Tag Archives: forgiveness

Pumpkin Offense

Hmmm…pumpkin smashers found their aim by the time they reached us! What do you see in the picture?
IMG_20151011_142144
 
A. A mailbox
B. Vandalism
C. A source of anger and frustration
D. An opportunity
 
That’s right–it’s option D! (ok ok, yes, A and B too). But seriously–do I consider this pure joy (James 1:2)? How about really meaning the part of the disciples’ prayer which reads, “as we forgive those who sin against us”? Such a minor grievance when compared to our own violence against God…
 
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. – Psalm 51:4
 
…whoever has been forgiven little loves little. This does not imply that (as I thought at one time) people who do “worse things” can love more. Rather, it is those who have realized the graveness of the crimes against God they’ve already committed, who have been forgiven, who have the opportunity and the obligation to forgive the smaller crimes against themselves! God, help my eyes stay fixed on your Son…
 
Matthew 18:21-35

Forgiving the Inexcusable

To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. This is hard. It is perhaps not so hard to forgive a single great injury. But to forgive the incessant provocations of daily life – to keep on forgiving the bossy mother-in-law, the bullying husband, the nagging wife, the selfish daughter, the deceitful son – How can we do it? Only, I think, by remembering where we stand, by meaning our words when we say in our prayers each night “Forgive our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us.” We are offered forgiveness on no other terms. To refuse it is to refuse God’s mercy for ourselves. There is no hint of exceptions and God means what He says.

– excerpt from Essay on Forgiveness by C. S. Lewis

Resource Bank for Further Study:

The Forgiving Nature of our King:

  • Nehemiah 9:16-17
  • Psalm 86:5
  • Isaiah 43:22-25
  • Romans 5:6-8

Empowerment to Forgive Others:

  • Ephesians 4:32
  • Colossians 3:13
  • Mark 11:25

Obligation to Forgive Others:

  • Matthew 6:9-15
  • Mark 11:25-26

Confronting & Reacting to Sins in Others:

  • Galatians 6:1-5
  • Matthew 18:15-17
  • Matthew 7:1-5
  • I Corinthians 5:9-13
  • II Corinthians 2:6-8

Questions for Consideration:

  1. Where does unforgiveness find its root based on James 3:14-16?
  2. What kind of person is justified before God based on Luke 18:9-14?
  3. According to God’s Word, how is my brain to be trained in order to live by the Spirit?
  4. How may I be forgiven?
  5. Do I really believe? Am I forfeiting forgiveness? On what evidence do I base my claim?
  6. What are the expectations of me? (Romans 8:12-13)
  7. What is my motivation for forgiving?
  8. How does my vertical relationship (with God) affect my horizontal relationships (marriage, kids, co-workers, etc.)?
  9. What is the key to actually forgiving the next chance I get?
  10. What changes are you going to make to live by the Spirit now?

Believe – to trust, rely upon, live by (far surpasses mere acknowledgement)

True or False: There are Certain People I Cannot Forgive

false

19. Name at lease five biblical truths you could tell a fellow believer who said that he “couldn’t forgive another.” List Scripture references.

1.   God’s nature is to forgive

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:6-8

2.   We are to be imitators of God

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. – Ephesians 5:1-2

3.   Therefore, we are to forgive out of the overflow of that from which we have been forgiven

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. – Ephesians 4:32

4.   We will remain under God’s punishment if we fail to love through forgiveness

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of goldh was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.i He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” – Matthew 18:21-35

5.   Refusing to forgive is sinful

If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. – James 4:17