Freedom in Forgiveness

1
(No Transcript)
2
Freedom in Forgiveness
3
(No Transcript)
4
2 Corinthians 210-11

• But one whom you forgive anything, I forgive
  also for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have
  forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the
  presence of Christ, 11so that no advantage would
  be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant
  of his schemes.

5
Ephesians 425-27

• Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth
  each one of you with his neighbor, for we are
  members of one another. 26Be angry, and yet do
  not sin do not let the sun go down on your
  anger, 27and do not give the devil an
  opportunity.

6
Hebrews 1214-15

• Pursue peace with all men, and the
  sanctification without which no one will see the
  Lord.
• 15See to it that no one comes short of the grace
  of God that no root of bitterness springing up
  causes trouble, and by it many be defiled

7
Matthew 1821-35

• Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, Lord, how
  many times shall I forgive my brother when he
  sins against me? Up to seven times?
• 22Jesus answered, I tell you, not seven times,
  but seventy-seven times.
• 23Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a
  king who wanted to settle accounts with his
  servants.

8
Matthew 1821-35

• 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him
  ten thousand talents was brought to him.
• 25Since he was not able to pay, the master
  ordered that he and his wife and his children and
  all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
• 26The servant fell on his knees before him. Be
  patient with me, he begged, and I will pay back
  everything.

9
Matthew 1821-35

• 27The servants master took pity on him, canceled
  the debt and let him go.
• 28But when that servant went out, he found one
  of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred
  denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him.
  Pay back what you owe me! he demanded.
• 29His fellow servant fell to his knees and
  begged him, Be patient with me, and I will pay
  you back.

10
Matthew 1821-35

• 30But he refused. Instead, he went off and had
  the man thrown into prison until he could pay the
  debt.
• 31When the other servants saw what had happened,
  they were greatly distressed and went and told
  their master everything that had happened.
• 32Then the master called the servant in. You
  wicked servant, he said, I canceled all that
  debt of yours because you begged me to.

11
Matthew 1821-35

• 33Shouldnt you have had mercy on your fellow
  servant just as I had on you?
• 34In anger his master turned him over to the
  jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back
  all he owed.
• 35This is how my heavenly Father will treat each
  of you unless you forgive your brother from your
  heart.

12
Reasons for Unforgiveness

• The offense was too great
• He (she) didnt accept responsibility for the
  offense
• He (she) isnt truly sorry
• He (she) never asked to be forgiven

13
Reasons for Unforgiveness

• He (she) will do it again
• He (she) did it deliberately
• Someone has to punish him (her)
• Ill be a hypocrite because I do not feel like
  forgiving
• Ill forgive, but I wont forget

14
Forgiveness is a choice not a feeling

• Eph. 432 - Be kind and loving to each other, and
  forgive each other just as God forgave you in
  Christ.

15
(No Transcript)
16
Unforgiveness keeps us tied to the person

• Col. 313 Get along with each other, and
  forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you,
  forgive that person because the Lord forgave you.

17
Rubin "Hurricane" Carter
If I have learned nothing else in my life, I've
learned that bitterness only consumes the vessel
that contains it. And for me to permit bitterness
to control or to infect my life in any way
whatsoever would be to allow those who imprisoned
me to take even more than the 22 years they've
already taken. Now that would make me an
accomplice to their crime.
18
We forgive regardless of their intention or
repentance

• Matt. 546-47 If you love only the people who
  love you, you will get no reward. Even the tax
  collectors do that. 47And if you are nice only to
  your friends, you are no better than other
  people. Even those who dont know God are nice to
  their friends.

19

• You dont heal in
• order to forgive,
• you forgive in
• order to heal.

20
Forgiveness does not always mean reconciliation

• Rom. 1218 If it is possible, as far as it
  depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

21
Forgiveness may not bring restoration right away

• Psalm 10922 For I am afflicted and needy, and
  my heart is wounded within me.

22
We forgive because we want God to forgive us

• Col. 213-14 - When you were spiritually dead
  because of your sins and because you were not
  free from the power of your sinful self, God made
  you alive with Christ, and he forgave all our
  sins. 14He canceled the debt, which listed all
  the rules we failed to follow. He took away that
  record with its rules and nailed it to the cross.

23
(No Transcript)
24
The Process of Forgiveness

• Revisit the offense
• Repent for holding unforgiveness
• Forgive for each offense
• Pray for God to reveal Himself to them and bless
  them
• Obey Gods directive
• Stay free!