Forever Forgiving
by Dr. J C House
01/07/2023
Matthew 18:21 “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?”
The question Peter had was “how often”. It reminds us that we Christians, who are to be a forgiving people, live in a “get even world.” That old saying, “I don’t get mad, I just get even”, is more a reality in many of our lives than we wish to admit. Picture in your mind that person who hurt you so deeply that you have never forgiven them. Understand this, your unforgiveness does not hurt them, it hurts you.
SO, YOU HAVE BEEN HURT!
Every human has been hurt, mistreated, or abused in one way or another. How we deal with it is what we can control. How we deal with it determines how our well being in this world.
1. Some suffer abuse and mistreatment from parents and others in authority over them.
2. Some suffer repeated mistreatment in marriage.
3. Parents suffer painful injuries due to the immature and selfish conduct of their children.
4. Many experience pain and agony because of the stupidity and selfishness of a brother or sister.
Many Christians harbor bad experiences and suffer because they have not forgiven the offender.
THE LORD INSTRUCTS US THUSLY IN MATTHEW 18:21-35. STUDY IT CAREFULLY VERSE 35.
1. No retaliation. Avoid vindictive and get even activities.
2. Instead, the Lord teaches and places on us the obligation to give the gift of forgiveness to all. We find that difficult because we have the natural impulse to strike out in revenge.
3. We are not to suppress our feelings or ignore our injuries, that would poison our minds, so we are to grant the free and unearned gift of forgiveness.
WHY I SHOULD FORGIVE.
1. Because as a Christian, I have received the gift of forgiveness. Matthew 18:23-27 in our study.
Ephesians 4:31-32 “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”
2. A forgiving spirit will bring healing to the broken heart and the injured spirit. A strong warning here when Peter asked the question, how often do I forgive. Literally, EVERY TIME YOU GET HURT.
3. The statement, Forgive and Forget, creates some misunderstanding. Some think if you don’t forget you have not forgiven. In reality it is quite impossible to forget but if you forgive often enough, we forget to the point of not having hate and bitterness and wanting to get even.
SOME THOUGHTS FOR FORGIVING FOREVER.
God’s forgiveness is given FREELY, FULLY AND FOREVER. We did not deserve forgiveness, it was not a partial forgiveness, and God never brings us our sin again. Are you holding a grudge against someone? You can get a clean heart and clear conscience by forgiving. Picture that person in your mind and forgive them, freely, fully, and forever.
01/07/2023
Matthew 18:21 “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?”
The question Peter had was “how often”. It reminds us that we Christians, who are to be a forgiving people, live in a “get even world.” That old saying, “I don’t get mad, I just get even”, is more a reality in many of our lives than we wish to admit. Picture in your mind that person who hurt you so deeply that you have never forgiven them. Understand this, your unforgiveness does not hurt them, it hurts you.
SO, YOU HAVE BEEN HURT!
Every human has been hurt, mistreated, or abused in one way or another. How we deal with it is what we can control. How we deal with it determines how our well being in this world.
1. Some suffer abuse and mistreatment from parents and others in authority over them.
2. Some suffer repeated mistreatment in marriage.
3. Parents suffer painful injuries due to the immature and selfish conduct of their children.
4. Many experience pain and agony because of the stupidity and selfishness of a brother or sister.
Many Christians harbor bad experiences and suffer because they have not forgiven the offender.
THE LORD INSTRUCTS US THUSLY IN MATTHEW 18:21-35. STUDY IT CAREFULLY VERSE 35.
1. No retaliation. Avoid vindictive and get even activities.
2. Instead, the Lord teaches and places on us the obligation to give the gift of forgiveness to all. We find that difficult because we have the natural impulse to strike out in revenge.
3. We are not to suppress our feelings or ignore our injuries, that would poison our minds, so we are to grant the free and unearned gift of forgiveness.
WHY I SHOULD FORGIVE.
1. Because as a Christian, I have received the gift of forgiveness. Matthew 18:23-27 in our study.
Ephesians 4:31-32 “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”
2. A forgiving spirit will bring healing to the broken heart and the injured spirit. A strong warning here when Peter asked the question, how often do I forgive. Literally, EVERY TIME YOU GET HURT.
3. The statement, Forgive and Forget, creates some misunderstanding. Some think if you don’t forget you have not forgiven. In reality it is quite impossible to forget but if you forgive often enough, we forget to the point of not having hate and bitterness and wanting to get even.
SOME THOUGHTS FOR FORGIVING FOREVER.
God’s forgiveness is given FREELY, FULLY AND FOREVER. We did not deserve forgiveness, it was not a partial forgiveness, and God never brings us our sin again. Are you holding a grudge against someone? You can get a clean heart and clear conscience by forgiving. Picture that person in your mind and forgive them, freely, fully, and forever.
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