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Forgiveness: Love Your Enemies
Focus: We will prove to be disciples of Jesus Christ when we move beyond forgiving our enemies to loving our enemies.
Love WHO?!
What’s in your lap?
Can the blind lead the blind?
What have we learned so far about forgiveness?
We have already seen in Jesus’ encounter with the paralytic that he claims to be God, forgives sins, and heals us.
Forgiveness of sin is our foundational need and healing. Sin cripples us.
We learned from the parable of the unmerciful servant that everyone needs forgiveness and God makes it available for everyone.
We learned that those who have been forgiven little love little, while those that have been forgiven much love much.
God’s Word Luke 6:27-42
27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. 37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” 39 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 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? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye
Love WHO!? (vs 27-36)
When we learn to not only forgive like Jesus does, but love our enemies like He does, we prove ourselves as his disciples becoming useful in His mission of seeking and saving the lost.
Jesus promised that his followers who obey his teaching will have enemies. These enemies persecute them just because they obey Him.
The word “love” in Greek is ‘agape’. It means to “unselfishly seek the best or higher good for” others. God promises a great reward in heaven when we love our enemies. This expectation of reward from God allows us to freely love our enemies here.
An enemy by definition is someone who hates you and actively seeks your harm through insults, slander, humiliation, theft, lawsuits, exclusion, and physical harm.
Love goes beyond a feeling. It is doing good, speaking blessing, lending and praying for our enemies. (vs 35)
When we love and show mercy to the ungrateful and wicked we are allowing the light of Christ to shine through us proving our identity as children of God. (vs 34-36)
What’s in your lap? (vs 37-38)
The picture of a ‘full lap’ represents our heart and life. To have a heart full of God’s peace we must have first received forgiveness from Him and then freely given it to others. We can not keep what we do not give.
The measure and standard we use in judging, condemning, and forgiving others will be that which is used toward us. We must use God’s standard and not our self-righteous standard to judge ourselves and others.
God’s standard is holy perfection defined by himself. Only one person has measured up: Jesus Christ.
If we know, live, and judge by God’s standard in Christ Jesus we will walk humbly, be holy, and show mercy to ourselves as well as our enemies.
Can the blind lead the blind? (vs 39-42)
A blind person walking alone is dangerous. A blind guide leading a blind follower is foolish and prideful.
All have sinned and fallen short of God’s holy standard, blinded by Satan and their own rebellion.
Jesus has come as the light in the darkness exposing Satan’s schemes and our hearts. Only Jesus can heal our blindness, reveal our need for forgiveness, and remove the logs in our eyes so that we may lovingly help others find healing in Him.
Consequently, Christianity does not want us to reduce by one atom the hatred we feel for cruelty and treachery. We ought to hate them. But it does want us to hate them in the same way in which we hate things in ourselves: being sorry that the person should have done such things, and hoping, if it is anyway possible, that somehow, sometime, somewhere they can be cured.
- C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity
Second City Church - Pastor Cole Parleir 2021