in prayer help you extend more grace to others? ([48:27])
Each time we say, “I believe in the forgiveness of sins,” we are committing to be agents of forgiveness in the world. What is one practical way you can live out this commitment in your family, workplace, or community this week? ([48:27])
The hope of resurrection is not just about life after death, but about God making all things new. How does this hope affect the way you face challenges, loss, or suffering in your life right now? ([59:58])
The sermon describes everlasting life as “life as it was meant to be—life with God at the center, free from suffering and death, in perfect communion with God and one another.” What is one area of your life where you long to experience more of this kind of life, even now? ([59:58])

Sermon Clips

If you think about it this way, we've been talking about the affirmation of faith all summer long, where we affirm the things that we believe. I believe in God the Father Almighty. We just said that together. In a way, our giving is also an affirmation of our faith as we do that. What we're saying as we give our gifts to the church, whether we do it online or whether we do it here in person, what we're saying is that we believe in some things. We believe that God provides for us and God will provide for us, that all that we have that God has blessed us with. [00:29:20] (36 seconds) #FaithInGiving

We're also saying that we affirm God's kingdom work here on earth as it is in heaven, and so that we believe in God's kingdom to do that. And we also are saying that we believe in one another. We believe in this community of faith to be good stewards of the resources that we have to further God's kingdom here. [00:29:56] (19 seconds) #ForgivenessIsComplex

But sometimes we carry the shame, even though we might kind of intellectually understand that God has forgiven us, and maybe that even others have forgiven us of something we've done. Sometimes we hold on to that shame, and it can do a number on us. [00:38:43] (15 seconds) #UnforgivingHearts

But the person who has realized that they have lots of sins then that person you know also has their sins forgiven and in this case loves in a greater way. [00:44:15] (15 seconds) #GodRedeemsAll

Now, here's the question.And those of you who might remember the sermon, and I know, I don't expect you to remember all my sermons, might remember what my theory on this is.Of why would this guy, who was hopelessly in debt, $7 billion, he is never, ever going to be able to pay this debt back. It's impossible. Why is he out there trying to collect a few hundred or a few thousand dollars from this guy to pay? And my point is this, he doesn't feel forgiven. He doesn't feel forgiven. [00:48:25] (33 seconds) #LifeEverlastingHope

What you sow does not come back to life unless it dies.And so we sow a seed and then that seed grows and becomes something else, becomes a flower or some kind of plant or that sort of things. As we die, you know, we will be raised again.And in some imperishable physical form, I believe.But what that looks like is going to be different than how we are here. You know, we're not going to be, you know, put together like the zombie apocalypse or something. It's going to be, you know, it is going to be a body that, you know, there is no disease, that lives for eternity, that is different in that. [01:00:01] (48 seconds)

Hopefully when we stand each week and we say it, you know, at least we'll be thinking and pondering about, you know, the parts that maybe we understand better, and then those parts that are still a little bit mysterious to us, maybe that'll help us to say, hey, I need to do some study about that. I need to read some authors. I need to just, you know, kind of drill down and see what I believe about that. [01:02:24] (22 seconds)

There are some things that we don't know, we can't know, Lord, until we die and we're with you, Lord.But there are things, Lord, that we can understand and that we can grow in. And so, I just pray for each of us on our path of discipleship as we become more deeper in our following of you, that you will lead us and guide us as Christian individuals, but also as a church and as a Christian community. [01:03:12] (26 seconds)

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