SNIPPET
It was only when I came to know the Lord Jesus Christ, God saved me when I was 30 years old, six years after my father died, that I realised I was far greater a sinner than him, and God forgave me. My life was so shameful before Him, before other people. All the things that I have done, they are so evil, wicked, that if we flash this today here, I believe all of you will run away because you don't want to see the life of a preacher, living such a wicked life, yet God freely has forgiven me all of it. And I realise how cruel I was, how unforgiving I was to my father. I did not have any heart for him during that time, and I realised that I should have loved him, I should have forgiven him. But he's not anymore there. I did not realise that I need to forgive him until I was forgiven. It was when I understand how great was my sins before God that I can forgive.
INTRO
A Christian is someone who has been forgiven. The stains of all of their sins have been washed away by the gracious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in God’s eyes, they are as righteous as He is. The Christian is forgiven, and knowing that, he or she is now a forgiver. But this isn’t always the case, is it? Sometimes it’s hard to feel the all-encompassing compassion we ought to have on the people around us, whether fellow believers or not. Sometimes we’re just a little bit or a lot bit reluctant to love them freely. Why is this the case? Welcome back to Tried and True. In today’s episode, we pause our study on the epistle to the philippians to listen to Reverend Jose Lagapa from True Life Bible Presbyterian church in Singapore, as he unfolds for us the classic parable of the unforgiving servant. How is it possible for you and I to always find it in our hearts to forgive others, no matter how they wrong us, no matter how big or small, no matter how many times? You’ve probably heard this truth before, but today we’ll slow down to realign ourselves to its message, the idea that if you have been truly forgiven, you will be truly forgiving. Here’s Rev Jose.
OUTRO
One day, a Pharisee invited Jesus to shared a meal with him in his house. Jesus accepted this offer.
The story reads, in Luke chapter 7.
And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
I was reminded of this parable while listening to Rev Jose. Here, Jesus explains the flip side of the coin we’ve been learning about today: that the more a person realises how much they’ve been forgiven, the more they will love the Lord, the more gratitude, the more willingness to embrace Him. And today’s episode is an extension of this truth: the that same person who knows something of the magnitude of their astronomical debt of sin, will extend their love, gratitude and compassion towards the people around them.
Thank you for taking the time out of your day to listen to join us. Next week, we’ll return to our study on Philippians with Pastor Paul, as he walks us through that iconic passage in Philippians chapter 4 verses 4 to 7. Find out next week how you can experience the peace of God that passes all understanding, no matter the trouble you face in life. That’s next week, here, on Tried and True.