Forgiveness
Matthew 18:21-35
by Estelle Nazary
Matthew 18:21-35
by Estelle Nazary
Forgiveness is not easy. The Christian life is very difficult. It is not easy to forgive someone who has wronged us. It is hard to go to someone we have wronged. However, it is impossible to be right with God and not have our sins forgiven. It is impossible to be right with God be wrong with our fellow man.
Learning how to forgive!!!
There are 6 words in the Bible that mean forgive-
1. to send something away - "scapegoat"
2. to lift a burden
3. to cover or cleanse, to cancel
4. to blot out
5. to lift from my heart a heavy burden and send it away - I John 1:9 "to admit what God already knows" confess
6. grace - Ephesians 4:32 - to treat someone graciously as God in Christ has treated us. Christ is our example!
We are so unkind to one another!
I. The first thing involved in forgiveness is gracious treatment. Makes a great deal of difference. Our sins do make a great difference and it does matter.
II. Reconciliation - restoring a broken relationship. Sin digs a ditch. Sin separates. Isaiah 59
Joseph - ego - brothers hated him then the famine in Genesis 45 a reconciliation with his brothers. If there has not been a reconciliation there has not been complete forgiveness. Some people will not live at peace. God always forgives us when we ask Him.
III. Forgetfulness
God knows everything.
God will not hold sin against us when we as for forgiveness. We don't have a resurrection service for sins. We forgive and forget our sins when we confess.
Matthew 18:23-35
Peter's question - How often shall I forgive my brother?
7 times
70 times 7 = limitless times of forgiveness - no ending
1. Parable teaches us what we have done against God is so much worse than anything anybody has done against us. Unpayable debt...
2. God is so much more gracious to us than we are to each other.
3. We are to forgive because God has forgiven us. Unforgiving is unforgiven because he is unforgivable.
Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Learning how to forgive!!!
There are 6 words in the Bible that mean forgive-
1. to send something away - "scapegoat"
2. to lift a burden
3. to cover or cleanse, to cancel
4. to blot out
5. to lift from my heart a heavy burden and send it away - I John 1:9 "to admit what God already knows" confess
6. grace - Ephesians 4:32 - to treat someone graciously as God in Christ has treated us. Christ is our example!
We are so unkind to one another!
I. The first thing involved in forgiveness is gracious treatment. Makes a great deal of difference. Our sins do make a great difference and it does matter.
II. Reconciliation - restoring a broken relationship. Sin digs a ditch. Sin separates. Isaiah 59
Joseph - ego - brothers hated him then the famine in Genesis 45 a reconciliation with his brothers. If there has not been a reconciliation there has not been complete forgiveness. Some people will not live at peace. God always forgives us when we ask Him.
III. Forgetfulness
God knows everything.
God will not hold sin against us when we as for forgiveness. We don't have a resurrection service for sins. We forgive and forget our sins when we confess.
Matthew 18:23-35
Peter's question - How often shall I forgive my brother?
7 times
70 times 7 = limitless times of forgiveness - no ending
1. Parable teaches us what we have done against God is so much worse than anything anybody has done against us. Unpayable debt...
2. God is so much more gracious to us than we are to each other.
3. We are to forgive because God has forgiven us. Unforgiving is unforgiven because he is unforgivable.
Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
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