Got Questions? - Week 8

What Does the Bible Say About Forgiveness?

Forgiveness is not an easy thing to give. Sometimes the wrong that was done to you is so hurtful and so severe that it is difficult to forgive, but the Bible mandates Christians (those who have experienced forgiveness themselves) to forgive others when they commit wrongdoings against us.

But there are many misconceptions about forgiveness. What exactly IS Biblical Forgiveness?What is forgiveness NOT? What are the consequences for not forgiving?

I. What Biblical Forgiveness Is

The Greek Word used for “forgiveness” has at least 2 meanings. (1) to give something to someone freely and willingly and (2) to remit, to forgive, to forget, not to punish

So in this sense we can gather that forgiveness has at least 2 parts to it. To withhold punishment, and to do it willingly without cost to the other person.

Ephesians 4:32 KJV 1900

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Colossians 3:13 KJV 1900

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

The Apostle Paul said the Christian should take it further than simply withholding punishment. In both of these verses he says “even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” and “even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye”

When it comes to believers, our forgiveness should model the forgiveness of Jesus Christ, because we are His followers. So what does His forgiveness look like and how does it compare with how we often like to “forgive” people?

God holds back His anger a very long time when we sin against Him. He bears with us a long time, even when we sorely provoke Him. It is the habit of man to immediately retaliate against someone when they wrong us.

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

God reaches out to bad people to bring forgiveness to them. It is the habit of man to not reconcile if the offending person is a person of bad character

Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

God makes the first move towards us in forgiveness. The habit of man is to only be reconciled if the offending party craves forgiveness and makes the first move.

Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

God forgives often knowing that we will sin again, sometimes in exactly the same way. It is the habit of man to forgive only if the offending party solemnly promises to never do the wrong again

Matthew 18:21–22 “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

God’s forgiveness is so complete and glorious that He grants adoption to those former offenders. In the habit of man, even when forgiveness is offered, he will not lift again the former offender to a place of high status and partnership

Galatians 4:4–5 “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

God bore all the penalty for the wrong we did against Him. In the habit of man, when he is wronged, he will not forgive unless the offender agrees to bear all the penalty for the wrong done

1 Peter 2:24 “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

God keeps reaching out to man for reconciliation even when man refuses Him again and again. In the habit of man, one will not continue to offer reconciliation if it is rejected once

John 6:44 “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

God requires no probationary period to receive His forgiveness. In the habit of man, one will not restore an offender without a period of probation

Luke 23:39–43 “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

God’s forgiveness offers complete restoration and honor. In the habit of man, we feel we should be complimented when we merely tolerate those who sin against us

2 Corinthians 5:18 “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;”

Once having been forgiven, God puts His trust in us and invites us back to work with Him as co-laborers. In the habit of man, one will not trust someone who has formerly wronged Him.

John 21:15–17 “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”

When God forgives someone, He chooses not to remember their wrongs against Him. In the habit of man, we like to say “I forgive, but I dont forget”. God doesnt forget either, for He is not capable of forgetting anything, rather He chooses not to remember those things, meaning He doesnt constantly bring it up.

Jeremiah 31:34 “For I will forgive their iniquity, And I will remember their sin no more.”

“if anyone here who is a Christian finds a difficulty in forgiveness, I am going to give him three words which will help him wonderfully… ‘For Christ’s sake.’ Cannot you forgive an offender on that ground?” - Charles Spurgeon

II. What Biblical Forgiveness is Not

Forgiveness is not accepting or excusing the behavior. It is simply us giving up our attitude of resentment, anger, hurt, sorrow, and bitterness against that individual.

God does not accept or excuse our sins, He forgives them

Forgiveness is not denying the hurt that was done to you. It is feeling the hurt and releasing it to God.

There was no denying the hurt that our sin caused Christ on the Cross

Forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation. It takes 2 to reconcile, it takes only 1 to forgive

When we are saved and forgiven of our sins, only God is doing the forgiving, because God doesnt need forgiveness. But we are also reconciled because God offered it to us and we accepted the offer

Sometimes, it is not possible to return to the same friendship/relationship you once had. If the friendship/relationship would be harmful for you to continue in it, then you can still forgive the person without remaining friends.

Forgiveness is not circumventing God’s Justice. It is allowing God to execute His justice in His time and in His way

Romans 12:19 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

Forgiveness is not a feeling. It is a choice - an act of the will.

You may still feel the hurt and the pain, but you are choosing to forgive the person anyway.

Forgiveness is given, trust is earned

God never commands us to blindly trust people, especially if they have proven themselves to be untrustworthy

Proverbs 25:19 “Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.”

III. The Consequences of Denying Forgiveness

Bitterness - When you hold forgiveness in your heart, it has nowhere to go and it begins to manifest itself in other forms such as hurt, anger, bitterness, and resentment.

The reality is that these things only affect YOU, and not the person you are refusing to forgive.

It also will begin to affect your relationship with other people and even your relationship with the Lord

The Book of Jonah

“Holding on to Bitterness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die”

Forgiveness is not so much about the other person as it is about YOU

Disobedience to God - Forgiveness is required for those who have been forgiven. We are not given the luxury of holding on to our bitterness towards others.

Matthew 6:14–15 “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Matthew 5:23–24 “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”

Conclusion

Forgiveness is mandated for every believer because of the forgiveness that has been extended to us. In the grand scheme of it all, nothing anyone has done to us compares to the great offense we have committed against God, and yet He forgave us, therefore, we ought to forgive others.