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Joe Loughlin: Real and Lasting Forgiveness (Matthew 18:19-35)
Joe Loughlin, pastor of First Baptist Church in Temple, Texas, marvels at the forgiveness shown by the members of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., after a white supremacist joined a prayer group and shot and killed nine church members. He explains the difficulty of forgiveness, which is compounded by Jesus’ expectation that forgiveness is not meant to be measured numerically but is to be a constant state of willingness to forgive.
Loughlin clarifies that forgiveness doesn’t mean everything is OK, excusing things like abusive relationships. It doesn’t mean forgiveness is deserved. And it doesn’t mean the hurt goes away.
He finishes with some practical—though difficult—suggestions for learning to forgive.
This sermon was delivered during the morning service at First Baptist Church in Temple, on March 3, 2019, as the conclusion to a series titled “Relationship Goals.”
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