Episode 7: Forgiveness Is Not Reconciliation
This week we will discuss how Forgiveness Is Commanded and Reconciliation Is Conditional. Episode seven is a bonus-length conversation for you to enjoy as we head into Christmas.
Our hope is to offer both biblical clarity and gentle grounding as we talk about forgiveness, reconciliation, restoration, and peace in the context of deep harm.
Resources and Mentions:
Finding Home book by Susan Macias (which was 29 years in the making) can be viewed and purchased at https://www.susankmacias.com/finding-home
Tim Tebow Foundation, specifically the Anti-Trafficking and Anti-Exploitation of Children info found here.
Clip from Shawn Ryan Interview with Tim Tebow - Tim Tebow Exposes the #1 Offender in Child Exploitation - here.
John Delony Show can be seen at https://www.ramseysolutions.com/shows/the-dr-john-delony-show
Pastor Bryan’s Sermon on the Prodigal Son (click title to view sermon) – The Heart of God Filled with Love
John MacArthur’s Book The Prodigal Son can be viewed or purchased here.
You was mentioned, it was used as an example today NOT as a recommendation.
Bible Verses Shared in this Episode all in ESV unless otherwise specified:
“If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother.”
—Matthew 5:23–24
“As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
—Colossians 3:13
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”
—Ephesians 4:15
“How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye?”
—Luke 6:42
When Peter asked Jesus how often he must forgive, Jesus answered:
“I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
—Matthew 18:22
This is followed immediately by the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, reminding us:
“So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
—Matthew 18:35
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
—2 Corinthians 5:21
“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
—Psalm 139:14
Armor of God is seen in Ephesians 6:10-17, we mentioned the sword in vs 17, “the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.”
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
—Psalm 51:17
“Every person is to be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for the sake of conscience.”
—Romans 13:1-5 (NASB)
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
—Romans 12:18
“When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!”
—1 Corinthians 6:1-8 (Arguably about more trivial cases than what we discussed today, but it was brought up in past conversations about this topic, which is why it was mentioned)
“Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.”
—Matthew 5:25
“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God.”
—Romans 12:19
“Vengeance is mine; I will repay.”
—Hebrews 10:30
“He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.”
—Proverbs 17:15
“Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
Nor be weary when reproved by him.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
And chastises every son whom he receives.
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
—Hebrews 12:3-11
“as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
—Romans 3:10-12
“And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”
—Mark 10:18
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
—Matthew 18:6
“By a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”
—Hebrews 10:14
“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”
—Colossians 2:13-14
“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”
—1 Timothy 1:15 (“Chief of Sinners” is in KJV)
Thank you for being here today.
You are worth what it takes to heal, and you are never alone.
Love,
Kayla and June