The question: Who is our model?The answer: God
Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24; 1 John 1:9
What is forgiveness? To pardon or to take away. Psalms 103:12 states, "as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us." Note: Forgiveness is a godly response to pray.
What forgiveness does not do:
1) Does not destroy our memory
2) Does not remove all painful emotions (What do you do with memory and pain - take it to God)
3) Does not remove all the consequences of Sin (references to Moses & David)
4) Does not rebuild trust. (Note: To rebuild make your life an open book (have accountability in every aspect of your life)
5) Does not always result in reconciliation
What if the person who sinned against you does not speak your apology language?
-By making you question their sincerity
-By faith, you choose to forgive them
What if the person does not apologize?
1) We lovingly confront them (Scripture Mathew 18:15-17; Luke 17:3-4)
2) We release the person to God (give it to God) (Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:14-15; 1 Timothy 2)
3) We pray for them and stand ready to forgive them (Scripture: Luke 23:34; Acts 2: 22-31)
4) We return good for evil (Scripture: Romans 12:19-21)
We make forgiveness a priority in our lives by making it personal:
1) Whom do I need to forgive?
2) Whom do I need to lovingly confront
3) Whom do I need to release to God?
4) Whom do I need to apologize to?
Take a self exam for items 1 through 4:
How honest do you want to be?
Dante