Forgiveness

1
Forgiveness

• C. S. Lewis Forgiveness is a beautiful word,
  until you have something to forgive

2
Forgiveness

• Jesus spent his entire life teaching lessons
  about forgiveness and a provision for it

What is forgiveness?
to hold one as though no offense had been given
stop being angry with pardon, to cancel or remit
(as a debt) interested in as though nothing had
happened (Websters New World Dictionary)
Ephesians 432 Colossians 313
3
Forgiveness Is Necessary

• Man is a transgressor of the law of God
• All have sinned
• Romans 323 1 John 18
• Sin against our fellow man
• Matthew 522-24 Luke 1518
• Necessary for mans physical good
• We have enough burdens to bear!

4
Gods Forgiveness

• Man is lost for eternity without it
• Revelation 2127
• Must be IN Christ to receive forgiveness
• Ephesians 16-7
• We get IN Christ through baptism (Gal 327)
• Hear (Romans 1017)
• Believe (Mark 1616)
• Repent (Acts 238 Luke 133 Acts 1730)
• Confess (Matthew 1032)
• Baptism (Romans 63-4)

5
Gods Forgiveness

• Baptism saves us
• 1 Peter 321
• If we love Jesus we will keep His commandments
  and obey Him
• John 1415
• God is always ready to forgive
• Romans 1021

6
Gods Forgiveness

• God wants everyone to be saved
• 1 Timothy 24 2 Peter 39
• We have a patient, loving Father!
• Psalms 1031-22
• Gods kindness leads us to repentance

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness,
forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that
the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
(Romans 24)
7
Mans Forgiveness

• Man sins against his fellow man
• Genesis 44-8
• Brethren sin against each other
• 1 Corinthians 812 Luke 173
• Strife and division is the result of SIN
• Man must have a forgiving spirit
• Matthew 614-15

8
STORY OF THE SLAVEMatthew 1823-35

• Owes ten thousand talents
• Talent 5-6 thousand denarii
• Working man received one denarius a day
• One talent about 15 years wages
• He owed 10,000 of these!
• Why does he use astronomical figures?
• To remind us of our debt before God

9
STORY OF THE SLAVEMatthew 1823-35

• Character of the king
• Only the king can forgive the debt
• He did so by paying it himself!
• Fellow servant
• Owed one hundred pence much less
• Begs for patience
• Same thing this servant did before the king

10
STORY OF THE SLAVEMatthew 1823-35
Key Point

• Although he has a legal right to demand payment
  he has no moral right
• It is impossible to receive forgiveness
  gratefully from one and to refuse it vengefully
  to another

When I choose to receive forgiveness I obligate
myself to practice forgiveness!
11
Christ Is Our Standard

• This was taught by the apostle Paul
• Ephesians 431-32
• Colossians 312-13
• Romans 47-8
• Once one asks God for forgiveness of sin God
  remembers it NO MORE

Their sins and their lawless deeds I will
remember no more. Hebrews 1017
12
Christ Is Our Standard

• Why do we hesitate to forgive others when we
  ourselves sin?
• Matthew 1815
• How often should we forgive?
• Matthew 1821-22

forgiveness means erasing the act, letting go of
the wrong
13
Christ Is Our Standard
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having
compassion for one another love as brothers, be
tenderhearted, be courteous 1 Peter 38
14
Principles of Forgiveness

• Source of forgiveness is Gods forgiveness
• Refusal to forgive is costly
• Secret to forgiveness is grace

The cross is where we receive forgiveness and
where we learn to forgive