To be like Christ is to forgive
Gen 50:14-21
Our theme to become like Christ in this life is a noble challenge for all of us.
It is easy to say that I am like Christ, but only our actions will prove that we are like Jesus.
Loving and forgiving is the most powerful indication of being like Christ in this life.
To love and forgive others who you think have mistreated you in many ways requires intimacy with God.
The closer we are to God, the more we are like Christ in our response to the bitterness of life.
Joseph more so than any other person except Jesus in the Bible was treated very badly, not from the world but from his own flesh and blood, his family.
They hated Joseph and they made it clear to Joseph through their words and actions.
They hated Joseph because he was his father, Jacob, favorite son.
Jacob favored Joseph because he was Rachel’s first born.
Jacob showed his love through giving Joseph a coat of many colors and Joseph wore this coat everywhere he went.
The more Jacob loved Joseph the more his brothers hated him.
Joseph was somewhat arrogant and self-centered, but that is not a reason to be hateful and unforgiving.
But Joseph’s trials and tribulations he endured through faith in God made him like Christ.
They hated Joseph because of his coat of many colors, and he dared to dream of being elevated by God over his parents and his brothers.
Joseph’ brothers were not like some who hate, they throw rocks and hide their hands, but these brothers showed Joseph they hated him.
God uses the worst things that happen to us in life to make us like Christ.
Becoming like Christ is when we take lemons and make lemonade.
To become like Christ is to believe, that God works all things out for our good and his glory
To be like Christ is to forgive
I. People who are like Christ don’t think like people who are not like Christ- vs. 14-18
II. People who are like Christ understand God’s will for their lives- vs. 19-20
III. To be like Christ is to be nice and kind to people who don’t like you. Vs. 21
He was beaten, battered and bruised with a leather whip with bones in it that cut his flesh open, and blood came flowing out.
Roman’s soldiers stripped off his clothes, spit in his face, slapped him across his head.
Then hung him on a tree between two thieves on a hill called Calvary.
But I heard HIM cry, our Father forgive them for they know not what they do!
It is easy to say that I am like Christ, but only our actions will prove that we are like Jesus.
Loving and forgiving is the most powerful indication of being like Christ in this life.
To love and forgive others who you think have mistreated you in many ways requires intimacy with God.
The closer we are to God, the more we are like Christ in our response to the bitterness of life.
Joseph more so than any other person except Jesus in the Bible was treated very badly, not from the world but from his own flesh and blood, his family.
They hated Joseph and they made it clear to Joseph through their words and actions.
They hated Joseph because he was his father, Jacob, favorite son.
Jacob favored Joseph because he was Rachel’s first born.
Jacob showed his love through giving Joseph a coat of many colors and Joseph wore this coat everywhere he went.
The more Jacob loved Joseph the more his brothers hated him.
Joseph was somewhat arrogant and self-centered, but that is not a reason to be hateful and unforgiving.
But Joseph’s trials and tribulations he endured through faith in God made him like Christ.
They hated Joseph because of his coat of many colors, and he dared to dream of being elevated by God over his parents and his brothers.
Joseph’ brothers were not like some who hate, they throw rocks and hide their hands, but these brothers showed Joseph they hated him.
- They planned to kill him and cast him in a pit and tell their father that some animal killed him.
- They put him in a pit to die but decided to sell him for twenty pieces of silver to some Ishmaelites passing through.
- In Egypt, Potiphar bought him from Ishmaelites and Joseph prospers in Potiphar’s house until Mrs. Potiphar lied on him and Joseph was thrown into prison.
- In prison he met a baker and a butler both had dreams. Joseph interpreted the dreams of the baker and butler. The baker would be killed, and the butler would be restored to his position. And Joseph asked him, when he was restored, to tell Pharaoh that he had done no wrong and was put in prison unjustly.
- But the butler forgot about Joseph until Pharaoh had a dream, and Joseph interpreted the dream and was promoted ruler over Egypt.
- People who are like Christ don’t think like people who are not like Christ- vs. 14-18
- People who are like Christ understand God’s will for their lives- vs. 19-20
- People who are like Christ responds like Christ to those who did them wrong- vs. 21
God uses the worst things that happen to us in life to make us like Christ.
Becoming like Christ is when we take lemons and make lemonade.
To become like Christ is to believe, that God works all things out for our good and his glory
To be like Christ is to forgive
I. People who are like Christ don’t think like people who are not like Christ- vs. 14-18
- Joseph’s brothers thought that Joseph would respond like they would respond.
- Immature people assume that you hate them because they hate you. They have a problem with you, and they think you have a problem with them.
- Joseph’s brothers are not loving or forgiving like Christ.
- They think that Joseph is vindictive as they are.
- 50:15b, “They said Joseph will peradventure hate us and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him."
- People who are not like Christ will lie, even on their dead father to help themselves.
- Vs 16-17, they said that Jacob told them to tell Joseph to forgive them for their evil.
- Then they said we will be your slaves, they did not expect Joseph to receive them as brothers.
II. People who are like Christ understand God’s will for their lives- vs. 19-20
“And Joseph said unto them fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day to save much people alive.”
- Joseph is like Jesus; he calmed his brothers who are afraid that Joseph is going to pay them back for selling him.
- To be like Christ is to be humble and understand that judgement is God’s job not his.
- When people mistreat you, don’t put yourself in God’s place to be judge and jury.
- We are to forgive them and love them like God loves and forgives us.
- To be like Christ is to understand God’s sovereignty even over evil actions of people.
“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”
- God can take our evil and turn it around and make it work for our good.
III. To be like Christ is to be nice and kind to people who don’t like you. Vs. 21
- Joseph said don’t worry nor be scared.
- Joseph said I am going to provide for you and your children.
- Joseph comforted them with kindness through his words and actions.
He was beaten, battered and bruised with a leather whip with bones in it that cut his flesh open, and blood came flowing out.
Roman’s soldiers stripped off his clothes, spit in his face, slapped him across his head.
Then hung him on a tree between two thieves on a hill called Calvary.
But I heard HIM cry, our Father forgive them for they know not what they do!
