The Lutheran Hour
-
"Feeling Sorry is Not Enough"
- No Sermon MP3 No bonus material MP3
-
Text: Matthew 27:1-5 and 2 Corinthians 7:9-10
-
Prayer: Blessed heavenly Father, in recent months as a result of national tragedy, thousands of people have been seeking answers from You. Open the hearts of all who seek Your face, heavenly Father, and plant into their hearts a spirit of repentance and a deep desire to trust in the sin-cleansing blood of Your crucified Son, Jesus Christ. Draw all people, O Lord, unto Your grace and mercy available from Your open arms. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Nowadays, many people are thinking about God and religion and even “forgiveness.” At least this is what one author claims in a New York Times article titled, “Let Bygones be Bygones.” In the Times, Erika Goode writes, “As part of a national telephone survey, 1,423 people were asked about their experience with forgiveness.”
Here is what the researchers concluded. Seventy-five percent of all adults surveyed stated they believe God has forgiven them all their past sins and all their past mistakes.
Now, let’s be honest, believing in a “forgiving God” is especially important nowadays. With increasing divorces, broken marriages, and all the guilt of failure that comes with faster and self-centered living, forgiveness — especially forgiveness from God — is one subject many people are prepared to discuss.
Let’s also be honest when we talk about sin and guilt and forgiveness. You see, the widespread belief in a God who is perpetually or even randomly dispensing forgiveness may not be the God of the Bible. You can’t talk about the forgiveness of God or a “forgiving” God unless you’re including the “Author” of forgiveness, the Lord Jesus Christ. In his letter to the Christians in Colosse, the apostle Paul explains the absolute centrality of Jesus Christ in forgiveness when he says it is Jesus “in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14).
Now again, the Bible does not teach God randomly forgives. God does not suddenly change His mind about the seriousness of your sin; sins of disobeying your parents, or the gravity of divorce or the murder of the unborn or the horrible sin of gossip. These are all very serious sins and are all deserving of eternal death. The point is this: God forgives these sins only because of what Jesus Christ did on the bloody cross for you; only because the price for your sins and your failures has been paid. The apostle Peter writes, “You were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood, the blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19).
In Revelation, we read that Jesus Christ loves you and He has “released you from your sins by His blood” (Revelation 1:5). In fact, this teaching is so fundamental and so crucial that “without the shedding of the blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22).
Why am I discussing this seemingly unimportant issue? Why is it so important for you to know that for you to be blessed by God’s forgiveness, it comes only through Jesus Christ? I say this for this reason. You see, several years ago, the Gallup Poll published a small paperback book titled, “Who Do Men Say I Am?” This book reveals who most people believe Jesus really is. The authors explained that a national survey had just been completed. This is the question people were asked: “What do you consider to be the most appealing character or personality trait of Jesus?” Surprise! Only 13% of all those surveyed identified the name of Jesus with forgiveness! This is incredible! The very essence of the Lord Jesus Christ is forgiveness. This is what Jesus was born for. This is what Jesus died for — to earn for you and me forgiveness in the sight of God.
Of course, there are those today, even celebrities, who have very little or no concern whatsoever about their relationship with God or to their fellow man. Forgiveness from God or man is no great concern of theirs. For example, last July in a nationwide news release, newspapers reported the four-time academy award winner, Katharine Hepburn, then 94 years old, was undergoing tests in a hospital. In this news report, Hepburn was described as a very strong-minded and self-willed person. In fact, they referred to a previous interview of October 1990. At that time, Hepburn told the Associated Press, “I don’t fear the next world or anything. I don’t fear hell. And I don’t look forward to heaven.”
Quite frankly, it’s surprising that someone would say they are unconcerned about heaven. You know why? Because not that long ago researchers at the Gallup poll pointed out that while most people differ quite a bit about what they believe regarding religion, most people agree on one thing! There is definitely going to be a day of judgment!
Well, with such a wide and unspoken awareness in our culture of a coming judgment, even transcending all denominational lines, it is even more crucial that clergymen be absolutely faithful in announcing to his parish, to the people, and the public, the primary purpose of Jesus Christ. Jesus did not come simply to lift our morals. Jesus was not born to issue guidelines for living. Jesus was born in Bethlehem for one primary purpose, and that was to die on a bloody cross of Calvary. Jesus said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). To Nicodemus, Jesus said: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but shall have eternal life. For God”, Jesus said, “did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.”
So, friends, it is absolutely imperative you and I keep the love and the mercy and the forgiveness of God at the very center of all we do. When Jesus Christ and the true meaning of His bloody cross is at the center of all you do, then even if you make mistakes, serious mistakes, and fall deeply into sin such as even denying your Lord, there is still hope.
Never despair, even if you have stumbled or failed. Keep close to your heart the real, solid, and comforting assurance of God’s grace and mercy in the Lord Jesus Christ. Because, you see, without God’s Holy Gospel, without His Gospel to strengthen and sustain you every hour, you are open and vulnerable to the temptation of the devil to “end it all.” This is exactly what Judas did. You see, Judas was one of Jesus’ original 12 disciples. Judas had spent a lot of time with the Lord. However, in a way we don’t totally understand, the devil was able to get inside Judas and capture his heart. After Judas betrayed Jesus, his conscience was hit with a horrible storm of guilt.
The Bible explains “when Judas, who had betrayed Jesus and saw Jesus was condemned, he (Judas) in his remorse tried to return the 30 silver coins.” This was the money the religious leaders had paid Judas to betray Jesus. So, “Judas said to them, ‘I was wrong – I have betrayed an innocent man.'” However, these priests and elders didn’t care. The Bible says they shot back at Judas and said, “And what has that got to do with us? That’s your affair.”
Then, the Bible says, “Judas flung down the silver in the temple and went outside and hanged himself.”
Here is the point. There is no doubt Judas felt sorry, terribly sorry, for what he had done. But being sorry is not enough. This is what the Bible says! Perhaps you, in the past, also, at one time or another felt very sorry for something you said or something you did to someone else. But again, the Bible explains, simply being sorry is not enough.
In his letter to the Corinthian Christians, the apostle Paul explains the subject of sorrow and repentance. He writes, “I rejoice not that you were made sorrowful but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance” (2 Corinthians 7:9-10). St. Paul is simply saying if your repentance is going to be pleasing and acceptable to God, you must have sincere regret over your mistakes and you must look to Jesus Christ to be cleansed by His blood.
Judas had sorrow. Indeed, he had sorrow, but not unto Biblical repentance. This means Judas felt very sorry but he did not look to Jesus for forgiveness. Therefore, he was lost in hell forever.
In these moments when the devil tempts you to despair, to give up, or to be filled with sorrow, but without hope, then fix your eyes upon Jesus. Jesus Christ is the one who can help you. The Bible describes Jesus as the Author and Finisher of your faith. Today, Jesus wants to give you the repentance and the faith you need. He also wants to perfect that same faith in you.
My friends, look to the crucifixion cross. Jesus is your friend. He is your Healer. He is your Master, and your Lord and the One who has paid with His own blood for your eternal pardon. Say with the hymn writer who wrote:
“Lord Jesus Christ, my Life, my Light, My strength by day; my trust by night, On earth I’m but a passing guest And sorely with my sins oppressed
“Oh, let Thy suff’rings give me power To meet the last and darkest hour! Thy blood refresh and comfort me; Thy bonds and fetters make me free.
“And when the last Great Day shall come And Thou, our Judge, shalt speak the doom, Let me with joy behold the light And set me then upon Thy right.
“Ah, then I’ll have my heart’s desire When, singing with the angels’ choir, Among the ransomed of Thy grace, Forever I’ll behold Thy face!”
O Lord, we pray: Thank You for raising up a new interest in forgiveness in our culture and across our land. And, blessed Lord, for all who are seeking forgiveness in their families, marriages, and other relationships, draw them to Your endless fountain of perfect forgiveness — all available in the sin atoning blood of Your crucified and resurrected Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. In His forgiving name, we pray. Amen.
LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for January 27, 2002
ANNOUNCER: For more on the topic of forgiveness, joining me in the studio is Dr. Wallace Schulz. I’m Mark Eischer. Dr. Schulz, we’ve all seen a renewed interest in spiritual matters since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. There is also a renewed interest in the topic of forgiveness. You mentioned the article in The New York Times. Would you consider this to be a new trend in our culture?
SCHULZ: Well, Mark, I don’t think it is really a new trend. I would say it is a type of a correction, if we can use that word.
ANNOUNCER: A correction? Why do you say that?
SCHULZ: In recent years, there have been a lot of social experts and even a lot of well-known authors who have urged people to do their own thing, even if it means running over people.
ANNOUNCER: So, you are saying people are rethinking their approach to life? Why is that?
SCHULZ: Well, again, because when you adopt a life style of doing your own thing, especially if it threatens or hurts others, this is what causes all the guilt in our society.
ANNOUNCER: You also said Sept. 11 has played a big role in shaping new attitudes. What did you mean by that?
SCHULZ: I believe this has happened for two reasons. First of all, when reports began to surface as to what really happened in the cabins of the airplanes as they were being hijacked, these reports caused many people to seriously re-think their priorities in life.
ANNOUNCER: What do you mean?
SCHULZ: Well, some of the most moving accounts of what happened at the height of the crisis are those times when people on these airplanes knew they were quite likely doomed to die. Remember what they did? The first thing they did was try to call their families and loved ones. They didn’t call their stockbroker. They didn’t check to hear the latest sports scores. Instead, almost instantly, these doomed people wanted to make sure if they had to leave this life, to tell those closest to them, “I love you.”
ANNOUNCER: Dr. Schulz, you said there is a second indicator that shows the changing attitude in society. What is that?
SCHULZ: Well, I think the second ripple moving through our society that shows people are rethinking things is their obvious evaluation of their relationship with their Lord.
ANNOUNCER: What evidence is there of that?
SCHULZ: One major magazine reported that scores of people who had just filed divorce papers immediately withdrew their application for divorce. Obviously, they were rethinking things. Now, divorce isn’t the only thing that has come to the forefront after Sept. 11. There have been many other things people have been forced to rethink.
ANNOUNCER: Dr. Schulz, what is the bottom line?
SCHULZ: I think the bottom line is that all of us need to rethink what our heavenly Father has revealed to us in His Word regarding repentance and forgiveness. First, there is no way any of us can repent on our own. In the Bible, in the book of Acts and also in Paul’s letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul points out that repentance is a gift of God. First, God’s Word and Spirit comes to us. This prompts us and enables us to repent and to truly feel sorry for mistakes and failures in our lives, especially misunderstandings, bad words, and other events that have happened in our family or marriage. This is absolutely crucial that we understand not only that God is able, through His Word, to help us repent, but that He sincerely wants to do this.
ANNOUNCER: And your second point?
SCHULZ: The second point is that our Heavenly Father is a gracious Father. All of our audience and supporters need to know that. In spite of our sins and failures, God stands before us every day with His arms wide open. God wants to receive us back to Himself. Again, this does not mean that God winks or makes light of our sins against Him. God arranged for His Son Jesus to pay the bitter price on the cross to take care of our sins. And now our Heavenly Father wants to invite us all back, not just in a casual way, but back into His Church where we can hear the Good News of the Gospel every week and be restored. He wants us to have fellowship, not only with Him through His Word, but with our families, friends and our neighbors. This is God’s great blessing and joy of repentance and forgiveness.
ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Dr. Schulz. The next inspiring message of The Lutheran Hour is titled, “What Do You Give a God Who Has Everything?”