Forgiving or Un-forgiving?

Purpose—to determine which we are by our actions and if we need to change our actions into forgiving people.

Matthew: 6:11-15 Luke 11:1

Are we a forgiving people. Are we forgiven? Why are we forgiven and from what and by who.

First we must seek to find out if we ourselves are in fact a forgiving people or go around saying if fact to all I hate you.

Lets Go back to text who is Jesus talking to and why?

• Talking to His disciples as well as the crowd that gathered

• Called the Sermon on the Mount
• Explaining how we are forgiven
• By forgiving others first
• So God can forgive us and is free to do so we release the flow
• As we also forgave our debtors
• • Not necessarily on who owes us money
  • Could be one who owes an apology
  • Ever had one owe you an apology
  • Did they never give it to you
  • Do you hold that against them
  • Or forgive them anyway
  • Or do you make them ask for forgiveness?
• .

• In Luke He was praying and disciples asked him how

• Gave them again the Lords prayer
• In bible twice, must be important
• Both include elements of forgiveness
• Jesus tells us that if we do not forgive, Our Father in Heaven will not forgive us

• Lets look at what forgiveness is

• It is not holding grudges against others-----could Christ have held a grudge?
• • He didn’t call me so I wont call him
  • He said this so I wont talk to him
  • Its forgiving before they ask and not making them ask

• Look at what Jesus forgave the movie the Passion of the Christ

• Did anyone ask?
• What were His words from the cross---Father forgive them?

• Forgiveness is not agreement with someone

• • They may disagree with your words or stance
  • But are willing to forgive that and move on

• To forgive others just as God forgave us thru Jesus

• • Do to others as you want them to do to you
  • Love one another

• Forgiveness is not being mad at anyone
• Are you mad at God for your circumsatnces

• • If so God cant forgive you
  • If he cant forgive you He cant have mercy on you
  • You have blocked the path back to God

• It is not retaliation, evil for evil, but good for evil

• • Good for good is of no benefit
  • God says even pagans do that
  • Good for evil heaps burning coals on their heads

• Its overlooking the wrongs of others not dwelling on it

• • .

• Its forgiving each other not revenge Rom 12:19

• • Vengence belongs to God
  • Overcome evil by doing good
  • Doesn’t mean you have to agree

• Forgive as God is merciful forgave iniquity

• • All the rebellion against man and God still forgives
  • Look at Joseph, his brothers threw him in a pit to die
  • Joseph learned forgiveness

• Jesus gave forgiveness as a duty

• • We have to do it, like it or not
  • But has to come from the heart
  • For God knows the heart and must be sincere not just to gain points
  • That’s being a hypocrite and God hates that, that’s why he says he hates the feasts men were doing them for the wrong reasons

• It can also mean to put aside your difference and continue on

• • As God thru Jesus --- our sins had been put aside
  • But thru the Cross we are forgiven our sins/ disobedience
  • And must for give others as well

• Forgiveness is what God gives us by grace

• • Our duty is to receive it
  • Part of being justified to God (justification)

• Psalm 130:4 God is feared revered as there is forgiveness with him

• • He alone can release us from the liability from sin, not feast doing sacrifice offering church going or sermon hearing money giving but by His power, His mercy
  • That being the wrath of Gods judgments to come
  • Its from God, by God, thru God to God

• It’s the forgiveness that Jesus gives us that heals us

• • Gives us His peace
  • Enables us to be able to receive grace and power thru Holy Spirit to do good to each other
  • To follow the commandments
  • To love one another
  • Can also block us and harm us like the servant in Matthew 18:23 he couldn’t pay the debt, begged mercy, was forgiven then did not forgive another and was punished

• So to be forgiven one must repent-- it must be by the offender

• • Go and ask forgiveness
  • What if he doesn’t—the offended still has to forgive
  • In this way we get Gods forgiveness as it is conditional on our forgiveness of others
  • If you are angry at another, you commit murder in spirit and that’s a sin
  • Have to repent to your brother so God can forgive you

• Therefore what do we know about forgiveness

• • Accepting the wrong of another
  • Not holding a grudge
  • Attempting reconcilation
  • Repentance
  • Something without we can not obtain Gods mercy
  • That which comes from the heart
  • Restoring a right relationship with each other and God
  • Jesus said its our duty 7 times 70 and keep on
  • To love as Jesus love and forgive as Jesus forgave

So what type person are you forgiving or unforgiving. Do you need to confess some anger, some hostility toward another, do it now so you can get right with God and enjoy His forgiveness and His peace and His strength and His purpose.