Am I fully forgiven

Dustin Alley

Questions we’re afraid to ask • Sermon • Submitted 2 months ago • Presented 3 months ago

Matthew 12:22–32

Forgiveness

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Introduction

Dismiss children

Introduce self

Thankful to Tim preaching last week. Great message and reminder to us all to seek God through trials and not purpose.

This is our second message in our series “Questions we’re afraid to ask” and today I want to answer the question “Am I fully forgiven?” or you could also ask “Is there a sin I can commit that won’t be forgiven?”

Many have heard about the “unforgiveable sin” that Jesus speaks of in our text today. However, I don’t know how many can actually define what that is. That worries me because if we can’t define it, then we could question if we are fully forgiven or is there something being held over us and either preventing our salvation or hurting our relationship with God.

Character: Person who thinks they are unforgiven

If you are a follower of Jesus today you have heard the word forgiven tossed around a lot. That’s because our salvation is based upon God forgiving us for our sins based on our faith in Jesus Christ.

However, bein unforgiven or committing an unforgivabel sin isn’t talked about often. And when it is, I’m afraid the word is used in a way that doesn’t make sense.

How many of you have seen the princess bride?

Rememeber the little bald dude? throughout the movie he says the word “inconcievable” and inigo montoya finaly tells him, “you keep using that word…I don’t think you know what it means”

I believe the same thing is true with christians when they use the word or speak of the unforgivable sin.

People talk about it from time to time and when they do, they don’t know what it means.

And when we don’t know what it means, we probably don’t know the impact of the ambiguity in our lives. Becuase if we don’t know what it means to be fully forgiven and believe there is a chance of us being unforgiven, we are more likely to live an unforgiven life and than a forgiven one.

Problem: Living unforgiven

Have you ever offended a person and not been forgiven for it?

Maybe you’ve been in an argument with a family member or spouse and it takes day or two to get over it.

What’s it like during that day or two between you all? Rough right.

There’s forgiveness that having been sought or given.

How do you act towards that person? How do you respond when they ask you for something? Simple requests or conversations turn into something crazy “Can you pass the salt” turns into you throwing the heat like nolan ryan at their face.

You feel uncomfortable around them, you feel like somethings not right and your not living your fullest life becuase of it. Your limited becuase of the unforgiveness that your living in.

What if you think your unforgiven by God? What i you think there is a chance that you could be unforgiven or lose your forgiveness with Him?

Agitated: Unforgiven, Cursed, Rejected, unloved, Orphaned, lost

Your walkin on eggshells, your cautious with everything, your worried constantly about what you say do or think.

You can’t fully embrace who you are in Christ becuase there is turmoil in your heart.

When my wife is mad at me, It’s hard for me to operate. I tell her, if we are good, I can conquer the world. When there is something wrong with us, then I’m no good to be around, I have a hard time getting work done, and my life is thrown off. While I don’t find my full identity in her, her opinion, her love, and her support matter greatly too me.

What if I think something is off with God and I? If something is off with God and I, I can’t live in my full idenityt in Christ.

have you seen the movie Overcomer? In it the young lady answers the question “Who am I?” with a list from Ephesians 4 of who she is in Christ.

Blessed (Eph 1:3), Chosen (1:4), Adopted (1:5), Redeemed (1:6), Forgiven (1:7), Sealed (1:14), Loved (2:4), Saved (2:8) ((Amy, put these as a list on the screen. Two columns please))

And what makes it possible for her to identify herself in that way? She is living a foriven life in Christ. Trusting in Jesus as her savior and believing she is fully forgiven.

What is the opposite of that though? What is it to live an unforgiven life? Or a life where the potential to lose your forgiveness is?

Unforgiven, Cursed, Rejected, unloved, Orphaned, lost ((list on screen like the last one please))

now which one of those do you want to wake up tomorrow and say “I am unloved, I am rejected…”

This is why forgiveness in Christ is a clean slate

Solution: Believing in Jesus Power, love, and forgiveness

Romans 10:9–10 “9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Psalm 86:5 “5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; And plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.”

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

When we believe in jesus we we are saying that we believe His sacrifice fully paid for our sins. We are saying we believe we are fully forgiven.

We have to remember that and you have to live in that truth. Which means you have to have the answer to the question “is there a sin I can commit that I can’t be forgiven of?”

Where do we find the asnwer to that question to help us live a forgiven life?

Guide and Journey: Jesus, Matt 12:25-32

The best place to look for that is the exact text where the unforgiveable sin is spoken of and then find the understanding based on the context of the passage.

here in the book of Matthew written approximately 60 years after the death of Jesus and helps us better understand Jesus as King of the Jews.

In the text we are about to read Jesus is in the middle of his ministry on earth and is speaking with the Pharisees who had questioning Jesus and his practices from the beginnign of the chapter.

His disciples had picked heads of grain to eat on the Sabbath, He had healed a man on the sabbath, and now he has cast out a demon and healed the same man of being blind and mute.

When he cast out the demon the people were asking “could this be the son of David?” which is the same as asking if it is the Messiah, the Christ, the one who would deliver Israel as prophesied in the OT.

Wlel, the religious elite did not like the thought of this because Jesus didn’t fit their mold.

So in verse 24 they throw into question his deity and connection to God.

Matthew 12:24 “24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.”

Beelzebub reminds me of the name Beetleguise and neither of them bring to mind Satan.

Beelzebub is considered to be an ancient name for Baal, the Caanite storm/fertility God. The worship of Baal had competed with the worship of God for a long time in their culture and Satan was deemed to be the spirit at work in baal worship reuslting in the name Beelzebub becoming an alternate name for Satan.

The Pharisees looked at Jesus and said “you are casting out these demons in the name of Satan.”

Jesus knows their thoughts and what they are saying to one another and responds

Matthew 12:25–28 “25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.”

Living the forgiven life is about believing in Jesus as the one who fully forgives you and he establishes himself here while reminding us as well something we can forget and the first thing I want you to take note of in the text

1. There is a battle

There is a battle that wages for your soul, for your worship, and for your life. Jesus says that Satan has a kingdom nad Satan is seeking to gain as much ground as he can.

In this passage we see he had posessed this man but posession isn’t the only way the devil will work.

If you are a follower of Jesus I don’t believe the devil can possess you becuase the Spirit of God lives within you.

What can he do though?

He can distract you and cause you to doubt.

Do you know what the most expensive commodity in the world is today? Every major corporation is vying for it and spending tons of money in order to get it.

Do you know?

your attention.

Your attention is valuable. marketing companies work tirelessly to find ways to get it.

How much more do you think the devil works?

It may not be cool or flashy to say and it may sound a little old school but there is an enemy, his name is Lucifer, we call him Satan or the devil and he is actively particpating in a war with God for your heart and mind.

This is why there are verses in the bible that say

1 Peter 5:8–9 “8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”

1 Peter 5:8–9 CSB

8 Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 9 Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.

Beingg sober minded and vigilant to protect your heart from the things that can cause you to be distracted and doubting of the Jesus.

What causes you to quetion the goodness of God in life?

What helps you to be reassured of God’s goodness? reminders froms critpure wheny ou read the bible? Remidners from worhsip Songs? Remidners of Answered prayer?

Then give your attention to those things, becuase a battle is raging.

But there is hope…

Matthew 12:29–30 “29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. 30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.”

2. There is a winner

I grew up istening to some old music ok. I grew up with the red back church hymnal

((Amy, insert church hymnal picture here))

Ever seen this? It’s got the old hymns in it. Good hymns too.

One of the songs, tht I can’t remembner if it’s in there or not, is “I’m on the winning side” Best heard through a mens choir with harmonies.

I’m not singing it but it’s a reminder that we are on the winning side.

Jesus said how can one enter the strong man’s house and mess up what he has going on unless he binds the strong man?

Jesus came into the world and said Hey Devil…sit. Stay. Watch this. And he wreaked havoc on what he was doing. And guess what? He still is!

He didn’t stop. He is still soiling the devil’s work.

Can I show you something though? Can I show you how we often live.

—Have time come up…bind him…someone else come up…messing things ups…I look at tim as he tries to get my attention rather than working with other person to mess things up—

We forget who Jesus is and what Jesus has done.

He reminded the pharisees here and He reminds us daily WHEN!!!

we give our attention to Him.

What you give your attention to is what you will give your life too.

give your attention to the one who gives you life.

After clearing this up for the Pharisees and declaring himself not onyl separate from Satan and being victorious over him he tells them

Matthew 12:31–32 “31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”

There it is. Blasphemy against the holy Ghost. What does that mean?

Based on the context here Jesus is speaking about the credit for things God does being given over the Satan. If a person were to honestly say that a person is saved becasue of the devil, healed because the devil helaed them, or sees God work in someones life and says it’s the devil that changged him to good.

I believe this is blaspheming the holy Spirit.

While there are some that will give themselves over to this thought, if you are a follower of Jesus, this is not something you do. This is not a line of thinking you have, this is not something you walk around believing.

“But pastor, I’ve said some realyl bad things” look ya’ll, I walked away from my faith in 7th grade, I spend 10-12 years doing things common in the world and when I ot in the marine Corps Iw asn’t exposed to a bunch of Christ fearing peole. I said some really bad things and questioned god in a number of ways.

I used to worry about this.

Can I tell you something? I beleive the fact you would even be concerend is proof you haven’t committed it. Why? Becuase if you believe the devil did the Lord’s work, why would you care if you had blasphemed the spirit?

The truth of the matter is the devil doesn’t keep you from being saved, the devil doesn’t keep you from living a forgiven life, the devil doesn’t keep you from being a committed faithful follower of Jesus…you do.

3. There is no one keeping you from victory, except yourself

Jesus explains this unforgiveable sin and goes on to say

Matthew 12:33 “33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.”

Jesus says to either believe Him and who He is or don’t. When you believe, you will live like it. Wheny ou don’t…you will live like it.

God was this black and while in the OT

Deuteronomy 5:32–33 “32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33 Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.”

He reiterates this in revelations

Revelation 3:16 “16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”

There is not a time where God has desired for you to live less that you are because of Him.

Dont’ live as someone that is unforgiveable when you are forgiven because of your faith in Jesus.

Don’t live as someone that is rejected by anyone when you accepted by him

Don’t live as someone that is lost wheny ou can be saved

Don’t live as an orphan when you have been adopted

Don’t live as a victim when you have been proclaimed a victor

don’t live in fear when you have been given a spirit of faith

don’t live saying there is a God and you beleive in His son while living as though he doesn’t even exist

Resolution: Live out your faith in Jesus’ power, love, and forgiveness

Jesus told the pharisees, I have come into the strong mans house and bound him. I’m telling you, there is a devil and he is real. There is a God and He is real. The question I have for you is are you allowing god into your life enough to bind the strong man or do you keep him on the outside of your house wondering why he isn’t working when you aren’t letting him in?

You don’t give him your attention and your wondering why he isn’t doing anything with your life.

You keep focusing on the bad and wrong in your life and the world and wonder why your not seeing God work.

Be hot or cold but don’t be luke warm.

Know you are forgiven not because of any work you have done but only because of the work Jesus did on the cross. Live that forgiven life by trusting in God’s ultimate forgivenss.

Impact: Negative-Defeated life, kingdom impact limited. Positive- Victorious life in Christ with great kingdom impact

Or choose to continue living as a victim.

Continue to be defeated by your focus on the negative things satan is doing. Continue to give your time and attention to anything else other than Jesus.

But if you’ve been doin that you know how bad it is. The problem is your not sure if there is another way.

There is.

The people you see around you living that victorious life, living a forgiven life, knowin there is nothing keeping them form God’s love becuase they have put their faith in Jesus…you can have that too.

How? Choose Jesus.

Choose to trust in Jesus’ power, love, and sacrifice to pay for your sins. Choose to trust in Jesus daily to bind the strong mon and wreck His World. Choose to trust Jesus can and will use you.

Becuase what oyu believe will determine how you live. Be confident in your savior and live from that.