I forgive you

25 August 2011

What does 'forgive' mean?

Forgiveness is needed when one person has wronged another and the relationship between the two has been damaged. In order that forgiveness may operate, there must be love and a desire for reconciliation on both sides. Forgiveness and apology go hand in hand.

Repenting means apologizing and being determined not to do the same thing again. Often in human situations, both parties need to forgive and repent because there is wrong on both sides.

God wants to forgive us

Psalm 103:8-14 Does God treat us as we deserve?

How great is the love of God towards  those who fear him?

How far does he remove our transgressions (sins) from us?

Fear the Lord?

This does not mean that we should be afraid or scared of God. It does mean that we should respect him, honour him, and be reverent to him; he is the holy, awesome creator of the whole universe and will be our judge.

Isaiah 43:25 What does God do with our transgressions (sins) when he forgives us?

Does God remember our sins?

When God forgives us, he forgets our sins and does not hold them against us in the future. They are Forgiven! Forgotten! Gone!

Isaiah 53:5-7 This prophecy about Jesus was written by the prophet Isaiah about 700 years before Jesus lived!

What did God do so that we can be forgiven?

Because God is holy and just, he cannot merely 'let us off' when he forgives our sins. Jesus died on the cross in our place to take the punishment for our sins.

Receiving God's forgiveness

1 John 1:9 (This is not John's gospel, but a letter written by John - you will find it near the end of the Bible.)

What must we do to receive God's forgiveness?

What else will God do for us?

What if I sin again after God has forgiven me?

Very simply, you need to confess and repent again- but repentance does mean turning away from sin and having the desire and determination to overcome it by the power of God in you!

As we forgive those who sin against us

Unforgiveness and bitterness are the source of many of our problems. They produce arguments, hate, violence wars, disintegration of family life, political unrest and breakdown in communication. Sometimes our resentments appear to be justified because we have been badly wronged, or we find it impossible to understand the other person's attitude. Jesus taught a new way of approaching these situations- we are to treat people as God treats us.

Luke 6:27-36 What should we do for our enemies?

What is our reward? (v 35)

In what ways should we be like our Father? (v 35-36)

Review your life and consider if there are people whom you find it hard to forgive, whom you resent, or who have wronged you ... they could be:
friends who have let you down those who have abused you ex-girlfriend ex-boyfriend previous spouse	parents children relatives husband wife	employer or employee landlord or tenant schoolteachers doctors people who have influenced your life in a harmful way

Now- pray for these people and begin to love them knowing that God loves them and cares for them. Extend your forgiveness to them- if you find this difficult, ask God to help you and melt your hard heart. Your forgiveness needs to be like your Father's ...

Forgiven! Forgotten! Gone!

Luke 23:34 Look at the example of Jesus. What were they doing to him when he prayed for their forgiveness?

Matthew 18:21-22 What did Jesus mean by 77 times? How often should we forgive?

A parable about forgiveness

Jesus told parables (stories) to illustrate his teaching. Reading this parable, you can consider what the characters (King, servants) and debts represent. You cannot always draw teaching from the fine details of parables- look for the main point being made.

Matthew 18:23-35 What does the large debt represent?

What does the small debt represent?

How can we show our gratitude for God's forgiveness?