“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you“ Eph 4:32

The PurposeThe DefinitionsThe ConsequencesThe SearchThe DecisionThe PathConclusions

To be more like Christ in our daily livesPhil 3:10 “That I may know him”

To Restore Fellowship between us and GodMt 6:15 “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses,

neither will your Father forgive your trespasses “To Restore Fellowship between others and myselfTo Gain the Peace of God in our lives

Col 3:13-15 “…..forgiving one another….and let the peace of God rule in your hearts………”

ForgivenessWhat it is not:

ReconciliationConditional

A Reaction to RepentanceApproval of Evil

Saying it is OK and going back into an abusive situationA Pardon

Justice and Mercy can co-existA Denial

Not believing that what happened is possible Pretense that I am not hurt May be OK at first but the hurt must be faced for healing

ForgivenessWhat it is:

A process towards a giftUnconditional (refer to previous slide)Forsaking revenge

Romans 12:18 “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men”.

Romans 12:19 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

Wanting good for the perpetratorAn inner condition

Matt 12:34b “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

A miracleMatt 12:34a “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being

evil, speak good things?”

Forgiveness ExamplesThe Saviour and the Soldiers

Luke 23: 33 – 34Joseph and his Brothers

Genesis 45: 3-5The Father and the Prodigal Son

Luke 15: 21-23

Forgiveness When unjustly hurt by another, we forgive when we through the Spirit

overcome the bitterness toward the offender, not by denying our right to feel wronged but instead by trying to offer

the wrongdoer compassion, benevolence and love; realizing that the offender has no right to our positive expressions even

as we don’t have a right to God’s forgiveness.

Unforgiveness is a sin against God, even when we are wronged significantly.

BitternessRelevant Verse:

Ephesians 4:30Strong’s Definitions:

Grieve = to be sorrowful, to offend Bitterness = wickedness, hatred, producing bitter

fruit Wrath = Passionate and boiling up with anger Anger = The Natural Disposition of Temper Clamour = Crying out (upset with what is happening) Evil Speaking = speech injurious to another's name

BitternessRelevant Verses:

Acts 8:22,23Heb 12:14

Strong’s Definitions: “gall of bitterness” (Acts) & “root of bitterness” (Heb)

Bitter GallExtreme Wickedness a Bitter Root, and so producing a Bitter Fruit Bitter Hatred