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FORGIVENESS. What does God say are some of the more practical aspects of forgiving and being forgiven?. Some Clarification. Some place in the forgiveness category things that may not be sinful- Passed over for promotion
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FORGIVENESS What does God say are some of the more practical aspects of forgiving and being forgiven?
Some Clarification • Some place in the forgiveness category things that may not be sinful- • Passed over for promotion • Someone not expressing as much concern for your situation as you think they should • Someone not having you over • Someone not calling when you are sick of other difficult occasion • Not being invited to a social event • Someone does not talk to you at assemblies for worship
TWO EXTREMES • Refusal to forgive, even when people have repented – Matthew 18:29,30 • Granting a quick and superficial forgiveness before they express any repentance • Matthew 18:15 “go and reprove him” • Luke 17:3 “if he repents, forgive him” • We have sinned against God and others in the past – Ephesians 4:32 • If we play the part of a “helpless victim” waiting for an apology, who is going to get all of God’s work done?
PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR THE PERSON SINNED AGAINST • Earnestly desire that God be glorified • Remember your own sins – Ephesians 4:32 • God takes forgiveness seriously – if we refuse to forgive, we will not be forgiven- Matthew 6:14,15 • We cannot change the rules – Luke 17:3,4 • When we deal with matters in God’s ways, we have hope that some good may come from it – Genesis 50:20
PRINCIPLES TO SHARE WITH THE PERSON WHO HURT YOU • Be honest about how much a sin hurt you • Encourage the sinner – “I know you can change, you are better that this” • Forgiveness will be much easier if there are no excuses – Luke 15:19; 18:14 • We cannot remove all the consequences – 2 Samuel 12:13,14,11
ADVICE FOR THE SINNER • Obligation to the person sinned against – Matthew 5:23-25 • An apology is not necessarily the same thing as repentance – Before you ask for forgiveness, need to decide you are truly going to change • Do not campaign – start preaching to the person sinned against • Be glad for whatever hard consequences fall on your head • Do not spread blame around to other people
THINGS TO SAY • “What can I do to help you forgive me?” • “I will pray to you, I know this puts you in a difficult situation.” • “I understand your need time – so would I.” • “Pray for me, obviously I have a deep spiritual problem, and I worry that I will not be able to beat it.” • “I realize that true repentance is supposed to have fruits (Acts 26:20)”
THINGS TO SAY • “Please hold me accountable, I don’t need that right now.” • “I understand that all sin will condemn us, but I realize that this sin, because it was so personal, or committed in such a close relationship, may have more consequences.”
“But I Cannot Forgive Myself” • Joseph didn’t forget what his brothers had done to him • Paul never forgot that he had persecuted Christians (1 Timothy 1:13-15) • Forgiving & forgetting are not the same thing: • God forgives but remembers we were sinners (Ephesians 2:1-3) • Rooted in same basic issue – not trusting God when He says something • Study God! Learn about Him. Track record for keeping promises.