Telling the Truth

Guest (Male): God's forgiveness, its freedom, is life-changing. Today on telling the truth, you'll hear the second part of Stuart Briscoe's message. What did Jesus say about forgiveness? For those who heard his parables, how did his message of hope change them? How should it change you today? Stuart explains in just a moment. If you've ever struggled with the pain of betrayal or the weight of resentment, you're not alone. Forgiveness is one of the hardest things we're called to do, but it's also one of the most freeing. That's why we want to send you freed by forgiveness. A four-message compilation from Stuart and Jill is our thanks for your gift today.

Call now at 282-788-4648. That's 262-788-4648 or give online at tellingthetruth.org. Thanks again for listening and for your support today. Now here's Stuart with the second part of his message. What did Jesus say about forgiveness?

Stuart Briscoe: Salvation is available to men and women today. The essence of salvation is the forgiveness of their sins. The forgiveness of their sins is made available through this tender mercies of our God. But whilst it is generally made available, it only becomes real when we come to repentance and by faith receive what God in his grace offers. And when that happens, when we come into the good of the knowledge of forgiveness of sins, then this extravagant, expressive, exuberant life of praise and worship and thanksgiving and gratitude and service is result. It's the sort of thing that will take somebody to the jungles of Papio, New Guinea.

It's the sort of things that will make people do the most outrageous and outlandish things. And when people say, why in the world are you going to Papio, New Guinea and taking your kids to the jungle? The answer is very simple. We were forgiven. And those who are forgiven much love much. It's simple. But the Simons of this world have a hard time grasping it. Why do the Simons of this world have a hard time grasping? They have a hard time grasping people being extravagant and expensive in their demonstration of love for the Lord. They they have a hard time understanding that because they have a hard time understanding forgiveness.

But they have a hard time understanding forgiveness because they have a hard time understanding sin. And there in lies the problem. For forgiveness is all about the taking away, the carrying away, the canceling out, the wiping out of sin. Many years ago when I was a youth evangelist in the north of England, I was invited to go to a rather unprepossessing town called Beverly in Yorkshire. I drove over there in the dead of winter. It was well, I won't go into details. It was bad. When I got there, I arrived at the most ramshackle building.

That's where I was told to go where I was to speak to a group of young people. When I got inside this ramshackle building, there was a very surly looking group of kids. No kiss of welcome, no water for my feet, not you know, same kind of welcome. The leader came over to me after a little while and and said, this is the worst group of kids I've ever seen in my life. That was the welcome. And he is the ringleader, she said pointing to a slim dark-haired kid. When I spoke to this group of kids, they showed no interest whatsoever and I was highly relieved when the whole thing was over.

And they were even more relieved. But this leader of this most unruly group of kids that this youth worker had ever met, he came up to me rather uncouth, rather gruff. And he said to me, where do you live? I said I live at Cape Ray Hall. What's that? It's a Bible school. I'm coming. I said what? He said I'm coming. I said it's a Bible school where you study the Bible. He said I said I was coming. Well, I knew he wouldn't, but he showed up. I knew he wouldn't survive, but he did. Actually, he I don't think he brought a Bible.

He did bring a soccer ball. He used to keep his soccer ball on the front of his desk in every lecture. So the minute the minute the lecture was over, he'd throw the ball up on his head and keep bouncing it along and take it hard and Then the last minute he'd come back in for the next lecture. He wasn't the greatest theologian you ever met. In fact, we suspected when we saw him play soccer that most of his brains were in his feet, not his head. He survived Bible school. He went right through the whole thing.

At the end, he came up to me. He said, how do you get on staff in this place? I said you're invited. He said invite me. I said what can you do? He said I'll do anything. So I invited him. I knew he wouldn't stay, but he did. He began to work on the gardens. He got the gardens looking like they'd never looked before. And then I discovered that in his spare time he get on his bicycle in the evening and he would ride round the villages near Cape Ray Hall and he would knock on the door of the vicarage and ask to speak to the vicar, the the minister of the Church of England.

Most of these men were Oxford and Cambridge graduates. So they spoke as if they came from Oxford and Cambridge, you know, as if if it as if it hurts to talk. And he who could get three grammatical errors in most sentences would begin to talk to them and ask them, what are you doing about the kids around here? They wouldn't do anything about the kids out there. So Graham began to sort of had one on one seminars for these Oxford and Cambridge trained theologians to show them how to reach kids. And his minister began to proliferate around the area.

One day he walked into my office. He said, I'm leaving. I said is something wrong? He said, no, God's told me to go back to Beverly. So he went back to his little town, got a job digging a pipeline. Rough and couth men, so rough and uncouth they made him look like he was from Oxford. When they finished work, they would adjourn to the pub. Once once their their pay was out, of course, they still needed their liquid refreshment. And and so there was a chalkboard behind the bar. And written in chalk was the name of these men and the amounts that they owed for every drink that they bought without money.

Then when payday came, most of the paycheck would go to pay what they'd already drunk. There was one man who was utterly reprehensible on the group. Even the other men couldn't tolerate him. He had the biggest amount against his name. He never paid up. They didn't want him in the bar even the other people. But one day Graham got up, grabbed a rag, dipped it in the beer that was sloshing around on the bar, went up to the chalkboard, wiped out this man's name and wiped out the amount of money against his name. And the bartender said, what are you what are you doing?

What do you think you're doing? And the other guy said, you crazy, what are you doing? He didn't answer. He just took out his wallet. And out of his wallet he took the money, the equivalent to what he'd wiped off there. And he said, I'm showing you what forgiveness is. Forgiveness is just wiping out debt. It's sending it away. It's canceling out. They said why in the world would you do that for him? And he said because God did it for me. That's why. Because God did it for me. And he who has been forgiven much loves much.

The problem for the Simons of this world is that they never really understand what it is to be forgiven much. You know why? Because they don't understand sin. Some years ago a book was written here by Dr. Carl Menninger, the founder of the clinic that bears his name, Menninger Clinic. An eminent psychiatrist. The psychiatric world and other worlds in addition were startled by the book because the title of it was whatever became of sin. When did you last hear a psychiatrist writing a book about sin? This eminent psychiatrist said basically, I'll summarize his introduction. He said basically this.

There was a time when sin was handled by the pastor and the priest. As sinners were introduced to a forgiving God. But then a lot of people didn't want to be characterized as sinners and so they decided that sinners were just criminals. And so what happened was now that sin was no longer dealt with by pastors and priests before God. Now it was dealt by the police before the judge and was handled by sticking people in jail. That was sin. But then people got into the jails and they came to the conclusion the criminals were criminals because of things that had happened to them in their youth.

And that therefore what really needed to happen was that the people should be handed over to the therapists. And so sin now was something that was a psychological aberration that was handled by therapy. Now this is what the psychiatrist is saying. Whatever happened to sin? Whatever happened to this fundamental idea that whilst there are psychological aberrations that are obvious that will respond to therapy and whilst there's criminal behavior that needs the justice system to handle it, the fundamental thing that we've forgotten about sin is sin is fundamentally against God. Sin is fundamentally against God. And therapy won't touch the problem.

And incarceration won't solve the problem. Only God only God can do that.

Guest (Male): More powerful teaching from the Briscoes is headed your way. So don't go anywhere. We've made a wide array of resources and content available to you online for free at tellingthetruth.org and on the telling the truth app. There you can listen, read and watch powerful teaching from Stuart and Jill on relevant topics like the sovereignty of God, the importance of the church and how to grow closer with Jesus Christ. You can also request this month's featured resource as thanks for your gift of support to help share the abundant life Jesus offers with more people around the world.

Visit us online or download the app today and experience a life with telling the truth. Now here's Stuart Briscoe with more.

Stuart Briscoe: The wonderful news that John the Baptist was introducing was this, that God was prepared to do it by his tender mercies, by his grace. In fact, it's interesting to know that there numerous words in the Bible used for forgiveness in the Hebrew and the Greek, but the one that the Apostle Paul used most was carisoma, which is based on caris, which means grace. That the tender mercies, the grace of God in giving Christ to die for us in order that he would assume the responsibility, that he would wipe out indebtedness. But remember that the one who wipes out the indebtedness can only do it if he assumes the indebtedness himself.

And that's what God did in Christ on the cross. And he offers out of tender mercy and unbounded grace, they're sending away, they're wiping away, the abolishing of sin and its nefarious effects on our lives. And offers to us full and free forgiveness on one condition, that we repent of our sin, that we turn from our sin, that we forsake our sin and that we live in newness of life. And the newness of life is demonstrated by an exuberance of joy and a going away in peace. That's what Jesus says to this woman. Your faith has saved you.

Go in peace. I talked to a young lady. She said to me, that I was worrying all the way to church. How in the world can I learn to forgive myself for all that I've done? And I said to explain to her that you can't forgive yourself. And it's a strange thing to even think you can forgive yourself. I meet people who believe that God has forgiven them, but they say but I can't forgive myself. Well, what does that mean? If God can forgive me, but I can't, that means that I have superior moral standard to God.

It's a matter of embracing, it's a matter of accepting, it's a matter of believing, it is a matter of taking into your heart the sheer wonder of the grace of God in Jesus, making forgiveness available. But there's a problem. The problem. Let me explain it to you. If ever you feel that you want to catch a monkey, and some of you may have this urge sometime. Listen carefully. If ever you feel that you want to catch a monkey, first thing you do is go where the monkeys are. It's like fishing. Go where the fish are.

All right. Then when you find out where the monkeys are, you take a little coffee can with you. You dig a hole in the clearing. You bury the coffee can in the ground, stamp it down hard all around it. Put some peanuts in the bottom of the coffee can. The monkey very quickly get the idea there's some peanuts there. They run over and they shove their hands in the coffee can and they grab a fist full of peanuts. And you got them. Because you see they can slip in an empty hand, but a hand full of peanuts won't come out.

And they're trapped by their peanuts. Now of course you and I know that any smart monkey would say, my hand went in, my hand will come out. But my hand that went in will not come out. Why will my hand that went in not come out? Answer because it is full of peanuts. What is the solution? Let it go. And then you'll be free. Just let it go. Now of course human beings are smarter than monkeys. So you will never ever find a human being who wants to be forgiven and at the same time hold on to their sin, will you?

You'll never find anybody like that. Oh yes, you will. And there's the problem. For a lot of people want to be forgiven and hang on to their peanuts. A lot of people want forgiveness without repentance. A lot of people assume forgiveness without repentance. But that's not what Jesus said about forgiveness. What did he say? He said that sin is the problem. It's in the human heart. As a result of sin, we're alienated and estranged from God, at enmity with God. That unless sin is dealt with and only God can do it, there is no hope of the alienation and the estrangement and the enmity being dealt with.

But God out of his grace and tender mercies took the initiative. In Christ he assumed the indebtedness of our sin, wiped it out, sent it away, canceled it out, offers the reestablishment of relationship in the place of estrangement and alienation. And says okay, here's the offer. It's available to the repentant. It's available to the repentant. It's available to those who let go of their sin, who will call their sin sin, who will turn from their sin, who will want to be done with their sin and live in newness of life, who will let go of their peanuts and who'll be free.

And you'll begin to discover who they are. For they will begin to demonstrate a very simple truth. Those who have been forgiven much love much. You say well, I haven't really done all that bad stuff. I mean I'm I'm not like this woman off the streets and I'm not like this these people like that. I I really don't think I need that sort of thing. It's not for people like me. An old Archbishop of Canterbury called Anson said on one occasion, you have not considered what a heavyweight sin is. You've not considered what a heavyweight sin is.

Why? What's so heavy about sin? Well, it hurts people. No, no, that's not what's heavy about sin. What's heavy about sin is that when I sin, I simply say to God, I know you said I shouldn't do this, but I'm going to anyway. And you say to God, I know you told me to do this, but I'm not going to anyway. You might be God, but I'm me. So the essence of sin is self deification. And that's the problem. And unless that's addressed, we'll never understand sin, we'll never understand forgiveness, we'll never know the joy of salvation.

We'll never demonstrate the sheer expressive, extravagant, expansive joy of the forgiven. And that's what Jesus said about forgiveness.

Guest (Male): Stuart, how are faith, forgiveness and peace connected?

Stuart Briscoe: That is a very short question that requires a very very long answer or perhaps a series of answers. And I'm afraid you're not going to grant me that privilege right now. So very very quickly. What what is the connection between forgiveness, faith and peace? Peace means that things are the way they ought to be. The reality is in our relationships with God, none of us can claim that things are the way they ought to be. And many of us say that being the case, I I wish I could be reconciled. I wish things could be put right.

In other words, we're saying we're looking for peace. Well, what's how we're going to get that? Well, first of all, if things are not the way they ought to be between us and God, then it has to start out by us being forgiven. We can't forgive ourselves. Only God can forgive sins. So we we want to be forgiven so that we might be at peace with God. But what is the principle whereby we're forgiven? And the answer is God says he will grant us the gift of forgiveness on the basis of Christ's sacrificial death on our behalf.

And we receive this by faith. So if I am not living at peace with God and I recognize that I need to be forgiven because of the things that have separated me between me separated me from my God. And the only means whereby I can receive this forgiveness is by faith. I come to the Lord and I say in faith, I receive from you the forgiveness that I can never earn and never deserve. And God will speak to a word of forgiveness and a word of grace to my heart and I will find a deep-rooted sense of peace.

And I will be able to say it is well, it is well with my soul. That's how forgiveness, faith and peace are connected.

Guest (Male): Thanks for listening to telling the truth today. We're so glad you've joined us and want to encourage you further with a powerful resource from Stuart and Jill Briscoe. If you've ever struggled with the pain of betrayal or the weight of resentment, you're not alone. Forgiveness is one of the hardest things we're called to do, but it's also one of the most freeing. That's why we want to send you freed by forgiveness. A four-message compilation from Stuart and Jill is our thanks for your gift today. In it, you'll discover how you can break free from bitterness and step into the healing and freedom Jesus offers.

So request your copy of freed by forgiveness when you give today, knowing your support helps more people around the world experience freedom in Christ. Many for the very first time as they hear God's truth thanks to you. Call now at 282-788-4648. That's 262-788-4648 or give online at tellingthetruth.org. Thanks again for listening and for your support today. Next time on telling the truth, it's more from the Briscoes and how you can experience abundant life in Christ when you open your heart to be changed by God. We hope you'll be listening then.