Fresh Start! Forgiveness Sermon VI Peter

Fresh Start!  Forgiveness:  Peter     2/16/2020

36 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.” 37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.” 38 Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times. -- John 13:36-38

25 Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not!”  26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed. -- John 18:25-27 (15-18)

Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly. -- Matthew 26:74-75 (partial)

15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” -- John 21:15-19

1.  Sometimes the people that love you the most can fail you….and sometimes you fail them! (Peter physically defended Jesus; Peter jumped into the water to meet Jesus)

2.  When you hurt, lie to, and/or betray someone, you must repent!

3.  You are never too far gone for the grace of God in Jesus Christ and neither is anyone else!  This grace must be extended! 

Let us pray. (Reconciliation, Softened Hearts, Grace)

Point I.

“He that cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass if he would ever reach heaven; for everyone has need to be forgiven.” -- George Herbert

Point II.

Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them. -- Bruce Lee

If I owe Smith ten dollars and God forgives me, that doesn’t pay Smith. -- Robert Green Ingersoll

Point III.

Forgiving is the giving, and so the receiving, of life. -- George MacDonald

Fresh Start! Forgiveness Sermon VI Peter