AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS …
MATTHEW 6:12, 14-15 & VARIOUS SCRIPTURES
“EVERYONE SAYS FORGIVENESS IS A GOOD IDEA, UNTIL
THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO FORGIVE.” C.S. LEWIS
“OUR COMMUNITY WITH ONE ANOTHER (IN CHRIST)
CONSISTS SOLEY IN WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR US.
CHRISTIAN BROTHERHOOD IS A SPIRITUAL AND NOT HUMAN
REALITY. IN THIS IT DIFFERS FROM ALL OTHER
COMMUNITIES.” BONHOFFER
FORGIVENESS AND DEBT …
FORGIVENESS MEANS GIVING UP THE RIGHT TO SEEK
REPAYMENT FROM THE ONE WHO HARMED YOU.
FORGIVENESS IS GRANTED BEFORE IT IS FELT.
FORGIVENESS AND THE GOSPEL (THE EXPERIENCE OF THE
GOSPEL GIVES US TWO PREREQUISITES FOR A LIFE OF
FORGIVENESS):
EMOTIONAL HUMILITY,
SPIRITUAL IDENTITY,
“FORGIVENESS FOUNDERS BECAUSE I EXCLUDE THE ENEMY
FROM THE COMMUNITY OF HUMANS EVEN AS I EXCLUDE
MYSELF FROM THE COMMUNITY OF SINNERS. BUT NO ONE
CAN BE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE GOD OF THE CRUCIFIED
MESSIAH FOR LONG WITHOUT OVERCOMING THIS DOUBLE
EXCLUSION – WITHOUT TRANSPOSING THE ENEMY FROM
THE SPHERE OF MONSTROUS INHUMANITY INTO THE
SPHERE OF SHARED HUMANITY AND THEMSELVES FROM
THE SPHERE OF PROUD INNOCENCE INTO THE SPHERE OF
COMMON SINFULNESS. WHEN ONE KNOWS THAT THE
TORTURER WILL NOT ETERNALLY TRIUMPH OVER THE
VICTIM, ONE IS FREE TO REDISCOVER THAT PERSON’S
HUMANITY AND IMITATE GOD’S LOVE FOR HIM. AND WHEN
ONE KNOWS THAT GOD’S LOVE IS GREATER THAN ALL SIN,
ONE IS FREE TO SEE ONESELF … AND REDISCOVER ONE’S
SINFULNESS.” VOLF
FORGIVENESS AND GOD’S JUSTICE …
FORGIVENESS IS COMMANDED, “BEAR WITH EACH OTHER
AND FORGIVE WHATEVER GRIEVANCES YOU MAY HAVE
AGAINST ONE ANOTHER.” COL 3:13
FORGIVENESS IS REQUIRED TO HONOR GOD’S JUSTICE,
LUKE 17:3
“CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO ABANDON BITTERNESS, TO BE
FOREBEARING, TO HAVE A FORGIVING STANCE EVEN WHERE
THE REPENTANCE OF THE OFFENDING PARTY IS
CONSPICUOUS BY IT’S ABSENCE; ON THE OTHER HAND,
THEIR GOD-CENTERED PASSION FOR JUSTICE, THEIR
CONCERN FOR GOD’S GLORY, ENSURE THAT THE AWFUL
ODIUM OF SIN IS NOT GLOSSED OVER.” CARSON
FORGIVENESS PURSUES TRUTH, LOVE AND RELATIONSHIP:
FIRST, GOD REQUIRES FORGIVNESS WHETHER OR NOT THE
OFFENDER HAS REPENTED AND ASK FOR FORGIVENESS.
MARK 11:25, “ AND WHEN YOU STAND PRAYING, IF YOU
HOLD ANYTHING AGAINST ANYONE, FORGIVE HIM.”
SECOND, GOD REQUIRES SPEAKING THE TRUTH.
THIRD, GOD REQUIRES WE SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE,
EPH 4:15
FORGIVENESS AND THE NEED TO CONFRONT AND
RECONCILE …
WHEN (GAL 6:1)?
FIRST, WE SHOULD CORRECT WHEN THE SIN IS SERIOUS
ENOUGH TO HARM THE RELATIONSHIP.
SECOND, WE SHOULD CORRECT WHEN THERE IS AN
OBVIOUS PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR IN ANOTHER’S LIFE.
HOW?
FIRST, “I FORGIVE YOU” DOES NOT MEAN, “I TRUST YOU”
SECOND, BY CONFESSING YOUR PART, MATT 5:24
THIRD, BY ADDRESSING THE WAYS YOU HAVE BEEN
WRONGED, MATT 18:15-20
FOURTH, REMEMBER YOUR OWN SINFULNESS,
PROV 16:2
APPLICATION:
THERE IS AN AWESOME POWER IN FORGIVENESS
