Acceptable Sins of Christians: Bitterness

Acceptable Sins of Christians: Bitterness (http://www.northridgerochester.com/Sermons/Details/237)

Bitterness

• Hebrews 12:15: See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
• "Bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die."
• Bitterness bears sinful fruit.
• The bitter person often ends up looking like the person they are bitter against.
• When you are keeping bitterness in your heart you are keeping yourself from the grace God wants to give us.
• Ephesians 4:22-24, 31-32
• Put off an old sinful habit, think differently about the issue/solution, and put on a new righteous habit
• Put off bitterness and put on kindness and compassion, forgiving each other like Christ forgave you.
• Our feelings always follow our actions
• Kindness ends up drawing repentance from the one who hurt you
• "Hurt people hurt people." - Don't be a hurt person who hurts people
• Forgiveness
• Is not: endorsement of behavior, exemption of consequences, restoration of trust
• You're only commanded to trust God.  Trust is earned from anyone else.
• Bitterness = unforgiveness
• Judicial Forgiveness
• We give to everyone
• An issue of my heart
• Entrusting it to God's justice
• Let it go to God and not hold it in our heart and life
• It's not our job to make them pay for what they've done
• Relational Forgiveness
• Given to anyone who asks for it
• An issue of relationship
• Is making promises to the offender
• I won't bring the matter up to you, others or myself
• The best way to overcome bitterness is to be others centered
• 1 John 1:9

The High Cost of Forgiveness

The High Cost of Forgiveness: http://www.northridgerochester.com/Sermons/Details/54

• What you promise when you forgive:
• You will not bring it up to the person
• You will not bring it up to others
• You will not bring it up to yourself
• Judicial vs Relational
• judicial - you give to everyone (Mark)
• relational - you only give when asked for (Luke)
•  You've forgiven them, but you keep thinking about/feel the hurt.  What to do?
• Remind yourself you've forgiven them
• Their debt is indeed cancelled because you've already decided that before and declared it.
• Get busy, so you don't just sit and dwell on it
• A good way is doing good for others
• Ask God for help
• "It is for that very sin Christ died."
• Live like you've forgiven them.  Declare and live out the gospel.
• Forgiveness is an event and a process (the declaration of forgiveness and living out the forgiveness)