Title: Revenge, or Redemption
Author: Alycia Wood
Date:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:19 — 36.9MB)
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How do you have redemption without forgiveness? Is it even possible?
God doesn’t leave us with no outlet for the internal cry of injustice in the face of being wronged. But it’s not retribution. We can leave that justice to the Lord himself.
Instead, it’s a path to redemption, both for our own sinful hearts, but possibly even for our enemies…
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Luke 18:9-14 (NIV)
21 Then 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?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV)
