Forgiveness Colossians 3 13 Ephesians 4 32 What

Forgiveness Colossians 3: 13 Ephesians 4: 32

What Is Forgiveness? • Forgiveness: • Strong’s; 859 aphesis – properly, “something sent away”; i. e. remission (“forgiveness”), releasing someone from obligation or debt. • Definition: Dismissal, release, pardon • Usage: a sending away, a letting go, a release, a pardon, complete forgiveness.

Why Do We Have To? • Luke 6: 37 “Forgive and you will be forgiven” • Mark 11: 25 -26 If you do not forgive, you will not be forgiven • We MUST forgive others if we ourselves want to be forgiven by God. All Need the forgiveness of God (Rom. 3: 23) • Psalm 86: 5 God is forgiving • Christians imitate the qualities of God

Forgive As Christ Forgives • Colossians 3: 13 “As the Lord has forgiven you…” • Ephesians 4: 32 “…as God in Christ forgave you” • How Does Christ Forgive? • 1 John 1: 9 “If we confess our sins”

Jesus’ Teachings To Peter Matthew 18: 21 -35 • v. 22 Forgive 70 x 7 • v. 23 -27 God forgives when we ask for it • 28 -35 Servant punished for not forgiving; God will do the same 1. No limit to how many times we are to forgive 2. Christ forgives conditionally 3. We will be forgiven as we forgive

God Forgave David • How Does God Show His Forgiveness To David? 2 Samuel 11 -15 1. Conditional; David had to repent and turn from his sin, asking for God’s forgiveness (12: 13) 2. His conceived son has to die (12: 14, 18) 3. Seen in shame to all Israel (12: 12) 4. Own children turn against him (14: 25 -15: 13) 1. David was forgiven by God, but God was helping David face and overcome his sin with Bathsheba

Is Holding A Grudge Acceptable? • Eph. 4: 26, 31 -32 Put away wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking • Rom. 12: 17 -21 Repay no one evil for evil; leave vengeance to God; overcome evil with good • Luke 6: 27 -28, 32 -36 Love those who have done you wrong; show mercy to those who do not love you • No! Holding a grudge contradicts forgiveness!

Are We To Forget? • Forgiving and Forgetting Are Two Different Things • Christ, in forgiveness, no longer holds that sin to our account • 2 Cor. 5: 19 “Not imputing their sins on them” • Heb. 8: 12 “Their sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more” • Not a form of amnesia wherein we do not remember • Rather, forgetting is no longer holding the forgiven sin against them

What Forgiveness Is • Forgiving when one asks for this forgiveness • Unable to fully forgive if one has not repented and asked forgiveness • Loving them, and always hoping that forgiveness is asked for • Forgiving and no longer holding it to their account • Holding one accountable in future to repair weakness, as we should as brothers and sisters in Christ

What Forgiveness Is Not • Not forgiving when one repents and asks forgiveness • Forgiving when one has not repented or sought forgiveness • Not showing love, and holding a grudge against them • Not fully forgiving, and holding the sin to their account, failing to forget • Not holding one accountable for future actions, and moving on as if nothing happened or a

Forgiveness A Christian Forgives Conditionally, As Does Christ! A Christian Always Forgives