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)