Joseph – A Theology of Grace and Forgiveness Genesis 50:15-21

1. Joseph – A Theology ofGrace and ForgivenessGenesis 50:15-21 • Genesis 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…” • At the heart of this passage is a message about grace and forgiveness. • What is the state of your heart when it comes to forgiveness?

2. Genesis 50:15-21 (NIV) - When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.”

3. ... When their message came to him, Joseph wept. His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

4. Genesis 45:5 (NIV) - And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. • Joseph forgave his brothers for the evil they had done against him • He saw God’s hand of purpose in it. • Joseph never grew bitter - in an act of grace he extended forgiveness to his brothers.

5. 17+ yrs later – Jacob dies: • Genesis 50:15 (NIV) When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” • Joseph’s response provides us with amazing theology of grace and forgiveness

6. 1. Forgiveness Begins With Confession of Sin • Joseph’s brothers feared he would retaliate now that their father was dead. • “it was their guilt that drove their apprehension.” (Kent Hughes) • Joseph’s brothers never confessed that they had sinned against him and had never even asked for his forgiveness. • Confession is the first step toward forgiveness

7. 1 John 1:8–10 (NIV) If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. • Genesis 50:16-17 (NIV) - “Your father left these instructions before he died: ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.”

8. They called their behaviour what it was - SIN • True forgiveness is based on an understanding that sin is serious and that sins committed against God and others needs to be acknowledged and confessed before forgiveness can take place. • Genesis 50:19,20a (NIV) - Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me…” • Joseph didn’t minimize their actions.

9. 2. Forgiveness Acknowledges The Sovereignty of God • Easier to extend forgiveness when we can see that the things that happen to us are under God’s watchful eye. • Genesis 50: 19,20 (NIV) - But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. • Joseph saw God at work in spite of the evil done against him.

10. Joseph had faith in the sovereignty of God. • That same understanding of forgiveness is what allowed Jesus to look down from the cross and say: • Luke 23:34 (NIV) - “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” • Stephen could forgive those who were stoning him: • Acts 7:60 (NIV) “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

11. God will take care of vengeance. • Joseph: “Am I in the place of God?” • Joseph acknowledged God’s sovereignty • Romans 12:19-21 (NIV) - Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

12. 3. Forgiveness Flows From Experiencing God’s Grace • Joseph could forgive his brothers because he had experienced God’s grace in his own life. • Forgiveness is an expression of grace. • You can’t truly forgive someone unless you’ve experienced God’s grace yourself. • Matthew 7: 12 (NIV) - “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors…”

13. Matthew 7: 14,15 (NIV) – “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” • Our desire to forgive others, must be rooted in our experience of God’s forgiveness. • When God’s grace comes into our hearts, it makes us forgiving. We demonstrate whether we have been forgiven by whether or not we will forgive. (Kent Hughes) • A spirit of forgiveness is an essential part of being a follower of Christ.

14. God forgave our sin because of the blood of Christ shed on the cross • Ephesians 1:7 (NIV) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace • Have you experienced God’s grace and forgiveness for the sin and wrong you have committed against him and against others? • Colossians 3:13 (NIV) - Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.