God Gives Us a New Attitude of Forgiveness based on Genesis 50:15-21

I. Siblings fighting over land and money after a father’s funeral.

II. Unbelievers’ attitudes toward forgiveness, like Joseph’s brothers.

A. They want Joseph to forgive them.

B. They fear Joseph will get revenge.

C. They try to trick Joseph into forgiving them.

III. Our attitudes toward forgiveness can be like Joseph’s brothers.

A. When we do wrong, we want forgiveness from others.

B. We are suspicious if others forgive us.

C. We fear the other person will get revenge.

IV. Our attitudes might show in how we forgive others.

A. You say, “If you promise to never do that again, then I will forgive you.”

B. You say you forgive, but you will never trust that person again.

C. You say that you forgive, but we do not truly forgive from the heart.

V.  God’s attitude toward forgiveness is full of grace and mercy.

A. Joseph showed God’s attitude of forgiveness.

1. “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?” (v 19). He left the matter in God’s hands.

2. Joseph forgave without reservation, conditions, or holding back (vv 20–21).

3. Joseph’s attitude reflects the attitude of Christ.

B. Christ showed God’s attitude of forgiveness.

1. He did not require great deeds to receive forgiveness; it’s a free gift.

2. He has forgiven and forgotten every sin, as if they had never happened.

a. He forgives without holding a grudge.

b. He forgives over and over again.

3. He sacrificed himself so that we would have the needed forgiveness.

VI. So I forgive you.

A. Our new attitude of forgiveness is that of Christ’s: we forgive as we have been forgiven.

1. We forgive and forget—no grudges.

2. We forgive without conditions or guarantees.

3. We forgive over and over again if necessary.

B. This is a beneficial attitude.

1. The Church is strengthened and our fellowship increased.

2. Our faith is strengthened as we learn to leave things in the hand of God.

3. We grow to understand what it truly means to be forgiven.

a. As we are forgiven by God in Christ.

b. As we are forgiven by our brothers.

Conclusion: Psalm 103 gives us some great word pictures of forgiveness.  “1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity … 10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.” “So we too will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us” (Small Catechism, Fifth Petition).