Sermon: How to Forgive Your Enemies—and Your Friends

To hear this from Jesus deep in your heart today is to hear Jesus personally. It is to know He has forgiven you personally for sins known and for sins you do not know. To hear such forgiveness is to be forgiven, to forgive yourself and to forgive others. The relationship of our forgiveness from a personal encounter with this Jesus and our forgiveness of a person such as one's self is essential. We forgive because Christ has forgiven us.

Some of us remember the dramatic testimony of Corrie Ten Boon, the famous Dutch Christian woman whose life as a prisoner of war at a Nazi prison camp was made famous in The Hiding Place. One of the most amazing things that ever happened between Corrie Ten Boon and Nazi concentration camp guards happened in Munich years after World War II:

"At a church in Germany, she spoke about how God forgives people whatever their sin when they confess and turn to Him. After the service, she stood face-to-face with a man who obviously had been touched by her message. He asked, 'Fraulein Ten Boon, do you remember me?' Remember him! She had spent years trying to forget him! He was one of her prison guards! 'Yes, I remember you.' She said coldly. With emotion choking him, the former Nazi asked, 'Is it true that God can forgive me of all the horrible things I have done?' 'Yes, God will forgive you as you give your life to Him.' 'Oh, this is such good news!' he said with tear-filled eyes. 'Fraulein Ten Boon, will you forgive me?'

"Corrie stared at him and thought, 'The question is not will I forgive you, but can I forgive you?' The answer was clear: NO! 'No, I cannot forgive you; I don't have that much love.' Yet, she knew, for the sake of both of them, she must forgive him. So she prayed silently. 'Lord, I cannot love this man. I cannot forgive him. Give me Your love so that through You I can begin to forgive him so he and I can find the healing we both need.'"

That is not only forgiveness. It is total forgiveness. It is the forgiveness Jesus Christ gives to sinners, who are able then to forgive other sinners. Forgiveness sets you free to set others free.

Do you know Jesus' forgiveness in your life like this? I don't ask you to see you forgiving someone else this way. I ask you to receive Jesus forgiving you this way. Then and only then can you imagine such forgiveness for others. Do you know His forgiveness? Then you are free to forgive your enemies…and your friends.