• How and why does God forgive?
    • God desires to forgive
      • He finds forgiveness delightful – Micah 7:18-19
      • He desires that we repent – II Peter 3:9
      • Forgiveness is in His interest – Isaiah 43:25 (I John 2:12)
    • He planned to forgive
      • In mind of God at the beginning – Genesis 3:15; II Timothy 1:8-11
      • Foretold through the ages – Isaiah 53:4-6
    • He worked to forgive
      • Shaped the nations, made them rise and fall – Acts 17:24-27
      • Gave the law to Moses
        • To teach us of sin – Romans 7:7
        • To teach us of forgiveness – Leviticus 4
      • Gave His Sin as a sin offering – Romans 8:3
      • Gave of His Spirit to teach – John 14:25-26; 15:26-27
      • Recorded and preserved His Word
    • Established conditions for forgiveness
      • Hear His Word – Romans 10:17
      • Believe in Him – Romans 10:9
      • Repent of our sins – Acts 3:19; 5:31
      • Confess belief in the Christ – Romans 10:9
      • Be buried in baptism – Acts 2:38
      • Pray for forgiveness of subsequent sins – Acts 8:22
    • Why?
      • For His sake – for His name’s sake – I John 2:12
      • It brings great joy – Luke 15; 2:8-15
  • God wants us to forgive also
    • Important to us – Matthew 5:23-24
    • Important for us – Colossians 3:12-13
    • Essential for our souls – Matthew 6:14-15; Luke 17:3-4
    • It is undoubtedly commanded of us.
  • How should we forgive?
    • “… just as the Lord has forgiven you …”
    • What does that mean?
      • What’s been said
      • What’s been written – Ephesians 5:1
        • Desire to forgive
        • Plan to forgive
        • Work to forgive
        • Find joy in forgiving