“Struggling with Forgiveness?

We want to restate THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FOUNDATION OF FORGIVENESS…

Ephesians 4:32 -“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

First -We forgive BECAUSE we have been forgiven of all our sin in the sacrifice of Christ!

Second – WE PRACTICE FORGIVENESS THROUGH THESE PRINCIPLE IN THE WORD OF GOD…

  • 1 Corinthians 13:5 Not keeping a record of wrong suffered (no notebook of sin!)
  • Ephesians 4:29 Not gossiping about a person’s sins to others
  • Philippians 4:8 Not dwelling on the offense yourself (turn off the video in your mind)
  • Romans 12:18 Restore fellowship with forgiven person, as far as is biblically possible. (Not speaking to another is not restoring!) “

{THE above is from an outline by a friend using the Scriptures}

What is Forgiveness?

The words most often used in the New Testament for “Forgiveness,” is “aphesis” and conveys the idea of “sending away” or “letting go” continually. In its thirty-six times in the New Testament, it always is associated with the “pardon of sins”  See, for example, the use of “forgiveness” in Matthew 26:28 and Acts 2:38. A second term used for “forgiveness” is “charizomai,” which signifies “to bestow a favor” or to “show kindness.” In Romans 8:32, “charizomai” is rendered “shall . . . freely give.”

Did You Know? “Has forgiven you.” is the motivation for you to choose to forgive others.-{Eph 4:32}. His forgiveness as is written here with the aorist tense of the word means He has forgiven, it is finished, full, final! It is also present tense which means this Is to be the constant response towards those who offend you. How glorious is that, and what great personal cost to Him! And you are to forgive likewise!   

THANK GOD He is working “IN YOU’ to give the desire and the Doing for His good pleasure in the matter-{Phil 2:13}. You are new in Christ and have a new power, a new perspective so throw off the old way of responding of nursing hurts, holding grudges choosing to be bitter, resentful, unforgiving and by faith choosing to extend forgiveness because of the forgiveness extending to you…when you did not deserve it!