How Does Forgiveness Bring Joy and Purpose?

Primary Scripture: Luke 15:11-32 Primary Topic: Forgiveness has the power to change our lives! Whether we receive forgiveness or grant forgiveness, there is a wonderful association with freedom that can empower us to live new. It takes a good dose of humble self-reflection to recognize and accept that forgiveness is granted and not earned. And it takes remarkable insight to see that granting forgiveness frees us from the self-imposed incarceration that comes with holding on to our perceived rights. There is clearly a great deal to talk about! In the Parable of the Two Lost Sons, Jesus leads us into a journey aimed at understanding the depths of God’s love for us. The loving father desires restoration of relationship with both the rebellious son who turned his back on his father in arrogant pride and the loyal son who was unable to join his father’s joy. There are layers to explore as we might even find ourselves inside the story to various degrees. Genuine salvation begins with a personal awareness of sin and how our sin estranges us from Holy God. While the consequences of sin damage our lives, the core issue is that living in independence from God on our own terms is an affront to Him (Ps. 51:4). God’s grace covers both the rebellious son who knows he needs to the return to the father, but it also covers the older son who has failed to recognized that his loyalty is actually just a different brand of rebellion against his father. How does Justification by faith challenge reliance on self-direction and achievement in life? Is there a relationship between my forgiveness by God, my forgiveness of myself, and my forgiveness toward other people? What is the relationship between understanding the scope of God’s forgiveness and a sense of joyful freedom in the personal lives of believers? Goal for the morning: Encouraging people to recognize the love of God by experiencing forgiveness for sin through faith in Jesus...the kind of forgiveness that enables us to also forgive others. Cross References: Exodus 34:6-10; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalms 86:5, 103:12-14; Micah 7:18-19; Matthew 18:21-35; Mark 11:25; Acts 13:38-39; Ephesians 1:7, 4:31-32; Colossians 3:13; 1 John 1:9.