Forgiveness Points In Four Directions

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Forgiveness

1. God forgives us

2. We forgive others

3. Others forgive us

4. We forgive ourselves

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1. God forgives us

Jesus didn’t avoid people who had done wrong; he said it was them who needed him.

Mark 2:13-17

Jesus went out by the sea; and all the crowd came to Him, and He taught them.

As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office.

Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” So Levi got up and followed Him.

Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi's house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him to the house.

When the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners,

they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”

When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick do. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

1 John 1:7-9

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light,

we have fellowship with one another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins,

He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Prodigal Son

Luke 15:11-32

The father waits for the repentant son to come home and receives him as his son with no hesitation.

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2. We forgive others

Luke 17:3-4

If your brother sins against you, rebuke him;

and if he repents, forgive him.

And if he sins against you seven times in a day,

and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, “I repent,” then you shall forgive him.

Our brother means our Christian brother, the body of Christ.

What if your brother doesn’t repent?

Jesus laid out the steps to bring the brother to repentance..

Matthew 18:15-17

If your brother sins against you:

1) Go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he will hear you, you have gained your brother.

2) But if he won’t hear you, then take one or two more with you so that in the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word may be established.

3) And if he won’t hear them, tell it to the church.

4) If he won’t hear the church, let him be like a heathen man and a publican. (in other words, he is no longer your brother)

After Jesus spoke, Peter wanted to know how many times we should forgive “our brother”? After what Jesus has just said, we can know Peter is talking about a repentant brother. Even if the brother is repentant, how many times should I forgive him?

Matthew 18:21-22

Peter came to Jesus and said,

“Lord, how often shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

There is a familiar saying: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.

Peter probably thought he was being generous to suggest forgiving his brother seven times.

Jesus said to him, “I don’t say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

490 times. In other words, ALWAYS forgive your brother who sins against you.

God forgives us like we forgive others.

That is a scary thought.

The next four passages confirm this principle.

Matthew 6:9-15

Pray in this manner:

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

The Unforgiving Servant

Matthew 18:22-35

The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

When he had begun to settle accounts, one man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.

Since he wasn’t able to pay, his master commanded that he and his wife and children and all that he had should be sold and the payment be made.

The servant fell down before him, saying,

“Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.”