Talk

Forgiven to Forgive

Grant Partrick
May 28, 2023

By pointing to the parables and teachings of Jesus, Grant Partrick urges listeners to forgive others out of a grateful inclination, knowing that they have been forgiven an incomparable debt.

Key Takeaway

Forgive out of gratitude, not obligation, knowing that you have been forgiven an incomparable debt.

  1. We forgive because we have been forgiven.

  2. Our motivation for forgiving others is not simply personal freedom but rather gospel alignment and expansion.

  3. When it comes to forgiveness, it’s always your move.

  4. Forgiveness is a promise, not a feeling.

“
"Forgiveness is a test of our belief and our understanding of the Gospel."
”
Tim Keller

Discussion Questions

  1. What is your community timeline? In other words, how has your community been over the years? How is it now?
  2. Would you describe yourself as an avoider of conflict or a head-on kind of person?
  3. What was the point of Jesus’ comment on forgiveness, according to Matthew 18:21-22?
  4. What is the sin of the man in the parable about forgiveness and greed (Matt. 18:23-35)?
  5. How much greater was the debt the king forgave this man than the debt he would not forgive his servant? How does this help you understand the grace of God?
  6. What is the difference between “brushing something off” and offering Christlike grace to people?
  7. What do expectations have to do with forgiveness?
  8. How is the motivation of personal freedom not enough when it comes to the biblically-sound, genuine forgiveness God calls us to distribute?
  9. What is it about forgiveness that leads people to think that it means they must neglect justice?
  10. In your own words, how are forgiveness and justice two sides of the same coin?

Scripture References

3
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
4
How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
5
You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
3If you,
Lord
, kept a record of sins,

Lord, who could stand?

21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22Jesus 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 bags of gold
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
“At this 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 silver coins.
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 it 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 outraged 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 handed 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 or sister from your heart.”
5It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
12as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Grant Partrick
Grant Partrick
Grant Partrick is a part of the team at Passion City Church and serves as the Cumberland Location Pastor. He is passionate about inspiring people to live their lives for what matters most. Grant and his wife, Maggie, live in Marietta, Georgia with their daughters, Mercy, Ember, and Charleigh. He is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary where he earned a masters of theology degree.