Today, let’s look at one of the most important principles in the Bible:  forgiveness.  Why is giving and receiving forgiveness important? What are some truths (and some misunderstandings) about forgiveness?

First, let’s look at a few passages:

·         Luke 6:37-38 NIV  "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  (38)  Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

·         Colossians 3:13 TPT  Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this same gift of forgiveness to them.

·         Luke 6:31 NIV  Do to others as you would have them do to you.

These passages are an admonition for people to act in a Christ-like way with one other – without judgment or condemnation, but instead with tolerance, generosity, and (most importantly) forgiveness.

These passages give us two reasons to forgive:

1.       It is a great testimony and demonstration to both unbelievers and to believers that we have received God’s gracious gift of forgiveness.

2.      Receiving God’s gracious gift of forgiveness is a great motivation to us to in turn forgive others.

What is our model for forgiveness?

·         Ephesians 4:32 ESV  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

The word “as” points to two ideas:

·         We are to forgive because God forgave us.

·         We are to forgive in the same manner as God forgave us.

What are some truths about forgiveness?

1.       Forgiveness is deciding to live with the painful consequences of another person’s sin, and thereby avoid bitterness and hatred.

2.      Forgiving someone means that you have determined in your heart to let God be the judge, not you.

3.      Forgiveness is promising to never to hold an offender’s sin over their head, using it to manipulate and shame them.

4.      Forgiving others as God has forgiven us means we resolve to not seek revenge.

a.      Romans 12:19 NASB  Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.

5.      Forgiving others as God has forgiven us means that we determine to do good to them rather than evil.

a.      Romans 12:20-21 NASB  "BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD."  (21)  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  [“Enemy” is someone who opposes you, or is hateful toward you.]

6.      Forgiveness involves an effort on your part to reconcile.

o   Romans 12:18 NIV  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

o   If the offender refuses to be at peace with you, the fault is theirs.  You will at least have fulfilled your responsibility before God to try.

What are some misunderstandings about forgiveness?

1.       Forgiveness is not forgetting.

a.      Jeremiah 31:34b HCSB  "For I [the LORD] will forgive their wrongdoing and never again remember their sin."

                                                              i.      God does not actually forget, because He is omniscient.  “This… is a metaphor, a word picture, designed to emphasize God’s gracious determination and resolve not to hold us liable for our sin.”  

                                                           ii.      We should follow God’s example in this same manner.

b.      To think that forgiving demands forgetting can lead us to feeling unwarranted guilt and shame when we find ourselves remembering the offender’s sin.

2.      Forgiving someone does not mean you no longer feel the pain of their offense.

3.      Forgiveness does not mean you are to make it easy for the offender to hurt you again.

a.      For example, you will need to set boundaries in your relationship with the offender.  I refer you to two previous episodes where we discuss the “how” and “why” of establishing boundaries, from a biblical perspective.

4.      Forgiveness is rarely a one-time, climactic event.

a.      It is most often a process.

b.      However, forgiveness has to begin at the point in time when you decisively choose to forgive.

c.      Because it is a process, you may need to reaffirm to yourself your forgiveness of the offender, whenever the offense comes to mind.

You might be thinking, “I agree with this principle of forgiveness, but what are some practical ways of doing it?”   The answer, of course, is in the next episode!  😊

Today, I encourage you to “Reflect on This.”

(Some of this episode is inspired by an article by Sam Storms, originally posted on the Enjoying God Ministries web site on May 4, 2011.)