Scripture for Today, 1-25-18: Forgiveness, Larry Nassar

“Mercy & Forgiveness For Convicted Sexual Pervert, Larry Nassar?”

Jesus said, “If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him;
and if he repent, forgive him.” Luke 17:3
 
1-25-18, * --  At the court hearing of sports doctor and sexual predator, Larry Nassar [1] [he was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison. One hundred and fifty girls spoke of the horrors he did to them. One of the victims, Rachael Denhollander also spoke about her faith. She used her statement as a testimony and message of grace and forgiveness. Following is an excerpt of what she said to Judge Rosemarie Aquilina and to Nassar at his sentencing hearing:
 
"Larry is a hardened and determined sexual predator. I know this first-hand. At age 15, when I suffered from chronic back pain, Larry sexually assaulted me repeatedly under the guise of medical treatment for nearly a year. He did this with my own mother in the room, carefully and perfectly obstructing her view...  He penetrated me, he groped me, he fondled me. And then he whispered questions about how it felt.  He engaged in degrading and humiliating sex acts without my consent or permission.
 
"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:31-32
 
[When I came out and testified of what Larry did to me] I was attacked for wanting fame and attention making up a story trying to get money.
 
Larry, in the early hearings you brought your Bible into the courtroom and have spoken of praying for forgiveness. And so it is on that basis that I appeal to you. If you have read the Bible you carry, you know the definition of sacrificial love portrayed is of God Himself loving so sacrificially that He gave up everything to pay a penalty for the sin He did not commit. By His grace, I, too, choose to love this way.
 
 You spoke of praying for forgiveness. But Larry, if you have read the Bible you carry, you know forgiveness does not come from doing good things, as if good deeds can erase what you have done. It comes from repentance which requires facing and acknowledging the truth about what you have done in all of its utter depravity and horror without mitigation, without excuse, without acting as if good deeds can erase what you have seen this courtroom today…
 
The Bible carries a final judgment where all of God's wrath and eternal terror is poured out on men like you. Should you ever reach the point of truly facing what you have done, the guilt will be crushing. And that is what makes the gospel of Christ so sweet; because it extends grace, hope and mercy where none should be found. And it will be there for you.
 
 I pray you experience the soul crushing weight of guilt so you may someday experience true repentance and true forgiveness from God, which you need far more than forgiveness from me -- though I extend that to you as well."
​***
 
Jesus said, “After this manner therefore pray ye: " Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.  Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:9-15
 
* Full testimony transcript from Rachael here: https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/24/us/rachael-denhollander-full-statement/index.html 

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Larry Nassar pleads guilty to 7 criminal sexual conduct charges
​11-27-17,  LANSING Michigan - For more than 14 months, through more than 100 sexual assault allegations, former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar maintained that he performed legitimate medical procedures on his young female patients. That changed when finally Nassar, 54, of Holt, pleaded guilty to seven counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with seven victims.

Larry Nassar case: The 156 women who confronted the sexual predator - BBC ...
1-24-18, In a Michigan USA courthouse, former Olympic doctor, Larry Nassar, has been convicted and sentenced 175 years in jail for abusing young girls he was supposed to be treating for their sports injuries. 

IF Larry Nassar has truly repented of his horrific abuses to these girls asking the Lord Jesus to forgive him of his sins ... the Bible says Jesus came to cleanse all sinners who come to HIM. Larry must be born again**... [even the Apostle Paul***] ... God wants all sinners to repent; all can be forgiven. Rachel's testimony is inspiring.

**  John 3:3, John 3:7; Matt 9:13, Mark 2:17, Luke 19:10
*** 1 Timothy 1:15 Paul chief of sinners