Giving and Receiving Forgiveness. Forgiveness is the foundation from which we learn how to see life. It is no small thing to have a problem in either

Giving and Receiving Giving and Receiving ForgivenessForgiveness

Forgiveness is the foundation from Forgiveness is the foundation from which we learn how to see life.which we learn how to see life.

• It is It is no small thingno small thing to have a problem in to have a problem in either giving or receiving forgiveness.either giving or receiving forgiveness.

• Forgiveness is a product of the love of Forgiveness is a product of the love of God and the basis of having a relationship God and the basis of having a relationship with God. with God.

• Without this understanding and realization Without this understanding and realization of how the love of God acts, we have no of how the love of God acts, we have no foundation! foundation! (Eph 3:17-19)(Eph 3:17-19)


• Ephesians 3:17-19Ephesians 3:17-19 17 that Christ may 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in lovebeing rooted and grounded in love, 18 , 18 may be able to comprehend with all the may be able to comprehend with all the saints what saints what is is the width and length and the width and length and depth and height -- 19 to know the love of depth and height -- 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be may be filled with all the fullness of Godfilled with all the fullness of God..


• This will affect how we view ourselves and This will affect how we view ourselves and how we view others. Our most basic how we view others. Our most basic perceptions are affected by this! perceptions are affected by this! (2 Pt 1:9)(2 Pt 1:9)


• 2 Peter 1:92 Peter 1:9 - For he who lacks these - For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and and has forgotten that he was cleansed has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sinsfrom his old sins..


• Most of our problems in a local church can Most of our problems in a local church can be traced back to this. be traced back to this. (1 Jn 3:14-16)(1 Jn 3:14-16)


• 1 John 3:14-161 John 3:14-16 - - We knowWe know that we have that we have passed from death to life, passed from death to life, because we love because we love the brethrenthe brethren. He who does not love . He who does not love his his brother brother abides in deathabides in death. 15 Whoever hates . 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know his brother is a murderer, and you know that that no murderer has eternal life abiding in no murderer has eternal life abiding in himhim. 16 . 16 By this we know loveBy this we know love, because , because He He laid down His life for uslaid down His life for us. And we also ought . And we also ought to to lay down lay down our our lives for the brethrenlives for the brethren..


• Have you heard of brethren that would Have you heard of brethren that would have nothing to do with one another? have nothing to do with one another? Some even stop talking to another.Some even stop talking to another.

• Do we have a collection of animosity Do we have a collection of animosity (hatred) for various people who have done (hatred) for various people who have done wrong in the past?wrong in the past?

• Or are we always happy to see someone Or are we always happy to see someone return to the Lord and we wish to support return to the Lord and we wish to support and encourage them?and encourage them?


• Do we often worry whether God or others Do we often worry whether God or others have really forgiven us?have really forgiven us?

We serve a God that we can believe when We serve a God that we can believe when He says that He has forgivenHe says that He has forgiven

• Forgiveness is not part of the worldly Forgiveness is not part of the worldly philosophy. philosophy. (Titus 3:3)(Titus 3:3)


• Titus 3:3Titus 3:3 - For we ourselves were also - For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, serving various lusts and pleasures, living living in malice and envyin malice and envy, , hateful and hating one hateful and hating one anotheranother..


• In the world you learn to “keep your friend In the world you learn to “keep your friend close and your enemies closer!” You trust close and your enemies closer!” You trust no one and learn to expect the back-stab.no one and learn to expect the back-stab.


• To forgive means that you take the loss, To forgive means that you take the loss, write off the debt and put the needs of write off the debt and put the needs of another above yourself.another above yourself.

• To the world, forgiveness is just “too good To the world, forgiveness is just “too good to be true.”to be true.”

• We serve a God that teaches all men that We serve a God that teaches all men that He can be trusted.He can be trusted.

• God tells us emphatically and often that He God tells us emphatically and often that He desires to forgive! desires to forgive! (Ex 34:6-7)(Ex 34:6-7)


• Exodus 34:6-7Exodus 34:6-7 - And the LORD passed - And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, LORD God, merciful and gracious, merciful and gracious, longsufferinglongsuffering, and abounding in goodness , and abounding in goodness and truth, 7 "keeping mercy for thousands, and truth, 7 "keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sinforgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, , by no means clearing by no means clearing the guilty, the guilty, visiting the visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the the children's children to the third and the fourth generation.“fourth generation.“


• That promise is great, but can you trust That promise is great, but can you trust God? Everything depends on this.God? Everything depends on this.

• This is why you need to come to know This is why you need to come to know God. Look at the record! God. Look at the record! (Rom 15:4-5)(Rom 15:4-5)


• Romans 15:4-5Romans 15:4-5 - For whatever things - For whatever things were written before were written for our were written before were written for our learning, that we through learning, that we through the patience and the patience and comfort of the Scripturescomfort of the Scriptures might have hope. might have hope. 5 Now may the 5 Now may the God of patience and God of patience and comfortcomfort grant you to be like-minded toward grant you to be like-minded toward one another, one another, according to Christ Jesusaccording to Christ Jesus,,


• Three things God does when He forgives.Three things God does when He forgives.

• He blots out our sins! He blots out our sins! (Acts 3:19; Isa 43:25)(Acts 3:19; Isa 43:25)


• Acts 3:19Acts 3:19 - "Repent therefore and be - "Repent therefore and be converted, that converted, that your sins may be blotted your sins may be blotted outout, so that times of refreshing may come , so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,from the presence of the Lord,


• Isaiah 43:25Isaiah 43:25 - " I, - " I, even even I, I, am am He who He who blots blots out your transgressionsout your transgressions for My own sake; for My own sake; And And I will not remember your sinsI will not remember your sins..


• God does not remember our sins any God does not remember our sins any more. more. (Heb 8:12)(Heb 8:12)


• Hebrews 8:12Hebrews 8:12 - "For I will be merciful to - "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds their lawless deeds I will remember no I will remember no moremore."."


• He is described as casting them into the He is described as casting them into the sea. sea. (Mic 7:18-19)(Mic 7:18-19)


• Micah 7:18-19Micah 7:18-19 - Who - Who is is a God like You, a God like You, Pardoning iniquityPardoning iniquity And And passing over the passing over the transgressiontransgression of the remnant of His of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He forever, Because He delights delights in in mercymercy. 19 . 19 He will again have compassion on us, And He will again have compassion on us, And will will subdue our iniquities.subdue our iniquities. You will You will cast all cast all our sins Into the depths of the seaour sins Into the depths of the sea..


• When God forgives our sin is long gone! When God forgives our sin is long gone! Do you believe this?Do you believe this?


• "When God buries our sins in the deepest "When God buries our sins in the deepest sea, He posts a sign which reads: sea, He posts a sign which reads: “No Fishing!”"“No Fishing!”"

• God receives us back to a full fellowship. God receives us back to a full fellowship. (Lk 15:20-24)(Lk 15:20-24)


• Luke 15:20-24Luke 15:20-24 - "And he arose and came - "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father way off, his father saw him and had saw him and had compassioncompassion, and , and ran and fell on his neck ran and fell on his neck and kissed himand kissed him. 21 "And the son said to . 21 "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'to be called your son.'


• 22 "But the father said to his servants, 22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put 'Bring out the best robe and put it it on him, on him, and put a ring on his handand put a ring on his hand and sandals on and sandals on his his feet. 23 'And feet. 23 'And bring the fatted calf here bring the fatted calf here and kill and kill it, it, and let us eat and be merryand let us eat and be merry; 24 ; 24 'for this my son was dead and is alive 'for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.began to be merry.


• There is no grudge holding with God. Men There is no grudge holding with God. Men are another matter!are another matter!


• Our biggest problem is in believing this.Our biggest problem is in believing this.

Are we honest with God and ourselves Are we honest with God and ourselves when we say we have forgiven others?when we say we have forgiven others?

• This is where the deceitful heart can do This is where the deceitful heart can do the most damage.the most damage.

• ““I will forgive you but I do not have to like I will forgive you but I do not have to like you.” you.” (1 Jn 3:18-19; 1 Pt 1:22; 2:1)(1 Jn 3:18-19; 1 Pt 1:22; 2:1)


• 1 John 3:18-191 John 3:18-19 - My little children, let us - My little children, let us not love in word or in tonguenot love in word or in tongue, , but in deed but in deed and in truthand in truth. 19 And . 19 And by this we know that by this we know that we are of the truthwe are of the truth, and , and shall assure our shall assure our hearts before Himhearts before Him..


• 1 Peter 1:221 Peter 1:22 - Since you have purified - Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit Spirit in sincere love of the brethrenin sincere love of the brethren, , love love one another ferventlyone another fervently with with a pure hearta pure heart,,


• 1 Peter 2:11 Peter 2:1 - Therefore, laying aside - Therefore, laying aside all all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speakingevil speaking,,


• The church is not a social club to cater to your The church is not a social club to cater to your social needs. It is a group of people who have social needs. It is a group of people who have been crushed by their own sin and have the been crushed by their own sin and have the forgiving love of God as their only bond.forgiving love of God as their only bond.

• One of the more painful things I have seen is One of the more painful things I have seen is where brethren separate themselves form where brethren separate themselves form other brethren under the banner of the “grace other brethren under the banner of the “grace of God” by planting bitterness and strife in the of God” by planting bitterness and strife in the hearts of their discipleshearts of their disciples


• How do I know if I have forgiven another? How do I know if I have forgiven another? Here is a test.Here is a test.


• 1. Do we get pleasure in their hurt?1. Do we get pleasure in their hurt?

• 2. Do we intentionally avoid being in their 2. Do we intentionally avoid being in their presence?presence?

• 3. Do we vividly remember what we have 3. Do we vividly remember what we have suffered?suffered?

• 4. Are we uncomfortable when they are 4. Are we uncomfortable when they are praised?praised?


• 5. Do we go out of the way to be helpful to 5. Do we go out of the way to be helpful to that person?that person?

• 6. Are we willing to pray for the person?6. Are we willing to pray for the person?

Are we able to receive forgiveness from Are we able to receive forgiveness from God and others?God and others?

• Some say they trust God but still struggle Some say they trust God but still struggle with guilt over past sins.with guilt over past sins.

• When we come from a background where When we come from a background where others let us down and beat us up this can others let us down and beat us up this can be a problem. be a problem.

• We may have come from a family of We may have come from a family of grudge holders and gossipers. Often grudge holders and gossipers. Often our first impressions of God come from the our first impressions of God come from the home!home!


• Our God tells us that Jesus is now Our God tells us that Jesus is now personally active in our forgiveness. personally active in our forgiveness. (1 Jn 2:1-2)(1 Jn 2:1-2)


• 1 John 2:1-21 John 2:1-2 - My little children, these - My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, sin. And if anyone sins, we have an we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteousrighteous. 2 And He Himself is the . 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sinspropitiation for our sins, and not for ours , and not for ours only only but also for the whole worldbut also for the whole world..


• We must overcome our background with We must overcome our background with the knowledge of God’s nature and of the knowledge of God’s nature and of God’s conditional promises. God’s conditional promises. (Rom 8:31-32; 15-16)(Rom 8:31-32; 15-16)


• Romans 8:31-32Romans 8:31-32 - What then shall we - What then shall we say to these things? say to these things? If God If God is is for us, who for us, who can be can be against usagainst us? 32 ? 32 He who did not He who did not spare His own Sonspare His own Son, but delivered Him up , but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him for us all, how shall He not with Him also also freely give us all thingsfreely give us all things??


• Romans 8:15-16Romans 8:15-16 - For you - For you did not did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fearreceive the spirit of bondage again to fear, , but you received but you received the Spirit of adoptionthe Spirit of adoption by by whom we cry out, "whom we cry out, "Abba, FatherAbba, Father." 16 The ." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spiritSpirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,that we are children of God,


• We should trust brethren to do the right We should trust brethren to do the right thing.thing.


• I realize that many fail to do what they say. I realize that many fail to do what they say. The love of God in my heart will believe The love of God in my heart will believe the best concerning my brethren. the best concerning my brethren. (1 Cor 13:7)(1 Cor 13:7)


• 1 Corinthians 13:71 Corinthians 13:7 - - bears all thingsbears all things, , believes all thingsbelieves all things, , hopes all thingshopes all things, , endures all thingsendures all things..


• Some who have Some who have wronged otherswronged others look at look at the person the person they hurtthey hurt with suspicion and in with suspicion and in some cases anger! (Ex. Lending someone some cases anger! (Ex. Lending someone money)money)


• It is important for their to be follow-up and It is important for their to be follow-up and words of assurance when someone words of assurance when someone apologizes to you. apologizes to you. (2 Cor 2:7-8)(2 Cor 2:7-8)


• 2 Corinthians 2:7-82 Corinthians 2:7-8 - so that, on the - so that, on the contrary, you contrary, you ought ought rather rather to forgive and to forgive and comfort comfort himhim, , lest perhaps such a one be lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8 swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8 Therefore Therefore I urge you to reaffirm I urge you to reaffirm your your love love to himto him..


• Is the fruit of the Spirit in you? It is easy to Is the fruit of the Spirit in you? It is easy to trust a kind person! trust a kind person! (Gal 5:22-23)(Gal 5:22-23)


• Galatians 5:22-23Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentlenessgentleness, self-control. Against such , self-control. Against such there is no law.there is no law.


• Having our mind filled with cross-centered Having our mind filled with cross-centered thinking is the key for all relationships! thinking is the key for all relationships! (Eph 4:31-32)(Eph 4:31-32)


• Ephesians 4:31-32Ephesians 4:31-32 - Let - Let all bitterness, all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from youput away from you, with , with all maliceall malice. 32 And . 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ just as God in Christ forgave youforgave you..


• What’s in your mind?What’s in your mind?

Documents

Giving and Receiving Forgiveness. Forgiveness is the foundation from which we learn how to see life. It is no small thing to have a problem in either