DCLM Search The Scripture 2 October 2022 (Youth) Lesson 39: Christ Teaches On Forgiveness
DCLM Search The Scripture 2 October 2022 (Youth)
Deeper Life Search The Scripture 2nd October 2022
LESSON 39 | CHRIST TEACHES ON FORGIVENESS
TEXT: Matthew 18:1-3S
MEMORY VERSE: “Jesus saith unto him, say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22).
DCLM Search The Scripture 2 October 2022 (Youth) OUTLINE
In the previous chapter, the Lord Jesus Christ and Apostle Peter paid tribute to those in authority. The disciples must have been thinking of when the Lord will establish His reign here on earth. They are also thinking perhaps of enjoying the benefits of occupying political authority here on earth. Hence, they wanted to know what it takes to be greatest in the coming Kingdom. The answer of Christ must have surprised them. He used the occasion to teach them on the paradox of greatness in His kingdom.
Question 1: Distinguish between the methods of attaining greatness in the world for sinners and in God’s kingdom for believers.
While greatness in the world for sinners is by struggling, fighting, pulling down others and self-centeredness, greatness in the Kingdom of God is by repentance, humility and Obedience to the word Of God. Christ used the remaining Part of the chapter to teach about the possibility and resolution of offences in the Kingdom and the danger of unforgiving spirit.
PRECONDITION OF CONVERSION BEFORE ENTERING THE KINGDOM (Matthew 18:1-14; Mark 9:33-41; Luke 9:46-50; James 5:19)
Conversion is not optional for youths who are dreaming of entering and enjoying benefits in the kingdom of God. As it is not reasonable to be thinking of having a first class degree without first gaining admission into the university, so it is unreasonable to be thinking of greatness in God’s kingdom without genuine repentance and faith in Christ’s atoning death. Conversion is the genesis of a meaningful relationship between God and youths. DCLM Search The Scripture 2 October 2022 (Youth)
Every youth is born with sinful nature, but God is against every form of sin. To fellowship with God, sins must be confessed and forsaken by the youth. Christ’s sacrifice must be accepted as the only means of approaching God. Religious activities are no substitute for salvation. Even if you are born in the church or born by Christian parents, you still need to personally repent of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour. This is the only remedy for sins, without which it is impossible to enter heaven.
Question 2: What is the only way for youths to have Genuine fellowship with God?
It takes humility to be converted, so proud youths cannot be converted except they humble themselves. Those who are depending on good works they can do in order for them to merit salvation are proud. Unbelieving youths must accept that they are helpless without Christ. They must realize that there is nothing they can do on their own to merit salvation. The price of salvation is so high that no human being can afford to pay the price.
Christ Jesus is God’s remedy to human need of salvation. Like little children, youths must see themselves as being helpless, weak, handicapped and incompetent to merit salvation. It is not the duty of God to humble any youth but you must deliberately humble yourself to be counted among the redeemed. The disciples in particular and all Christians in general must change their opinion about the kingdom of God. Humility and childlike obedience is essential in the kingdom of God unlike the worldly kingdom where those in authority oppress the less privileged. DCLM Search The Scripture 2 October 2022 (Youth)
Question 3: What does it mean to offend “these little ones”? How do sinning youths seduce believers today?
Christian youths are expected to love and appreciate God’s children who are humble and teachable like children. “Whoso shall offend these little ones” means to do anything that can make them fall back into sins. They must not put any stumbling block on the way of converts and believers whom Christ died for. Every youth must live to edify others, rather than leading them back to sins. DCLM Search The Scripture 2 October 2022 (Youth)
In dressing, conducts and interactions, they must be careful not to be agent of backsliding. They must not seduce them or entice others into sins because they are precious in the sight of God. Some youths seduce others by: one, posting naked pictures on social media; two, sitting carelessly in the church; three, wearing transparent dresses in public; four, writing love letter to the opposite gender; five, hindering others from hearing God’s word; six, carrying false rumours against the believers; seven, deliberately provoking Christian youths without cause.
The consequence of making any believer to backslide is terrible. God will not take it lightly with anyone that makes a believer backslide. It is better not to be born into this world at all than to make a child of God to backslide.
Question 4: What do you understand by “cutting off and plucking out your hands and eyes” as used by Christ?
Christ places much value on believers that God will not hold any youth who despise them guiltless. God specifically assigns angels in heaven to take care of believers. What an assuring revelation from our Lord and what a great privilege an unbelieving youth is missing. Jesus Christ personally was on earth for the main purpose of bringing back those who are lost in sins and trespasses.
To cut off your hands and pluck out your eyes as used by Christ means, rather than making any one to fall, youths must separate from anything and any one luring them into sins. It means it is better to lose the friendship and appreciation of an agent of temptation than to go to hell. Youths must not hold on to anything or anyone so dearly to the detriment of their souls. Things and any one as precious as eyes or as close and as useful as hands must not be allowed to make them sin.
Making heaven at last should be the most important thing to the youths. No efforts should be spared in searching for backsliders by believers. Christian youths should not mock but pray and search for those who are lost because it is not the will of God that anyone should perish.
DCLM Search The Scripture 2 October 2022 (Youth), Lesson 39
PRESCRIPTION OF CHRIST FOR SETTLING OFFENCES IN THE KINGDOM (Matthew 18:15-20; Leviticus 19:17; John 8: 17; 2 Corinthians 13: 1)
In our text, Christ gave a vivid illustration and instruction on how to settle misunderstanding among believers. This command of Christ is the only means of avoiding and preventing disunity, backbiting and grudges among believers. It is possible for a Christian youth to offend one another. Christ’s usage of the “if thy brother” shows that it is possible for a brother to offend a brother and for a sister to offend a sister.
Question 5: What are the causes of offences among believers? And how should conflicts be resolved in the church?
We can step on one another’s toes in the household of faith. Offences may happen in the church due to: one, carelessness; two, misunderstanding; three, misinterpretation; four, forgetfulness; five, lack of maturity; six, satanic manipulation; seven, differences in background and culture; eight, educational differences; nine, differences in exposure; ten, oversights whenever there is an offence among believers.
Christ commands that the offended Christian should: one, go directly to the perceived offender to and discuss with him with all humility. Two, the offended must not go about spreading the offences and slandering the offender behind. Remember, both of them are converted, humble and teachable like children.
Three, the offended believer must not approach the offender in an arrogant and holier than thou attitude. He is only offended but must listen to the offender in order to understand the reasons for his action. Four, the offended is expected to prayerfully approach the offender and have the right attitude when presenting the matter. Five, the offended must not manifest anger but should speak gently to the offender. Six, the offended believer must not conclude in his mind that the offender is wrong before hearing from him.
Seven, there should be faith in the offended that the offender is still a believer. Wrong attitude during offenses is not biblical and should be avoided by all Christian youths. Christian youths must not settle misunderstandings like unbelievers. There is a possibility that the offender may not understand why a believer should be offended by his/her actions. The offender may be looking at the issues from another angle and may assume that nothing is wrong or offensive in what has happened.
In such situation, a Christian youth must prayerfully again take one or two matured and impartial believers to help them settle their misunderstanding. The offended youth should not go with people to go and fight the offender. The offended must not go to the offender with unbelievers, neither with young converts who are not mature and patient enough to handle such matter. DCLM Search The Scripture 2 October 2022 (Youth)
If the offender still refuses to apologise to the offended, then the matter should be reported to the leaders in the church. If the offender still refuses to will not listen to the leaders in the church, then the offender should be regarded as a sinner or backslider. Since believers will not fight a sinner, the offender needs the prayer of the offended till God will help such individual to realise and repent. Heaven-minded youths should not hold malice against an unrepentant offender.
When an offender apologises, the matter should be allowed to die permanently without sharing it with other youth. The offended not look down on the offender nor make the offender look like a criminal after then. The offended should rather join hands together with the offender to pray for more grace to stand. They should cooperate together and understand that their common enemy is the devil. They should use their power of agreement to claim their inheritance in Christ. They must not allow personal interests to divide them.
Satan uses the principle of divide and rule against the believers. Great power is at the disposal of the believers when they agree together. Every disagreement must be resolved immediately because only Satan prospers when believers disagree. DCLM Search The Scripture 2 October 2022 (Youth)
PUNISHMENT AND CONDEMNATION FOR UNFORGIVENESS IN THE KINGDOM (Matthew 18:21-35; Luke 17:4; Mark 11:25,26)
In response to the question of Peter, our Lord taught about forgiveness and the consequence of unforgiveness. Refusal to forgive makes a believer an enemy of God. If God has forgiven all the sins we ever committed and admitted us into His kingdom because of Christ, Christian youths must forgive all offenders.
No Christian youths should hold malice against any one either believers or unbelievers. If a believer refuses to forgive others, God will not forgive the sins of such a believer. It means when we don’t forgive, we become backsliders and sinners. If we don’t forgive others, we cannot make heaven and our privileges in Christ will be eroded. Refusal to forgive hurts you even more than the original offence. Forgiveness is divine and we can easily forgive and forget when the nature of Christ is in us.
Inability to forgive, is an evidence of lack of grace and backsliding. The quicker you are ready and willing to forgive the more of God’s grace you have in you.
Question 6: Why should believers forgive and what is the consequence of unforgiveness?
When you forgive, you will forget offences and will not remember it. Those who always refer to the past offences have not really forgiven because the evidence of true forgiveness is forget the offence. You should not mention the offence to the offender or others again when you really forgive.
You cannot enjoy your Christian life if you can’t forgive. People will definitely do something you don’t appreciate but you must forgive in order to move forward as Christians. If you don’t want the devil to hinder your prayer, you must forgive and forget all offences. You hurt yourself and hinder your progress both physically and spiritually when you don’t forgive and forget.
When Satan wants to remind you of the offence in your mind, rebuke him and tell him you have forgiven the offender. Live a joyful life and be the best God wants you to be. Do not allow the devil to imprison you with malice. Many are imprisoned by the devil due to the grudges they have against others. Some are keeping offences for years in their mind; no wonder their prayers are not answered. Today, make up your mind, be free from all malice in Jesus name. Amen.