How to Forgive

Ephesians 4:32

“32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

Matthew 6:14

“14 “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

I. How does God Forgive?

By God’s gracious gift of Forgiveness through Christ

For anyone that has Faith in Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:9

“9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Most do not understand God’s forgiveness is conditional.

It is conditional upon the wrongs done against you and your willingness to forgive

Matt 6:14-15

“14 “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”

The petition can not just be words, true repentance is necessary.

It’s not that God forgives grudgingly, but forgiveness indicates a true internal acceptance to God’s divine pardon.

There is really only one difference between a human and divine pardon.

Human: The memory of sin will remain in both parties which can leave some scars

Divine: It completely removes sin from between you and God. Relationship is totally restored. No memory

II. What happens to our sin?

Divine forgiveness looks like this:

Hezekiah healed and years added to his life.

Isa 38:17

“17 “Lo, for my own welfare I had great bitterness; It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness, For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.”

Micah is praying on behalf of Israel’s sin.

Mic. 7:19

“19 He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the sea.”

God speaking of new covenant

Jer. 31:34

“34 “They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.””

David Speaking of God

Ps. 103:12

“12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

Once this occurs don’t let Satan have the remote control to rewind the story.

RC Sproul says that One of Satan’s primary function is that of Accusation

Don’t get this confused with Temptation.

Temptation says do this try this.

Accusation is how Satan Torments the conscious of believers.

our self image has become so important that there have been hundreds of books written on self-help.

Psychologist state that one of the biggest problems they face with their patients is unresolved guilt.

III. How do we Forgive?

Lets look back at our scripture.

Ephesians 4:32

“32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

Remember God Forgave you.

Remember Love is powerful.

Remember what Jesus said on the cross.

Matthew 6:14

“14 “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

What a promise.