Forgiveness 8/27/23

Did He forgive you?

The freeing of a person from guilt and its consequences, including punishment; usually as an act of favour, compassion or love, with the aim of restoring a broken personal relationship. Forgiveness can involve both the remission of punishment and the cancellation of debts.

Manser, Martin H. 2009. Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser.surety of the promise of forgiveness

Jeremiah 31:33–34 ESV

33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

His grace and mercy leads to repentance

Romans 2:4 ESV

4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

not to be abused, revealing you do not value it

Romans 6:1–2 ESV

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

you love God because He first loved us

therefore, how can you love your neighbor if you have not known HOW He has loved you?

Gospel Lens

Is the Gospel the lens through which you view relationships?

love includes forgiveness, we are dealing with sinners

Luke 7:47 ESV

47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

Forgiveness is not an occasional art, it is a permanent attitude.

Martin Luther

The Great Trespass

Has there been a greater boundary - crossing offense against you than those that have offended God?

start in the garden as a precursor to all human sin against God

Joseph knows, David knows, Israel knows

Romans 3:19 ESV

19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.

Reconciliation Readiness

How quick and how often are you ready to forgive?

Ministry of reconciliation - 2 Cor. 5:18-20 “18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

Our forgiving of others will not procure forgiveness for ourselves, but our not forgiving of others proves that we ourselves are not forgiven.

John Owen

Does He forgive?

Do you think that you deserve forgiveness? If you do, you are not a Christian.

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones

how did/does He respond to the sin of His people?

He will be glorified for removing the sin of His people by forgiveness, wrought in His mercy and grace.

Hosea 3:5 ESV

5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days.

Revelation 5:9–10 ESV

9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Psalm 103:1-13 -