It’ All About Forgiveness

Does Forgiveness require Forgetfulness?

Yes

The “Forgiven” are to be “Forgiving”

• Eph 4:32, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you” (NKJV)

• Col 3:13, “Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” (NKJV)

The “Forgiven” are to be “Forgiving”• Matthew 6:12, 14, 15

“And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors . . . For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (NKJV)

Does God Require That I Unconditionally Forgive Another With

No Repentance

NO

Some Argue Unconditional Forgiveness From:

• “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses” (Mk. 11:25, 26)

Some Argue Unconditional Forgiveness From:

• “Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.’ And they divided His garments and cast lots” (Lk. 23:34)

“God forgives unconditionally. And because God forgives unconditionally we as Christians must also forgive unconditionally. Listen to your Bibles in Luke chapter twenty-three, in Luke chapter twenty-three verse thirty-four the Bible reads: Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

“Unconditional Forgiveness,” Part 1 (A.M. Sermon preached at the Caroline Street church of Christ; September 2003, submitted by Jim Haywood, member via email)

DANGEROUS APPROACHES!

• isolating a passage from others regarding a given subject

• not consider others passages with equal authority and as complimentary• e.g., contending that God forgave Israel

on the spot as the prayer departed from our Savior’s lips

Does God Forgive Men as they “sneer,” “mock,” and “test” Him?

• 35 And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God."

• 36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine,

• 37 and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself." (Lk. 23:35-37)

“If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. . .You shall not tempt the LORD your God” (Matt. 4:6, 7)

When Did God Forgive Them?

46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,

47 "and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

48 "And you are witnesses of these things.49 "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father

upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

(Lk. 24:46-49)

Acts 2• “Him, being delivered by the determined

purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it” (Acts 2:23, 24)

• “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36)

NKJV

Acts 2• “Now when they heard this, they were

cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:37, 38)

Is Apologizing Always The Same As Asking For Forgiveness?

NO

It Is All About The Condition Of The Heart !

• 2 Cor 7:10-11 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

How To Make It Happen, Love Pursues the Sinner

15 "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

16 "But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’

17 "And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

(Matthew 18:15-17, NKJV)

Love Pursues the Sinner15 "Moreover if your brother sins against

you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

16 "But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’

17 "And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

(Matthew 18:15-17, NKJV)

CONDITIONAL

Does Forgiveness Remove Earthly Consequences?

NO

David Sins Had SeriousConsequences For Him

• 2 Sam 12:9-12 Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.' 11 Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.'"

Our Sins Today Have Consequences

• John Edwards wants to be Vice-President but his own party says No, you can’t even speak at the Convention because of his transgressions with another woman

• Presidential candidates had better be cautious because they are under the eyes of scrutiny

• People need to understand that what we do in this life counts. If we are immoral there should be consequences

What About Godly Men Who Prayed For Vengeance?

Be Careful About Your Motives!

God Warns Us About This !• Rom 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge

yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.

• Nah 1:2-3 God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies; 3 The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked

If I Forgive, What About Justice?

God Is The One To Carry Out Justice And He Can Do

A Much Better Job Than We Could Ever Do !

Justice Is Guaranteed• 2 Cor 5:9-11 Therefore we make it our

aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

How Do I Hate Sin &Love The Sinner ?

Easy When You Know God !

We Follow His Example !• Rev 2:6 But this you have, that you

hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate ( Churches of Ephesus & Pergamos)

• Rom 7:14-17 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate , that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.

God Sure Hates It !

• Prov 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil

• Ps 97:10 You who love the LORD, hate evil !

• Zech 8:17 Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; And do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate ,‘ Says the LORD."

It’s Easy If You Love God ! Jude 20 But you, beloved, building

yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

Building Up In The Most Holy FaithPraying In The Holy Spirit

Keep Yourselves In Love Of GodLooking For Mercy For Eternal Life

Have Compassion Making A DifferenceOthers Save With Fear

Pulling Them Out Of The FireHating Even The Garments

Defiled By The Flesh

Yes, Forgiveness Is The Key

Do you practice New Testament

forgiveness?