{"id":304048,"date":"2016-06-20T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-06-20T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/%series%\/forgiveness-is-freedom\/"},"modified":"2016-06-20T11:00:00","modified_gmt":"2016-06-20T15:00:00","slug":"forgiveness-is-freedom","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/forgiveness-is-freedom\/","title":{"rendered":"Forgiveness Is Freedom"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How do we practice forgiveness in a world of great evils? Pastor Bryan Loritts tells why the parable of the man who owed 10,000 talents is so significant for believers today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":294104,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/web.familylifetoday.com\/fl2016-06-20.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:","filesize":"23.92M","filesize_raw":"25080463","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2908],"tags":[2699],"podcast_series":[8148],"cwp_profile":[8819],"series":[2101],"class_list":["post-304048","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-forgiveness","tag-forgiveness","podcast_series-forgiveness-seventy-times-seven","cwp_profile-bryan-loritts","series-familylife-today"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg?w=508","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/02\/image-scaled.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/304048\/forgiveness-is-freedom","player_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/304048\/forgiveness-is-freedom","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303?mt=2&app=podcast","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-today","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"lKybSNWJyg\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/forgiveness-is-freedom\/\">Forgiveness Is Freedom<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/forgiveness-is-freedom\/embed\/#?secret=lKybSNWJyg\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Forgiveness Is Freedom&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"lKybSNWJyg\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg",508,508,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"kfairris@familylife.com","author_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/author\/kfairrisfamilylife-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"How do we practice forgiveness in a world of great evils? Pastor Bryan Loritts tells why the parable of the man who owed 10,000 talents is so significant for believers today.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylifetoday.com\/fl2016-06-20.pdf","transcript_content":"<strong>Bob: <\/strong>How can an individual know whether he or she has truly been saved? Pastor Bryan Loritts says one indicator is the increasing presence of grace and forgiveness in how you deal with other people.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bryan:<\/strong> One of the primary indicator lights that you know that you\u2019re sho\u2019nough saved\u2014it\u2019s how you handle folk who get on your last nerve. Jesus said it this way: \u201cWhat credit is it to you if you love the loveable? Even the Gentiles do that.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> This is <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> for Monday, June 20<sup>th<\/sup>. Our host is the President of FamilyLife<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>, Dennis Rainey, and I'm Bob Lepine. Would you say grace and forgiveness are characteristic of your marriage relationship? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>1:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe\u2019re going to explore that theme with Bryan Loritts today. Stay tuned.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd welcome to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. Thanks for joining us. You know, you stop and think about what is required to make a marriage work well. I think it was\u2014was it Ruth Graham, Billy Graham\u2019s wife, who said, \u201cA great marriage is the union of two great forgivers\u201d? Forgiveness is\u2014it\u2019s at the heart \/ it\u2019s essential for a marriage.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>It is the basis of a great marriage, Bob. In fact, you know, at the <em>Weekend to Remember<\/em><sup>\u00ae<\/sup> marriage getaway, we take an entire hour on Saturday afternoon to talk to couples about the whole subject of resolving conflict. There can be no resolution of two human beings having a disagreement or a conflict with each other\u2014 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>2:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u2014whatever you want to call it\u2014a fight \/ a quarrel\u2014 without somehow coming to the point of expressing the need for forgiveness and then forgiving the other person.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> We\u2019re going to hear a powerful message today on the subject of forgiveness. This is a message that we got a chance to hear as we were onboard the <em>Love Like You<\/em> <em>Mean It<\/em><sup>\u00ae<\/sup> marriage cruise, back in February. Bryan Loritts was one of the speakers onboard the cruise. This message resonated with <em>so<\/em> <em>many<\/em> of the couples who were with us that week.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Yes, Bryan is a great personal friend. We\u2019ve been in a mentoring relationship together for over a dozen years, Bob. Currently, he is the pastor of Abundant Life Christian Fellowship in the Bay area. He and his wife Korie have three sons. They\u2019re just a great couple \/ a great family\u2014 not perfect\u2014but he knows, firsthand, the importance of the subject of forgiveness. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>3:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIn fact, just gave a classic message on the <em>Love Like You Mean<\/em> <em>It<\/em> marriage cruise, Bob, that is really a sampling of the kind of teaching people can come to expect if they spend a week with us during Valentine\u2019s week.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Let me just mention that we are in the countdown to sell out for next year\u2019s cruise\u2014Valentine\u2019s week, 2017. We will have Paul David Tripp, Kevin DeYoung, and H.B. Charles, along with a lineup of musical guests. Michael Jr.\u2019s going to be there, doing comedy. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe\u2019ve got a lot going on, but we\u2019re close to wrapping it up this year as we\u2019ve got folks who have called in and made their reservations to be on the cruise. If you\u2019re interested in a special Valentine\u2019s celebration in 2017\u2014 maybe it\u2019s a special anniversary or something going on\u2014now is the time to call 1-800-FL-TODAY to get information about the <em>Love Like You Mean<\/em> <em>It<\/em> marriage cruise. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>4:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIn this countdown to sell out, our team has got some special offers available. So call and get more information at 1-800-\u201dF\u201d as in family, \u201cL\u201d as in life, and then the word, \u201cTODAY.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Yes; in fact, Bob, I know of one family where the adult children are inviting the mom and dad to join them on the <em>Love Like You Mean It<\/em> marriage cruise. In this case, their parents have been married for 70 years\u20147-0. They\u2019ve been to other <em>Love Like<\/em> <em>You Mean It<\/em> marriage cruises and they felt like it was time to come back for a refresher. [Laughter] Can you imagine?\u201470 years of marriage.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Again, more information at 1-800-FL-TODAY. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tLet\u2019s dive in and hear Bryan Loritts sharing on the subject of forgiveness from this year\u2019s <em>Love Like You Mean It<\/em> marriage cruise.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Recorded Message]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bryan: <\/strong>If you have your devices, I want to encourage you to take them out right now and click on your Bible apps\u2014not your Angry Bird apps\u2014and meet me in Matthew, Chapter 18 \/ Matthew, Chapter 18. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>5:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAdmittedly, tonight\u2019s message is a little bit heavy\u2014it centers round this whole issue of forgiveness. Pick me up in verse 21 of Matthew, Chapter 18. I want to read this story to us and lift up some principles. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIn verse 21, it says: \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThen Peter came up and said to him,\u2014(speaking of Jesus)\u2014\u201cLord, how often will my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?\u201d Jesus said to him, \u201cI do not say to you seven times but seventy times seven.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI went to Bible college so I wouldn\u2019t have to do math, but I believe that\u2019s 490 times. Now the story\u2014verse 23\u2014Jesus says: \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cTherefore, the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him\u201d\u2014(underline this phrase)\u2014\u201cten thousand talents. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>6:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cSince he couldn\u2019t pay, his master ordered him to be sold with his wife and children and all that he had in payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, \u2018Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.\u2019 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIf you\u2019re looking for a definition of forgiveness, here it is\u2014verse 27:\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0\u201cAnd out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cBut now, when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him\u201d\u2014(make a note of this phrase)\u2014\u201c100 denarii. And seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, \u2018Pay what you owe!\u2019 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, \u2018Have patience with me, and I will pay you.\u2019 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed; and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>7:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cThen his master summoned him and he said, \u2018Are you kidding me?\u2019 [Laughter]\u2014 (your translation doesn\u2019t say that?)\u2014 [Laughter] \u2018You wicked servant. I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me, and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant as I had mercy on you?\u2019 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers until he should pay all his debt.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNow, verse 35 is really scary\u2014as my youngest would say, \u201cFreaks me out.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cSo also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you if you do not forgive your brother\u201d\u2014(or I could insert in here: your spouse) \u2014 \u201cfrom your heart.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cLord, how often will my brother sin against me?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>8:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cHow often will my wife sin against me?\u201d \u201cHow often will my husband sin against me and I forgive him?\u201d or \u201c\u2026I forgive her? As many as seven times?\u201d Jesus says, \u201cNo I don\u2019t say to you seven times; but seventy times seven.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHis name was Charles Roberts IV, who\u2019s 32 years old; and he was disappointed with God. You know the definition of disappointment; don\u2019t you? It\u2019s the gap that happens between our expectations and our real-time experiences. It\u2019s when what we were expecting over here is worlds apart from what we\u2019re experiencing over here\u2014we call that gap \/ we call that chasm disappointment. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>9:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHere\u2019s Charles Roberts IV\u2014he\u2019s disappointed in God. For whatever reason, life just wasn\u2019t going the way he had worked it out in his own mind. He decided that he was going to take his frustrations out on God by unloading on the local God-fearing community called the Amish. His plan that day was horrifically simple. He was going to abduct some school-age girls \/ sexually assault them. When he was finished doing that, he was going to kill them; and then when he was finished doing that, he was going to turn the gun on himself and take his own life. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo he bought his paraphernalia, he wrote his suicide note, he hopped in the car, drove to the local Amish school house. Barged in on them in the middle of their lesson, took ten ten-year-old girls and was just about to begin the act of binding them and sexually assaulting them when, mercifully, he heard the sound of sirens. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>10:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo he had to expedite his plan. So what he does now is\u2014he takes out his gun and he unloads round, after round, after round, after round into these ten ten-year-old girls, killing five of them instantly. And then ultimately, he kills himself. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSome of us remember this story\u2014it\u2019s a horrific story. If you\u2019ve heard of this story\u2014the early 2000\u2019s\u2014oh, how our heart just sank. I mean, what kind of a person does this? Then five of these ten-year-old girls are clinging for dear life in the hospital. Then we hear that this local Amish community\u2014they didn\u2019t have benefits \/ so as the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months\u2014the medical bills just continued to escalate. My goodness\u2014it\u2019s here, when the global community, in an astounding act of generosity\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>11:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u2014we chipped in, and we gave $4.3 million in excess of what these families needed for their kids. The Amish elders held a meeting: \u201cWhat do we do with the excess $4.3 million?\u201d Here they are\u2014bantering, back and forth, as it relates to their ideas\u2014and one suggestion is made over here \/ another suggestion is made over there. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tFinally one of them said: \u201cWhat about the widow of Roberts? Who\u2019s going to care for her?\u2014look out for her kids?\u201d It was immediately decided what they would do. They marched over to her home, and they gave her a check for a million dollars. They said: \u201cWe hold no grudge against you. We forgive you. Look after your children.\u201d I\u2019ll never forget the CNN reporter, taking in the scene\u2014shoves a microphone into one of these Amish elders\u2019 faces and just asks the question, \u201cHow can you <em>forgive<\/em>?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>12:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd I love his response\u2014this Amish elder said: \u201cBecause I\u2019m Christian. That\u2019s what Christians do.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIf the insignia of the world is vengeance, then the badge of the believer is forgiveness\u2014it\u2019s when you love the unlovable. How do you really know you\u2019re saved? How do you <em>really<\/em> know that Jesus has paid it all for you and you have received that payment in full? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>13:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHow do you <em>really<\/em> know that you have passed from death to life? Is it just some prayer that you prayed? Jesus, in our text, says one of the strongest witnesses that His children have to a dying world is we forgive, and forgive, and forgive. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThe strongest witness of our homes is not the absence of conflict. I love what Tony Evans says\u2014he says, \u201cIf you put two people together and they never argue, never fuss, never fight \/ they agree on every single thing, one of them \u2018ain\u2019t necessary.\u201d [Laughter] God has called us into oneness\u2014<em>not<\/em> <em>sameness<\/em>.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>14:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHe has not called Bryan to clone Korie into my image. We\u2019re <em>different<\/em>. We have different philosophies\u2014Korie and I have\u2014on everything \/ from which way to put the toilet paper and how to squeeze the toothpaste\u2014she does it incorrectly from the middle, and I do it the right way from the bottom up [Laughter]\u2014and different philosophies on the toilet seat. [Laughter] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHow do we take\u2014this is the dance of marriage\u2014how do we take two incredibly different people and experience oneness and not sameness? In that journey, there\u2019s bound to be conflict.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>15:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThe way that I announce to the world that there\u2019s something different about my home is that, when the conflict happens, we forgive, and forgive, and forgive.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tOur text is an interesting one\u2014it\u2019s right in the middle of relationships. You need to know that Jesus, in His ministry\u2014He only uses the word, \u201cchurch,\u201d twice\u2014both in the Gospel of Matthew. The first time it is in Matthew, Chapter 16\u2014they are in Caesarea, Philippi. Jesus decides to hold a little pop quiz\u2014He says to His disciples, \u201cWho do people say that I am?\u201d \u201cSome say John the Baptist; others say Elijah.\u201d Here\u2019s Peter\u2014he says, \u201cHere\u2019s who You are; You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.\u201d Jesus says, \u201cThat\u2019s exactly right Peter; and upon this rock, I will build my church.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>16:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNow, two chapters later, Jesus uses the word, \u201cchurch,\u201d for the final time in His ministry. He says: \u201cIf your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If that doesn\u2019t work, take several people with you. If that doesn\u2019t work take some elders with you. If that doesn\u2019t work, take him before the church.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt\u2019s interesting that Jesus\u2014parenthetically\u2014he is talking about conflicts within the context of saved people. Following Jesus Christ does not incubate us from mess. In fact, Jesus even <em>assumes<\/em> mess in the church. Jesus also assumes it in the home. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>17:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tRight after our passage\u2014Matthew 18:21-35\u2014the next passage \/ Matthew 19\u2014he now goes into marriage. Right in the middle of church and marriage\u2014the two great institutions that God has ordained\u2014is this whole subject matter of forgiveness.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI love Peter because, in verse 21 of Matthew, Chapter 18, you can still see Peter is stuck on verse 15 because, in verse 15, Jesus says, \u201cIf your brother\u201d\u2014we could insert: \u201cIf your husband\u201d \/ \u201cIf your wife\u201d\u2014\u201csins against you, here\u2019s how you do it. Go and tell him his fault.\u201d Then he deals with this whole issue of forgiveness.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tPeter says to Jesus, \u201cNow, now, now Lord, how many times will my brother sin against me and I\u2019m obligated to forgive?\u201d I love Peter\u2014he doesn\u2019t even wait for Jesus to answer\u2014he says, \u201cSeven times?\u201d He\u2019s got to be saying it with a smile, \u201cSeven times?\u201d\u2014[Laughter] \u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>18:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u2014because in Peter\u2019s day, the rabbis said you only had to forgive three times. Three mulligans are all you got. Peter takes the number three\u2014multiplies it times two\u2014adds one for good measure to land him on the number of completion. He thinks he\u2019s doing good\u2014\u201cSeven times?\u201d [Laughter] And classic Jesus says, \u201cI don\u2019t say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNow, someone in here is going: \u201cThat\u2019s 490? Good. My spouse is on 489\u2026\u201d [Laughter] You know what Jesus is doing here? He\u2019s employing a literary device called hyperbole\u2014He\u2019s exaggerating to make a point. It\u2019s what we parents do all the time when we tell our kids, \u201cI\u2019ve told you a million times to clean up the room.\u201d Now chances are you haven\u2019t told them a million times\u2014unless they\u2019re 16 \/ you have. But chances are you haven\u2019t told them a million times. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>19:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWhat you\u2019re saying here is: \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about this extensively. I\u2019ve told you over and over again.\u201d You are exaggerating to make a point. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHere\u2019s the point that Jesus is making\u2014our horizontal forgiveness of one another knows no statute of limitations. It is to have no expiration date because the vertical forgiveness we have received from God, through Christ Jesus, has no expiration date as well. [Applause] Jesus is saying, \u201cI\u2019m calling\u2014forgive, and forgive, and forgive.\u201d And if I\u2019m going to split theological hairs, I want you to understand our passage is not so much as reconciliation as much as it is on forgiveness; but the truth of the matter is\u2014we cannot be reconciled unless we first forgive. So He\u2019s saying, \u201cIf you\u2019ve come to the foot of the cross, forgive, forgive, and forgive.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Studio]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>20:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Well, we\u2019ve heard today Part One of a message from Bryan Loritts about the importance of forgiveness. Really, it\u2019s not an option for a follower of Christ; is it?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> It isn\u2019t. Because we\u2019ve been forgiven, we are commanded to forgive; and he made a point of that. What does it mean to forgive another person? It means you give up the right to punish them. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWhat did God do with you as a result of the cross of Jesus Christ? He gave up the right to punish you because He died on the cross for your sins; and as a result, you can have eternal life. You can experience reconciliation with Almighty God; and in turn, on the horizontal, as Bryan has exhorted us here today\u2014you\u2019ve got a responsibility to forgive your spouse \/ you\u2019ve got a responsibility to ask forgiveness of your spouse. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>21:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI don\u2019t know where you are \/ what you\u2019re facing with your spouse, but you may need to make a phone call back home or maybe to a place of work, saying, \u201cSweetheart, will you forgive me for\u2026?\u201d and then say it. Admit what you\u2019ve done\u2014name it \/ call it what it is. Then ask for them to give up the right to punish you. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> You know, I think there are a lot of people who are surprised when they find out that these are some of the themes that we speak to on the <em>Love Like You Mean It<\/em> marriage cruise that we host in February each year. Because I think folks think it\u2019s going to be a cruise\u2014you\u2019re going to hear some light and fluffy messages about marriage and about romance. You\u2019ll hear some of that; but honestly, there\u2019s a lot of substance to what is shared onboard the cruise each year. I wanted to make sure our listeners are aware\u2014we are about somewhere between 75 and 80 percent\u2014I think was the last number I saw\u2014sold out for next year\u2019s cruise.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>22:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo if you are interested in being with us on the <em>Love Like You Mean It<\/em> marriage cruise\u2014when we sail out of New Orleans next year on February 13<sup>th<\/sup> \/ come back on the 18<sup>th<\/sup>\u2014\u2014you\u2019d be joining with Dennis and Barbara, Mary Ann and me, Kevin DeYoung and his wife are going to be with us. Paul Tripp, H.B. Charles, Michael Jr., Jeremy Camp are going to be onboard, and David Phelps. We\u2019ve got a great lineup for this year\u2019s cruise. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe\u2019re almost out of cabins. If you\u2019re interested, this is a great time to get in touch with us because I also heard that cabin prices go up on June 25<sup>th<\/sup>. We are in the countdown to sell-out mode. Call 1-800-FL-TODAY if you would like to be a guest on the <em>Love Like You Mean It <\/em>marriage cruise in 2017. Maybe you\u2019ve got a special anniversary coming up in 2017 or a special occasion you\u2019d like to commemorate\u2014we\u2019d love to have you join us\u2014 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>23:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u2014the <em>Love Like You Mean It<\/em> marriage cruise. You can get more information when you go to our website, FamilyLifeToday.com, and click the link about the cruise. The information\u2019s available there, but be sure to call us if you want to take advantage of the special pricing that is available right now for <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> listeners. Call 1-800-FL-TODAY and say, \u201cI want to know more about <em>the Love Like You Mean It<\/em> marriage cruise.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNow \u201cHappy anniversary!\u201d today to our friends, Charles and Marilyn Keener, who live right here, in our home town of Little Rock, Arkansas. They are <em>Weekend to Remember<\/em> alumni. They\u2019ve been to a couple of <em>Weekend<\/em>s<em> to Remember<\/em> over the years. They\u2019re celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary today. \u201cCongratulations!\u201d to the Keeners. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAs you guys know, anniversaries are a big deal. We think they\u2019re a big deal, and we think they deserve to be celebrated. We are the Proud Sponsor of Anniversaries<sup>\u2122<\/sup>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>24:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe want to thank those of you who partner with us to make this ministry possible. You have no idea how many marriages are continuing to celebrate anniversaries because of your investment in this ministry. We\u2019re grateful for the partnership that we have with you.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe hope you can join us back tomorrow when we are going to hear Part Two of Bryan Loritts\u2019 message on the subject of forgiveness. Hope you can be with us for that.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI want to thank our engineer today, Keith Lynch, along with our entire broadcast production team. On behalf of our host, Dennis Rainey, I'm Bob Lepine. We will see you back next time for another edition of <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> is a production of FamilyLife of Little Rock, Arkansas. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHelp for today. Hope for tomorrow.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. If you\u2019ve benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider <a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/donate\">donating today<\/a> to help defray the costs?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCopyright <sup>\u00a9<\/sup> 2016 FamilyLife. All rights reserved.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/\">www.FamilyLife.com<\/a>\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t1\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>","theme_header_position":"","post_header_is_sticky":"","is_header_overlay":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast\/304048","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/podcast"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/91"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=304048"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/294104"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=304048"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=304048"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=304048"},{"taxonomy":"podcast_series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast_series?post=304048"},{"taxonomy":"cwp_profile","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cwp_profile?post=304048"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=304048"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}