Mini Bible Study on Forgiving by Dan

Forgiving

Forgiveness is the laying aside an offence. It is not a feeling, it is a choice, a decision.

Why should we forgive?

1) We Can Not Be Forgiven If We Do Not Forgive.

 Jesus said in Matthew 6:14-15 

 14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

 15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

2) We Need to Forgive So We Do Not Grieve the Holy Spirit.

To grieve means to cause distress, grief, heaviness and/or sorrow.

We avoid causing the Holy Spirit to grieve by being forgiving.

Ephesians 4:30-32

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

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.

3) To obtain freedom

If a person does not forgive, they can not be forgiven, which means they are in sin. If a person is in sin, he is the servant of sin. If he is not in sin, he is free.

John 8:34-36

Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

How to Forgive?

1) Pray for God’s wisdom and strength to do what is right.

2) Because forgiveness is choosing to lay aside an offence, a decision must be made to forgive.

We must understand that forgiveness is not about what the offender did, but what our response to him will be.

3) Action needs to be taken. If we have a problem with someone, we must go to that person and attempt to make it right. Forgiving them does not depend upon their reaction or acceptance of your attempt.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:22-24 

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

((Raca is used disrespectfully, a term which means worthless))

In Matthew 18:23-35, Jesus gave this parable to teach us about the importance of forgiving:

 23Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

 24And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

 25But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

 26The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

 27Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

 28But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

 29And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

 30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

 31So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

 32Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

 33Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

 34And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

 35So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. Forgiveness is not an option. Forgiveness brings peace to your heart and freedom in your life. Freedom allows you to have a closer walk with Jesus.