2021 0620 Jesus Said Forgive

The Prime Principle

know Jesus

love Jesus

obey Jesus

1. let us follow

2. must forgive

Jesus Said Forgive

God will Forgive

1 John 1:9 NIV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

we must follow the example of Christ

Jesus on the cross said “Father forgive them”

Jesus mission was one of forgiveness - redeeming mankind back to God

we could not do this in our sin

it took an offended person Jesus, to make the first move

No Remembrance of Sin

Hebrews 8:12 NIV

For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

a promise from Jeremiah (31:34)

the eternal covenant of a forgiving God

god has taken the initiative to forgive

so great is this forgiveness that bit wipes away all sins

forgive and forget is a God trait

We Must Forgive

Matthew 6:14–15 NIV

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

expectation of God is we will forgive

obligation by us is to forgive

we must take this passage with care

obviously forgiveness by God comes first to bring about redemption

we are unable to forgive unless we are divinely empowered

so the release by God flows into a release by us to our fellow man

if we harden our heart regarding our forgiveness, why would go before God with our sins

Forgive 70 x 7 Times

Matthew 18:22 NIV

Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

it was once said that Peter was showing off his piety - seven times was a big number of forgiveness

Jesus saw through the pride of man

forgiveness is the atmosphere of the Kingdom - Jesus lives and breathes forgiveness

could be said that Christian love is actually an attitude of forgiveness

some of Christ’s last words on the cross were ones of forgiveness

Forgive from the Heart

Matthew 18:35 NIV

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

forgiveness is a matter of the heart - the whole person

forgiveness when given must engage the spirit, mind and soul

true forgiveness will start to heal the memory and the emotional scars

carnal or sinful human behaviour does not entertain forgiveness

we have seen people who will not forgive - they are bound up in their hurt and hatred, there is no peace

yet people who forgive are demonstratively different - the expression of Christ is so strong

forgiveness is empowered by the Spirit, determined by the mind and supported by the emotions

Forgive to Bring Comfort

2 Corinthians 2:7 NIV

Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

the purpose of forgiveness is twofold

the first is to release you from the bondage of the hurt and offense

the second is to comfort the offender so as not to cause excessive sorrow

forgiveness is an act of spiritual healing which extends to the whole being

yours and the other person’s

this is a remarkable truth

You Forgive, I Forgive

2 Corinthians 2:10 NIV

Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,

finally one of the traps of human life is being offended for someone else

it is so easy to feel for someone else

do not allow an emotional attachment to lock you in to unrighteous position

we can be enslaved by holding an offence on someone else’s behalf

could be your child, or a friend, even a complete stranger

anyone you forgive, I forgive

this is the standard of the Kingdom - forgiveness