Jesus’ Words in Red Forgiving

Jesus’ Words in Red

Forgiving

“If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven;

 if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." 

There is a power in forgiving and not forgiving

Jesus is telling us to use that power

Just make sure you understand God’s instruction on the matter of forgiveness

There are times when forgiving is a sin and times unforgiving is a sin

Forgiveness is like a key, it locks and unlocks

Make sure you know which way to turn it

Never hold that key with bitterness

Remember Jesus’ words on the cross

“Father forgive them for they know not what they do”

Forgiving

Do we have the power to

forgive and not to forgive?

Will people go to hell or not based on

whether we forgive them or not?

Did Jesus commission the disciples

with the power of forgiveness of sins?

If we are to understand this scripture or any

other scripture, we must see what other

scriptures have to say about the subject.

   

On the issues of forgiveness and

sin the Bible has a lot to say.

First of all we must see that God forgives.

·       Forgiveness through the blood of Jesus 

Ephesians 1:7

In him we have redemption through his blood,

 the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace

·       God pardons sin and forgives

Micah 7:18

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives

the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance?

You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.

·       Consequences may still come even though God forgives 

Numbers 14:17-24

 'The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.' 19 In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now."

20 The LORD replied, "I have forgiven them, as you asked. 21 Nevertheless, …not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.

·       Forgiveness comes through confession

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will

forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

We are taught to forgive.

·       Forgive others if you want to be forgiven

Matthew 6:12

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

·       Forgiving others is conditional they must repent

Luke 17:3-4 

"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.

·       Forgive as Christ forgave you

Colossians 3:13-14

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may

have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Although the Scriptures are very clear that

we should forgive, there are times when

we should judge and not forgive.

Times when we should allow the consequences of sin

to play out in a person’s life so that they might repent.

This is what Paul asked the church in Corinth to

do when a man in the church was living in sin.

In Paul’s instruction on handling the man’s

sin he says they were to deliver him

over to Satan that he might repent.

Paul reminded them that there will

be a day when we will judge angels.

1 Corinthians 5 & 6

 Jesus makes it very clear we are to forgive and

be able to do it over and over again 70 times 7.

Even though we are to always be ready to forgive.

We do an injustice to others if

we do not require repentance.

We should also recognize levels of sin.

There is a sin the Bible tells us not to pray for

 1 John 5:16

There are sins that are immoral and

should not be tolerated in the church.

We all sin in ways that are offensive to other.

Sins we need to deal with, not to separate

ourselves from everyone who says

something they should not have.

It is like Jesus says when we see a speck

in our brother’s eye make sure you

don’t have a beam in your own eye.

If we remember the goal is forgiveness.

But there is a process to getting there.

Make sure you are not holding grudges

and wanting others to suffer for their sin.

Have a desire to see others repent.

There is a power in forgiving

and not forgiving.

Jesus is telling us to use that power.

Just make sure you understand God’s

instructions on the matter of forgiveness.

There are times when forgiving is a

sin and times unforgiving is a sin.

Forgiveness is like a key it locks and unlocks.

Make sure you know which way to turn it.

Never hold that key with bitterness.

Remember Jesus’ words on the cross…

 “Father forgive them for

they know not what they do”

Scripture Reading

John 20:22-23 NIV

 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven;
if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."