Forgiveness

Introduction

My name is Jacob, i am here today to teach you about forgiveness, unforgiveness and what the bible says about it.

Mark 11:25 NKJV

25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

1. What is Forgiveness?

Lexham Theological Wordbook ἀφίημι

to let go, to leave, abandon. Refers to leaving or abandoning a place, a person, or a thing

Forgiveness is letting go of what someone did to you and not letting it hold you hostage.

I know it is very hard to day. I have problems with this also. I tend to give it to God the i take it back, when that happens just keep on giving it to God.

2. What does the Bible say about Forgiveness?

Luke 6:37 NKJV

37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Matthew 18:23–35 NKJV

23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

According to Jesus, we should offer forgiveness in the same way and to the same degree that we desire from God.

It says we need to forgive to be forgiven. I don't know about you, i just know about me and i know i want to be forgiven. So I must forgive.

Just because you forgive someone doesn’t mean you can’t have boundaries. Boundaries are a good thing to have.

3. How many times should i forgive my brother?

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Jesus says seventy time seven. He isn’t saying to forgive only 490 times. We shouldn’t keep count of how many times we forgive someone. He is saying we need to keep on forgiving your brothers and sisters over and over again.

4. Have you accepted God’s forgiveness?

Colossians 2:13 NKJV

13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,

When we accept God has forgiven us, we release all the shame and condemnation that has a hold of us. Shame and Condemnation is not from God.

after we accept God’s forgiveness, we still need to ask God for forgiveness every day.

I ask God to forgive me of my sins every night. The ones i know about and ask him to reveal to me the ones i don’t know.

5. Unforgiveness?

Matthew 6:14–15 NKJV

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Unforgiveness give the devil a toehold on you through bitterness and resentment in our hearts. It hardens our heart and holds us in bondage with it. It causes us to bad mouth that person behind there back thinking that they deserved it because of what happened.

Example

About 8 years ago i had a really bad fight with my wife. It got so bad that she took off her ring and threw it on the bed saying she was done. She didn;t end up leaving but It hurt me so bad and traumatized me. i had nightmares about her leaving me for years. I thought i had forgiven her. This past year i have been in a 12 step program. I realized in my 4th step, that i really haven’t forgiven her. i realized that my short temp i ave with her revolves from unforgiveness, which gave me bitterness and resentments. it causes me too get angry quickly over very stupid thing. like how the onions are cut. yes i know that is stupid. I have come to the realization that i am commited to forgive her. i say out loud i forgive her and ask God to bring my emotions along. I keep on forgiving her because i love my wife and i don’t to keep hurting her.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we have learn about forgiveness and what unforgiveness does to us. we learned what the bible say about forgiveness.