Learning To Forgive Others
Many Christians are guilty of being unwilling to forgive others.
It is not uncommon for some to hold grudges for years. This evil
smolders in the hearts of some, affecting their mental and
physical health. Most of all it hinders their Christian walk and
testimony. Even when they say that they have forgiven someone,
they still harbor resentment, and even hatred for that person.
This is not right, as we shall see in our lesson today. God's
word teaches that we are to completely forgive, and not to hold
any grudges. If this was practiced in the churches, peace and
love would prevail, and the cause of Christ would go forward.
1. WE ARE TO LOVE AND PRACTICE MERCY.
Micah 6:8,
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD
require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk
humbly with thy God?
Matt. 5:7,
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
2. WE ARE TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES.
Matt. 5:44,
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you,
do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you."
Rom. 12:20,
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him
drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
3. WE ARE NOT TO RETALIATE.
I Pet. 3:9,
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but
contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that
ye should inherit a blessing.
I Thess. 5:15,
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow
that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
4. WE ARE TO FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS.
Luke 11:4, And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one
that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but
deliver us from evil.
Matt. 6:12, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
What is a Debtor as defined above?
Debtors - Greek definition and rendering to English
Strongs 3781 opheiletes, of-i-let'-ace;
an ower, or a person indebted;
a delinquent;
a transgressor (against God or man ) <<<<<
<this meaning>
sinner.
Indebted to us - Greek definition and rendering to English
Strongs 3784 opheilo, < of-i'-lo; >or
Plural opheileo, < i-leh'-o; >
the idea of accruing
to owe
to be under obligation
to fail in duty:
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Could this use of the word
to be guilty
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
have a duel meaning
be bound, sometimes we are guilty
debt of sin , and sometimes we
due fail in our duty to God
5. IT IS NECESSARY THAT WE FORGIVE OTHERS.
Matt. 6:14-15
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will
also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
6. WE MUST BE WILLING TO FORGIVE MANY TIMES.
Rom. 12:21,
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Matt. 18:21-22,
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother
sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith
unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until
seventy times seven.
Luke 17:3-4,
Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee,
rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass
against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn
again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
Many People say that if you really are sorry you won't do it
again.
However god doesn't give us that option
We are to forgive without question
But as we all know we must also protect ourselves our home and
our church
MAT 24:43
But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what
watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not
have suffered his house to be broken up.
LUK 22:36
Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him
take
[it], and likewise [his] scrip: and he that hath no sword, let
him
sell his garment, and buy one.
So how do we protect ourselves yet forgive
(discussion)
7. GOD JUDGES THOSE WHO WILL NOT FORGIVE.
MAT 18:23-35
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king,
which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun
to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand
talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded
him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had,
and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and
worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will
pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with
compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the
same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which
owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took [him]
by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his
fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying,
Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not:
but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very
sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then
his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou
wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou
desiredst me Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy
fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was
wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay
all that was due unto him.
So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from
your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
It is important it is for us to forgive others. If we do not, we
can expect to face God's chastening hand upon us.
8. WE ARE TO PUT AWAY BITTERNESS AND FORGIVE AS GOD FORGIVES.
Col. 3:13,
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man
have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also
do ye.
Eph. 4:31-32,
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil
speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind
one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God
for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
9. WE ARE TO BE IMITATORS OF GOD.
Eph. 5:1-2,
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in
love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us
an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
I John 4:11,
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
10. WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF THE FATHER OF THE PRODIGAL
SON.
Luke 15:20-24,
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great
way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and
fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him,
Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no
more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his
servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a
ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the
fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this
my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.
And they began to be merry."
11. UNLESS WE FORGIVE OUR PRAYERS WILL BE HINDERED.
Mark 11:25-26,
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any:
that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your
trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father
which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
12. CHARITY (LOVE) DOES NOT PROMOTE HOLDING GRUDGES.
I Cor. 13:4-5,
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity
vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself
unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh
no evil.
13. LOVE COVERS ALL SINS.
Prov. 10:12,
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins."
I Pet. 4:8,
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for
charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
I Thess. 3:12,
And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward
another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you.
Heb. 13:1,
Let brotherly love continue.
Lev. 19:18,
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children
of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am
the LORD.
14. WE SHOULD SEEK TO RESTORE THOSE WHO HAVE SINNED.
Gal. 6:1,
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are
spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;
considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
James 5:19-20,
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert
him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the
error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a
multitude of sins.
Isa. 35:3-4,
Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 4 Say
to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold,
your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he
will come and save you.
II Thess. 3:14-15,
And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man,
and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count
him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
15. THE BIBLE TEACHES US THAT WE SHOULD FORGIVE AND RESTORE
OTHERS.
II Cor. 2:5-11,
But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part:
that I may not overcharge you all. Sufficient to such a man is
this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that
contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him,
lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch
sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love
toward him. For to this end also did I write, that I might know
the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom
ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing,
to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person
of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are
not ignorant of his devices.