Forgiveness

Forgiveness: To be released from debt

I. Forgiveness starts with the example of God’s forgiveness of us.

Colossians 3:12-13

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies,

kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another,

if anyone has a complaint against another;

even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

NKJV

II. Before we can forgive others, we must deal with our own sin

and receive forgiveness

Matthew 7:2-5

2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged;

and with the measure you use,

it will be measured back to you.

3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye,

but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye';

and look, a plank is in your own eye?

5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye,

and then you will see clearly to remove the speck

from your brother's eye.

Galatians 6:1

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass,

you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness,

considering yourself lest you also be tempted. NKJV

III. One who does not give forgiveness and mercy

will not be shown forgiveness or mercy at the judgment.

James 2:13

13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.

Mercy triumphs over judgment.

NKJV

IV. We must forgive in order for God to receive our worship

Matthew 5:23-24

23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that

your brother has something against you,

24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way.

First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

NKJV

Matthew 6:12-15

12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses,

your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses,

neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

NKJV

V. Forgiveness involves acknowledging the sin and its consequences

Luke 17:3

3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him;

and if he repents, forgive him.

Matthew 18:15

"Moreover if your brother sins against you,

go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.

If he hears you, you have gained your brother. NKJV

2 Corinthians 7:9-11

9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry,

but that your sorrow led to repentance.

For you were made sorry in a godly manner,

that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.

10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation,

not to be regretted;

but the sorrow of the world produces death.

11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner:

What diligence it produced in you,

what clearing of yourselves,

what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire,

what zeal,

what vindication!

In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

VI. Our Forgiveness of others is to be unlimited,

just as is God’s forgiveness toward us

Matthew 18:21-35

Then Peter came to Him and said,

"Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me,

and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"

22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times,

but up to seventy times seven.

23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king

who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him

who owed him ten thousand talents.

25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold,

with his wife and children and all that he had,

and that payment be made.

26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying,

'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'

27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion,

released him, and forgave him the debt.

28 "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants

who owed him a hundred denarii;

and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat,

saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'

29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying,

'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'

30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison

till he should pay the debt.

31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done,

they were very grieved,

and came and told their master all that had been done.

32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him,

'You wicked servant!

I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.

33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant,

just as I had pity on you?'

34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until

he should pay all that was due to him.

35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you,

from his heart,

does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

Forgiveness is possible when the Holy Spirit works in our heart,

directing our faith to the person and work of Christ,

for the glory of God our Father –

who forgave us and adopted us as His own.

VII. Forgiveness means not remembering sin

Jeremiah 31:34

For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."

NKJV

The four key promises of forgiveness:

1. I will not think about this incident

2. I will not bring it up and use it against you.

3. I will not talk to others about this incident

4. I will not allow this incident to stand between us and hinder

our personal relationship5

VIII. Forgiveness is implemented in two stages

A. Dispositional Forgiveness –

Mark 11:25-26

"And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone,

forgive him,

that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven

forgive your trespasses." NKJV

B. Transactional Forgiveness

Matthew 18:15

"Moreover if your brother sins against you,

go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.

If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

NKJV