Forgiveness

The central topic of the entire Bible is Jesus Christ.

• • That’s why we’re Christians.
  • Our denomination is progressing down a very unbiblical line and I don’t mean about theology or morals or ethics.
    • Those are largely errors in applied understanding of the Bible.
      • The Central issue is the particularity of salvation through Jesus Christ.
        • Acts 4:12 – “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
      • But, you see, in the contemporary world, such exclusiveness runs afoul of our highly-educated sensibilities.
        • So, Jesus is muted. As in the Christian nature of our denomination is actually waning.
          • Return to Presbytery of Charlotte weekly news blast
            • Reg King, Cheryl and I…
            • Joan at Panera Bread, lectionary group
              • John 14:6 – “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
            • But it’s not just us.
              • Other denominations have forged ahead.
                • And they all do so under the belief that, by not embracing other faiths as co-equal, they’re somehow going to turn into these mean, evil people that somehow just HATE everyone and everything.
                  • Oh, friends, the IRONY of that,
                    • Because when you mute Jesus, what you’re actually turning down the volume on is FORGIVENESS
                  • I hear so many people lament the “political divide” or how polarized we are in America right now.
                    • I get it.
                      • Divisiveness
                      • But what is the key driver of divisiveness
                        • Lack of forgiveness
                          • The capacity to “Agree to disagree” is a direct reflection of our ability to forgive.

Recap Sermon Series

• 3 Pennies and a Rock
  • Matthew 18:1-4 – “At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of ”