- What forgiveness is
- The result of a combination:
- Change of mind (repentance)
- Request for forgiveness
- Desire to mend the relationship (reconciliation)
- On the part of the one forgiving (Romans 12:18; II Peter 3:9)
- On the part of the offender
- Accessibility to the one forgiving (II Corinthians 5:18-20)
- The result of a combination:
- What forgiveness is not
- It is not quid pro quo – Colossians 3:12-13
- How did Jesus forgive us?
- What did it cost Him?
- What did He want in return?
- It is not forgetting
- We remember our own sins (who can forget?)
- Learn from the experience (James 1:2-3)
- Gain strength against repeat offenses
- We put them behind us and press on
- Philippians 3:13-14 – Oops! Forget?
- I Timothy 1:12-16 – Not forget, but put behind, set aside
- Luke 7:36-48
- Romans 6:23
- We remember our own sins (who can forget?)
- It is not avoiding one who you have forgiven
- Peter and James
- On the water (Matthew 14:26-31)
- On the night of betrayal (Matthew 26:69-75)
- Denying fellowship with Gentile Christians (Galatians 2:11-13)
- Forgiveness
- Renewed the relationship
- The forgiven not relegated to lower state of service
- Continued as an apostlesLed 1st Gospel sermon (Acts 2)
- First to take the Gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 10)
- Wrote important epistles (I and II Peter)
- Us and others
- We are not better than Jesus
- Our forgiveness should be for mending, not separating (Matthew 5:23-24)
- Our desire to forgive should be as His desire to forgive us
- Peter and James
- It is not quid pro quo – Colossians 3:12-13
For further study, see also:
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