Where does forgiveness come from?
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Combination
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Change of mind (repentance)
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Request
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Desire to reconcile (Romans 12:18; II Peter 3:9; Colossians 3:12-13; Matthew 5:23-24
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Accessibility to the one forgiving (II Corinthians 5:18-20; Matthew 11:28-30; 23:37)
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What 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? (Acts 17:24-25)
- He wants our hearts and our love. He doesn’t need anything from us!
Forgetting
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We remember our own sins (who can forget?)
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Learn (James 1:2-3)
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Gain strength against repeats.
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Put them behind us – press on! (Philippians 3:13-14; I Timothy 1:12-14(
Avoiding the offender
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Consider Peter and Jesus
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On the water (Matthew 14:26-31)
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Night of betrayal (Matthew 26:69-75)
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Attitude toward Gentile Christians (Galatians 2:11-14)
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Jesus’ forgiveness foreseen and planned for (Luke 22:31-32)
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Relationship continually renewed
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No demotion
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Confidence given
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For us toward others
- We are not better than Jesus
- Forgiveness for mending, not separating (Matthew 5:23-24)
- His desire should be our desire
Making excuses for the forgiven
- Accountable for their actions (Luke 19:8-9)
- If forgiveness needed, offense must have occurred.
- The devil didn’t make me do it.
Our attitude
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Our great desire
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For our forgiveness
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To forgive others
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Forgiving brethren
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We should be willing to out to others (I Peter 1:17-21; Ephesians 3:8-12)
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Be accessible so others can receive forgiveness (Revelation 3:20)
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