The Power of Forgiveness | Lord’s Day Sermon | 16th June, 2024 | Pastor Adeola Ogundele

A remarkable encounter in the home of Simon the Pharisee depicts the weight of God's forgiveness. There was the Lord Jesus, Simon his host and the woman scriptures record as being a sinner who came with her alabaster box of expensive ointment. One of the most popular exchanges in scriptures shows the heart of a publicly notorious sinner who saw her need for mercy in spite of how great her sins were. Smitten by her sinful state and realization of the savior in front of her, she wept and released her most prized possession to show her penitence, while Simon looked upon her in derision, consumed by his pride and lack of estimation of his own sinful state. He invited the savior into his home, but not into his heart.

The realization of the reality of God’s forgiveness must sink deep enough into our hearts to allow us to be transformed by it. Mary Magdalene realized this and she was transformed into a disciple of Christ. When sinners allow the truth of God’s forgiveness to really sink into our hearts, it produces a loving devotion to Christ, one that emanates from a heart that understands how great a forgiveness it has received.

Indeed, whoever has been forgiven greatly, loves greatly.