STEP TEN – Exercise #7 Forgive
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We need to learn to forgive one another and not hold vengeance and grudges, because Christ forgave us.
Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
What Jesus is saying, is that there is no limit to our forgiveness. We need to keep on forgiving. This forgiveness is born out of love and grace, because we understand the love and grace of God and how much He has forgiven us. We forgive because God forgives.
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
How did God forgive us in Christ?
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1 John 4:9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Jesus not only had the power to forgive, but He also grant us the ability to forgive others as we have been forgiven. Forgiveness is the most God-like act any person can do. Christ forgave us freely and without any limits. This is how we should forgive one another. And to do this, we need to abandon all animosity, anger, hatred, retaliation and desire for vengeance.
Read Matthew 18:21-35. How does this parable that Jesus tell relate to us and our forgiveness towards others?
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Forgiving others is not only a choice, but it is a specific direction from God. Read Mark 11:25 and Luke 6:36.
Why is it in your own best interest to forgive others?
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Forgiving starts with a decision of surrendering our will. This invites God to work in us in a deeper level, allowing Him to heal us. We can ask God to enlighten us with understanding so that we can fully forgive from our hearts.
Remember that forgiveness does not justify the sin acts against us, it does not provide God’s forgiveness for those who sinned. Only God can forgive their sins.
Lily Tomlin gave a wonderful summary of forgiveness: “To forgive is to give up all hope for a better past.”
What are some of the things that can hinder you to forgive?
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Should we forgive a person who does not confess his sin and is not repentant? ___________
Forgiveness is not forbearance. Forbearance causes us to weigh someone’s sinful action or attitude with love, wisdom, and discernment and choose not to respond.
Forgiveness is not forgetting. God does not suffer from amnesia about our sin. He chooses not to think about them anymore.
Forgiveness is not eliminating all consequences. We may still suffer natural consequences of our sins or face discipline from our heavenly Father.
Forgiveness is not private. It always involves at least two people. This is where confession and repentance come in.
Forgiveness is not for selfish interest. We do not seek to forgive for our own sakes or to relieve ourselves from stress. We forgive out of love of God, love of neighbours, and gratefulness for our own forgiveness.
Forgiveness offered and available is not the same as forgiveness given, received, and transacted. The attitude of “willing to forgive” is not the same as “the actual transaction of true forgiveness.” Forgiveness offered, and forgiveness received are entirely different.
What questions do you have? Please write them down:
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