FORGIVENESS
INTRODUCTION
1. In this series we have seen how The Way Of Christ is...
a. The way to God c. The way to truth e. The way of joy g. The way of unity
b. The way to life d. The way of love f. The way of peace h. The way of prayer
2. The Way Of Christ is also the way of forgiveness...
a. When Jesus taught how to pray, He stressed the need to forgive
b. Time and again, by precept and example, Jesus taught forgiveness
3. What does it mean to forgive...?
a. The Greek word is aphiemi
b. Literally: to send away, to give up, keep no longer - Thayer
c. To give up resentment against or the desire to punish; stop being angry with; pardon - Webster
[Let’s first look more closely at why The Way of Christ is...]
I. THE WAY OF FORGIVENESS
A. TAUGHT BY PRECEPT...
1. By Jesus, in His sayings
a. Teaching on prayer - Mt 6:14-15; Mk 11:25-26
b. Instructing His disciples - Mt 18:21-22; Lk 17:3-4
c. The parable of the unforgiving servant - Mt 18:23-35
2. By Paul, in his epistles
a. To the Ephesians - Ep 4:32
b. To the Colossians - Col 3:13
-- For those forgiven or seeking forgiveness, forgiving others is necessary!
B. TAUGHT BY EXAMPLE...
1. By Jesus, as He was being crucified
a. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” - Lk 23:34
b. In calling upon God to forgive, Jesus showed His willingness to forgive
2. By Stephen, as he was being stoned
a. “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” - Ac 7:60
b. In calling upon Jesus to forgive, Stephen showed His willingness to forgive
-- Our Lord and His first martyr exemplify the spirit of forgiveness!
[The Way Of Christ is the way of forgiveness. But forgiving others is not human nature: “To err is
human, but to forgive is divine” (Alexander Pope). How can we be partakers of this divine nature..?]
II. THE PRACTICE OF FORGIVENESS
A. DEVELOPING FORGIVENESS...
Mark A. Copeland
The Way Of Christ 24
1. It helps to remember why we must forgive:
a. We cannot be forgiven by God unless we forgive others - Mt 6:14-15
b. The unforgiving person will be punished without mercy! - Mt 18:35; Jm 2:13
c. Vengeance belongs to God, not us; our duty is to show mercy - Ro 12:19-21
2. It helps to remember as we try to forgive:
a. Sins against us pale in comparison to our sins against God - Mt 18:23-34
b. We are called to follow the example of Christ - Ep 4:32; 5:1-2
c. Those who injure us need sympathy and love, which we owe them - Ro 13:8
3. It helps to remember practical reasons to forgive (from the Mayo Clinic website):
a. Healthier relationships
b. Greater spiritual and psychological well-being
c. Less stress and hostility
d. Lower blood pressure
e. Fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety and chronic pain
f. Lower risk of alcohol and substance abuse
-- The spirit and willingness to forgive increases as we grow in Christ
B. EXPRESSING FORGIVENESS...
1. We should forgive when others ask for it
a. Whenever a brother repents - Lk 17:3
b. Whenever a brother says “I repent” - Lk 17:4
2. Can we forgive those who have not asked for it, or repented?
a. It is true that God requires repentance before forgiveness - Ac 2:38; 3:19; 17:30
b. But we are not God; God is the only true Judge - Jm 4:11-12
c. God is perfect, He knows the hearts of men; we are prone to misread and misjudge
d. Ultimately it is God who forgives the guilt of sin; we can only give up grudges
e. Harboring grudges hurts ourselves, making us embittered (“judges with grudges”)
f. We are to forgive as we pray, not necessarily wait until one repents - Mk 11:25-26
g. Jesus and Stephen forgave others who had yet to repent - Lk 23:34; Ac 7:60
3. What about, “I’ll forgive, but not forget”?
a. “I can forgive, but I cannot forget, is only another way of saying, I will not forgive.
Forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled note - torn in two, and burned up, so that it never
can be shown against one.” - Henry Ward Beecher
b. Forgiveness is the letting go of resentment; remembering is not letting go!
-- Knowing my own imperfections, I prefer to err on the side of being too forgiving
CONCLUSION
1. We have considered why it is important to forgive others...
a. To receive forgiveness from God
b. To follow the example of Christ and His early disciples
2. This simply confirms what we studied previously...
a. The Way Of Christ is the way to life, love, joy, and peace
b. A path where forgiveness is both received and extended by those who are on it
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him,
that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not
forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” - Mk 11:25-26
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- Diotrephes
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- Denominationlism
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- In Jesus Christ
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- Is your heart right with GOD
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- Our GOD is a awesome GOD
- Preachers leading w/ no authority from GOD
- Preaching Jesus
- Preach the word
- Pleasing God
- Persecution and Oppression
- Power of the tongue
- Persecution
- Prayer
- Pride of men hinder the advancement of the gospel
- Perverting the gospel
- practicing SIN
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- Reject God
- Right hand of falsehood lesson by Steven Schiller
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- References on request
- Root of all evil
- Riverside gallery
- Rule your own house?
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- RESPONDING TO THE CALL OF GOD
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- Sheet music
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- Searching for truth
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- Sincere,True Ministry
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- Slave of GOD
- Salvation of the LORD
- Standard of authority
- Speak evil of a Christian is sin against Christ
- Scriptual and unscriptually organized churches
- SPIRIT & TRUTH
- Speaking evil of Christian brother
- SUNDAY APRIL 17 2022
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- The dog has returned to his vomit
- Slander
- Truth about
- Take the name of Jesus with you
- The children
- The devil
- Truth for the world
- Time for truth
- 2 Reasons to believe ap
- Thanks to GOD
- Those who persecute you
- The Church
- The way we were
- Truth
- The Lord`s Supper
- The holy spirit
- Unless the Lord build the house
- Unscriptual organization of the church
- This is God`s church
- U WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR IDLE WORDS
- Vengeance
- U HAVE AN ENEMY!
- Unified church James Watkins
- What is the Gospel?
- WOE WOE WOE
- World Video Bible School (WVBS)
- What must i do to be saved?
- What names on your sign
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- Where in the bible is your church mentioned
- Worship
- Worshipping idols not God
- Worship of idols instead of GOD
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- WORSHIP NOV 6 2022
- Worship to God
- What is the church?
- Wonderfully made
- You must be born again
- Your unbelief
- You give good gifts
- Wicked
- You are not your own
- GOD created all things in 6 days
- Home
- Abortion AP
- Abortion laws repealed thank GOD
- Abortion is murder?
- Abortion (forced termination)
- All scripture
- Animations GBN
- Abounding hope
- Are you a Christian
- A place for God`s name(this is it)
- All have sinned
- Awesome Father,Son,Holy spirit
- Are you the enemy of God
- Audio Bible (KJV)
- All authority
- (ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN) STAYING SAVED DB
- Accuser of GOD`S people
- Avoid being mislead by the devil
- Accuser
- Afraid in fear of Baptizm
- Abomination
- All power is of God
- Acts conversion chart
- Apologetics press
- Amazing grace
- Adversary
- All things work together for good
- Authority
- AUDIO RIVERSIDE CHURCHOFCHRIST
- Baptizm (antitype)
- BAPTIZM POINT OF SALVATION
- Baptizm immersion not sprinkle, pouring
- Baptizm search for truth
- Baptizm NT
- Baptizm Greek Baptizo fully covered
- Rebaptizm
- Baptizm forgiveness of sin, washed in the blood of JESUS
- Born again
- Brand new creation
- Belief more than knowing there is a GOD
- Bible super human
- Blessed is the man
- Baptized into Christ
- Being mistreated for doing good.
- Be not many masters.
- Bible verse of the day
- Bethel
- Brain washed (believing lies)
- Bless your enemies curse not
- Bible is totally reliable
- Blessing or curse
- Blasphemy the name of Jesus
- Bible`s scientific foreknowledge
- Bible inspiration
- Bible charts Donnie Barnes
- Beyond the logos
- Bible read & listen
- Coming home
- CONTACT US
- Christ
- Christian and spiritual growth Donnie Barnes
- Children giving glory to GOD
- CONTACT
- Choice 2
- Church built on Christ
- Cast the first stone
- Christianity 101
- Christianity full time privilledge
- Committed to GOD
- Children learn what they live
- Creation
- Church of CHRIST Romans 16:16
- Childrens video
- Counsel of GOD superior than man
- Can GOD`S house be established today?
- Choice I
- Childrens : Digger Doug
- Condemn your brother with your tongue
- CHURCH IN NEEDS
- Church built by GOD
- Christs
- Church of Jesus Christ
- Does doctrine matter
- Drinking alcohol
- Did Jesus build more than 1 church?
- Divorce and remarriage
- Dictionary
- Day of the Lord
- Deception of false teachers
- Fabricated truth
- Evil heart of unbelief
- Diotrephes
- Duty of care
- Denominationlism
- Faith the substance of all things
- Filthy rags
- Faith
- False teacher, False preacher DS
- False prophets
- False Teaching
- False Preachers
- First gospel sermon
- Forgiveness
- Falling away
- Fake preachers
- False preaching can keep u from heaven
- False brethren brought in
- False brethren
- Forget God?
- Gossip David Schmidt
- Grief
- Gospel broadcasting network
- GOD`S PLAN IS NOT MAN`S DESIGN
- GOD
- God`s will for you
- Give account for yourself
- GOD is righteous
- Give no offence
- Gospel hid from the lost
- Gospel (good news)
- GOD built true church not man
- God`s preventative word James Watkins
- GOD`S calling, the good new`s
- Gospel Enacted
- Hypocrites
- How do you obey the gospel?
- How to get to heaven?
- Hypocrites1
- How is the church organized?
- Homosexuality
- How beautiful are the feet that preach
- Heaven/Hell
- Hymns
- Heart
- Have you obeyed the gospel?
- Interview with satan(father of lies)
- In Jesus Christ
- Hope
- Is there more than 1 church? no
- In Christ the fullness of the Godhead
- Identity of the church
- Is your heart right with GOD
- Influence of evil
- Influence
- In Christ (what is it being in Christ)
- In Christ
- Jesus (way)
- Inspired word of GOD
- Jesus is our faith to our beloved
- Jesus is Lord
- JESUS STICKERS
- Inspiration what is it?
- JESUS
- Jesus never changes / Changing world James Watkins
- Jesus & children
- Jesus the way
- Jesus has come in the flesh
- Kingdom come ?
- Jesus Jesus Jesus
- JESUS CHRIST IS LORD
- Kenya gallery1
- Jesus is Lord (Kurios)
- LOCATION OF ONE TRUE CHURCH
- Lying Christians is their any without
- LORDS church part 1
- Law of Liberty inCHRIST
- Love God, the creator of Love.
- Lost
- Leaders of this world should be ashamed
- Lord`s church
- Lying wonder
- Light at Riverside Church of CHRIST
- Love of GOD overcomes
- Lamentations 3
- Ladies videos
- Leading to Christ
- LINKS
- Light of the world
- Lord`s supper
- Looking for things to get better
- More about JESUS
- Lying preachers
- Lesson`s books of the bible gbn
- Man`s tradition or God`s word
- Lying 1
- Making the change
- Mat 19:6
- Meddling & Gossip is sin
- MURMURINGS, MURMURERS, MURMUR
- Man`s device (not GOD`S)
- Moral issues
- No change
- New Creation
- None righteous no not one
- NT reveals one church
- Offenses
- Overcome evil with good
- Only 1 church (church of CHRIST)
- Overcoming the world
- Obey the gospel
- Our GOD is a awesome GOD
- Preachers leading w/ no authority from GOD
- Preaching Jesus
- Preach the word
- Pleasing God
- Persecution and Oppression
- Power of the tongue
- Persecution
- Prayer
- Pride of men hinder the advancement of the gospel
- Perverting the gospel
- practicing SIN
- Pray without ceasing
- Reject God
- Right hand of falsehood lesson by Steven Schiller
- REPENT!
- References on request
- Root of all evil
- Riverside gallery
- Rule your own house?
- Repent
- RESPONDING TO THE CALL OF GOD
- Religious error
- ROCK SOLID FAITH JAMES WATKINS
- Salvation
- Repent Repent Repent
- Sober
- Such were some of you
- SINS
- SIN
- Sinners prayer 4min video
- Safe in the arms of GOD
- Scriptually organized w/o deacons?
- Stairway to heaven
- Submit and we will pray for you
- Sheet music
- Serving GOD or Self serving
- Service to GOD
- Searching for truth
- Sound teaching
- SERMONS
- STOP
- Sincere,True Ministry
- Slave of the creator
- Spirit of GOD
- Spirit to the churches
- SHEPHERD
- Searching for truth(book)
- Same sex marriage
- Speak evil of no man
- Slave of GOD
- Salvation of the LORD
- Standard of authority
- Speak evil of a Christian is sin against Christ
- Scriptual and unscriptually organized churches
- SPIRIT & TRUTH
- Speaking evil of Christian brother
- SUNDAY APRIL 17 2022
- Turn from sin to GOD
- The dog has returned to his vomit
- Slander
- Truth about
- Take the name of Jesus with you
- The children
- The devil
- Truth for the world
- Time for truth
- 2 Reasons to believe ap
- Thanks to GOD
- Those who persecute you
- The Church
- The way we were
- Truth
- The Lord`s Supper
- The holy spirit
- Unless the Lord build the house
- Unscriptual organization of the church
- This is God`s church
- U WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR IDLE WORDS
- Vengeance
- U HAVE AN ENEMY!
- Unified church James Watkins
- What is the Gospel?
- WOE WOE WOE
- World Video Bible School (WVBS)
- What must i do to be saved?
- What names on your sign
- What must i do to be saves (transcript)
- James Watkins
- When you die
- Withdrawal fellowship
- What GOD has cleansed
- Wearing the crown
- Why so many churches (Transcript)
- Wonderful Grace
- Whose family are u ruling
- Where in the bible is your church mentioned
- Worship
- Worshipping idols not God
- Worship of idols instead of GOD
- Walking with GOD
- WORSHIP NOV 6 2022
- Worship to God
- What is the church?
- Wonderfully made
- You must be born again
- Your unbelief
- You give good gifts
- Wicked
- You are not your own
- GOD created all things in 6 days
/