Finding Forgiveness July 5, 2009 Bob Mullen. About Forgiveness “I am a patient man- always willing to forgive on the Christian terms of repentance, and

Finding ForgivenessFinding Forgiveness

July 5, 2009July 5, 2009

Bob MullenBob Mullen

About ForgivenessAbout Forgiveness

““I am a patient man- always I am a patient man- always willing to forgive on the willing to forgive on the Christian terms of Christian terms of repentance, and also to give repentance, and also to give ample time for repentance.” ample time for repentance.” Abraham Lincoln, 1862.Abraham Lincoln, 1862.

ForgivenessForgiveness

““Taking present action to Taking present action to overlook a sin or wrong from overlook a sin or wrong from the past”the past”

This could be my own This could be my own sin/wrong, or someone else’s. sin/wrong, or someone else’s.

The LORD is perfect at The LORD is perfect at forgivingforgiving

NKJ Psalm 103:12 NKJ Psalm 103:12 As far as the As far as the east is from the west, So far east is from the west, So far has He removed our has He removed our transgressions from us.transgressions from us.

The LORD is perfect at The LORD is perfect at forgivingforgiving

NIV Hebrews 10:16 NIV Hebrews 10:16 "This is the "This is the covenant I will make with covenant I will make with them after that time, says the them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them hearts, and I will write them on their minds." on their minds." 17 17 Then he Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."acts I will remember no more."

Jesus is the Author of Jesus is the Author of ForgivenessForgiveness

NIV 1 John 2:2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Forgiveness with God- InitialForgiveness with God- Initial

NIV Acts 2:38 NIV Acts 2:38 Peter replied, Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.Holy Spirit.

Forgiveness with God- Forgiveness with God- AfterwardsAfterwards

NIV 1 John 1:9 NIV 1 John 1:9 If we confess our If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just sins, he is faithful and just and will and will forgiveforgive us our sins us our sins and and purifypurify us from all us from all unrighteousness.unrighteousness.

When Others Sin Against UsWhen Others Sin Against Us

NIV Matthew 18:15 NIV Matthew 18:15 "If your "If your brother sins against you, go brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won listens to you, you have won your brother over.your brother over.

When Others Sin Against UsWhen Others Sin Against Us

NIV 1 Corinthians 6:6 NIV 1 Corinthians 6:6 But instead, But instead, one brother goes to law against one brother goes to law against another-- and this in front of another-- and this in front of unbelievers!unbelievers! 7 7 The very fact The very fact that you have lawsuits among that you have lawsuits among you means you have been you means you have been completely defeated already. completely defeated already.

Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?”Why not rather be cheated?”

Are we able to forget about Are we able to forget about what we have chosen to what we have chosen to forgive?forgive?

When Others Wrong Us- When Others Wrong Us- HeartHeart

NIV Matthew 18:35 NIV Matthew 18:35 "This is how my "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you of you unless you forgiveforgive your your brother from your brother from your heartheart.“.“

No more about it!No more about it!

When Others Wrong Us- When Others Wrong Us- RestorationRestoration

NIV 2 Corinthians 2:7 NIV 2 Corinthians 2:7 Now instead, Now instead, you ought to forgive and you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.sorrow. 8 8 I urge you, therefore, I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.to reaffirm your love for him.

He made it right.He made it right.

When We Sin Against When We Sin Against OthersOthers

NIV Matthew 5:23 NIV Matthew 5:23 "Therefore, if you "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your and there remember that your brother has something against brother has something against you,you, 24 24 leave your gift there in leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.come and offer your gift.

When We Sin Against Others- When We Sin Against Others- Penance When PossiblePenance When Possible

NIV Luke 19:8 NIV Luke 19:8 But Zacchaeus But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will anybody out of anything, I will pay back pay back fourfour times the times the amount."amount."

When We Sin Against Others- When We Sin Against Others- RepentanceRepentance

NIV Matthew 3:7 NIV Matthew 3:7 But when he saw But when he saw many of the Pharisees and many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?the coming wrath?

8 8 Produce fruit in keeping Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”with repentance.”

Penance is a way of showing Penance is a way of showing repentance.repentance.

Sin Harms RelationshipsSin Harms Relationships

NIV Isaiah 59:2 NIV Isaiah 59:2 But your But your iniquities have iniquities have separatedseparated you from your God; your sins you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.you, so that he will not hear.


NIV Ecclesiastes 3:3 NIV Ecclesiastes 3:3 a a timetime to kill to kill and a and a timetime to to healheal, a , a timetime to to tear down and a tear down and a timetime to build, to build,

It takes time to repair, if it can It takes time to repair, if it can be repaired.be repaired.


NIV Matthew 18:16 NIV Matthew 18:16 But if he will But if he will not listen, take one or two not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every others along, so that 'every matter may be established by matter may be established by the testimony of two or three the testimony of two or three witnesses.'witnesses.' 17 17 If he refuses to If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the listen to them, tell it to the church; church;


and if he refuses to listen and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.a tax collector.

Forgiveness does not = trustForgiveness does not = trust


Sin separates us from God Sin separates us from God and others.and others.

Jesus paid the price for our Jesus paid the price for our sins.sins.

Those who are baptized in the Those who are baptized in the name of Jesus are receivers name of Jesus are receivers of forgiveness.of forgiveness.


Christians are to continue to Christians are to continue to confess sins, so the Faithful confess sins, so the Faithful Father can forgive them.Father can forgive them.

We seek to “win our brothers”.We seek to “win our brothers”.We may simply have to accept We may simply have to accept

loss and forgive from the heart.loss and forgive from the heart.


Forgiving someone might lead Forgiving someone might lead to trust, but it will take time.to trust, but it will take time.

Forgiveness is actions AND Forgiveness is actions AND words.words.

Showing someone that we are Showing someone that we are sorry is important.sorry is important.

We need to forget, as we can.We need to forget, as we can.

Initial ForgivenessInitial Forgiveness

Documents

Finding Forgiveness July 5, 2009 Bob Mullen. About Forgiveness “I am a patient man- always willing to forgive on the Christian terms of repentance, and