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Satan's Favorite Lies Message #3

Some Things Can't Be Forgiven Scripture References

June 28-29, 2008 Dr Larry Osborne

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THE TRUTH
     About GOD’S FORGIVENESS

  Satan is the great accuser.

    Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

    "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God,
        and the authority of his Christ.
    For the accuser of our brothers,
        who accuses them before our God day and night,
        has been hurled down. _^[NIV]

  Only one sin is unforgivable.

    Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. [23] All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"
    [24] But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."
    [25] Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. [26] If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? [27] And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. [28] But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
    [29] "Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.
    [30] "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. [31] And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. [32] Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. _^[NIV]

  God loves to turn his enemies into friends & family. 

    Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?' _^[NIV]

    And if I say to the wicked man, 'You will surely die,' but he then turns away from his sin and does what is just and right-- [15] if he gives back what he took in pledge for a loan, returns what he has stolen, follows the decrees that give life, and does no evil, he will surely live; he will not die. _^[NIV]

    Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. [16] But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. _^[NIV]

    When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
    [12] On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. [13] But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." _^[NIV]

About FORGIVING OTHERS

  Forgiveness is not an option; it’s a requirement.

    Forgive us our debts,
        as we also have forgiven our debtors.
    [13] And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.'
 
[14] For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. [15] But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. _^[NIV]

  Forgiveness starts with a look in the mirror.

    Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
    [22] Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
    [23] "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. [24] As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. [25] Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
    [26] "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' [27] The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
    [28] "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.
    [29] "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
    [30] "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. [31] When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
    [32] "Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. [33] Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' [34] In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
    [35] "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." _^[NIV]

    Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. _^[NIV]

  Forgiveness is not pretending nothing happened.

    No longer will a man teach his neighbor,
        or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,'
    because they will all know me,
        from the least of them to the greatest,"

declares the Lord.
    "For I will forgive their wickedness
        and will remember their sins no more." _^[NIV]

    The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days.
    [8:1] But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded. _^[NIV]

    Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord."
    Nathan replied, "The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. [14] But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the Lord show utter contempt, the son born to you will die." _^[NIV]

 About OUR ENEMIES

  Evil for evil is always a bad move.

    Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. [18] If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. _^[NIV]

    To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
 
    [22] "He committed no sin,
        and no deceit was found in his mouth."
 
[23] When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. _^[NIV]

  If they won’t stop – ask God to sic ‘em!         

    Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. [20] On the contrary:

    "If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
        if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
    In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
 
[21] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. _^[NIV]

    Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. _^[NIV]

    Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. [15] You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. _^[NIV]

    So watch yourselves.
    "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. [4] If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him." _^[NIV]

    "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. [16] But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' [17] If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. _^[NIV]