The Fruit of Forgiveness
The sermon emphasizes the importance of demonstrating our determination to forsake sin through specific actions after receiving forgiveness.
Elisabeth Elliot emphasizes the daily forgiveness we receive from God for various sins, highlighting the contrast between the magnitude of grace and the commonality of forgiveness. She references Isaiah 27:9, illustrating the need for tangible actions to demonstrate repentance and forsaking of specific sins, akin to smashing stone altars as a symbol of genuine repentance and the fruit of forgiveness.
Text
Every day I am forgiven for many sins of many kinds, and although on the one hand forgiveness seems such an impossible thing (but grace is greater than all my sin), on the other hand I receive it often without wonder and nearly always without offering any "fruit."
When the Lord punished Israel, Isaiah wrote: "Only then can the fruit of his forgiveness be shown: they must smash their stone altars into pounded chalk" (Is 27:9 JBP).
When I acknowledge a specific sin, it is a good thing to do something specific to demonstrate my determination to forsake it. Smash an altar, sacrifice an hour of sleep or a meal (if the sin has been, e.g., failure to do what I want to do "because I haven't time"), write a note of apology to one sinned against, make restitution in some way for a wrong. To arise and obey in such a particular act is an appropriate sign of the genuineness of my repentance--the fruit of forgiveness.
Sermon Outline
- The Impossibility and Reality of Forgiveness
- The Fruit of Forgiveness
- The Sign of Genuineness in Repentance
- Arising and obeying in particular acts
- Making restitution for wrongs and apologizing to those sinned against
Key Quotes
“Forgiveness seems such an impossible thing, but grace is greater than all my sin.” — Elisabeth Elliot
“Smashing stone altars into pounded chalk (Is 27:9 JBP)” — Elisabeth Elliot
Application Points
- We should arise and obey in specific acts to demonstrate our determination to forsake sin.
- Making restitution for wrongs and apologizing to those sinned against is an important part of repentance.
- Offering fruit after receiving forgiveness shows that we value and appreciate the forgiveness we have received.