A Godly Man is a God-Centered Forgiver

Who has hurt you? Have you inadvertently offended someone else? Is it a family member, a co-worker, maybe someone you do not even know? How deep is the hurt you just experienced or others have received? Can you get through today without thinking about it?  What model do you have to follow in forgiveness? Jesus has given us a blueprint to follow that others may not be able to bear (His last moments on earth included forgiving a thief who was crucified next to Him. Luke 23:32-43).

Forgiveness is a two way street- 14) For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15) But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:14-15)

1. What God’s Forgiveness is and How to Receive It.
2. You simply need to confess your sins to God, and He will forgive you.

If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. (1 John 1:9)

1. You do not have to clean up your life before you seek God’s forgiveness. Seek God’s forgiveness, and He will help you change your life.

God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. (Romans 5:8-9)

1. You’re not too bad to be forgiven. Turn to God, and He will forgive you.

Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that He may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for He will forgive generously. (Isaiah 55:7)

1. Even if you feel overwhelmed by your sins, God is not. He will still forgive you.

Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, you forgive them all. (Psalm 65:3)

1. Jesus is not only on your side when you need forgiveness, but He Himself was the sacrifice that allows you to be forgiven.

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He Himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins — and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.        (1 John 2:1-2)

1. God’s forgiveness is free. You cannot earn or deserve it.

But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. (Romans 4:5)

1. Forgiveness is what makes the God of the Bible unique.

Where is another God like You, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of His special people? You will not stay angry with Your people forever, because You delight in showing unfailing love. Once again You will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under Your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! (Micah 7:18-19)

1. The Benefits of Forgiveness.
2. Forgiveness is essential for healthy relationships.

Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. (Proverbs 17:9)

1. When you are forgiven, you experience joy. When you refuse to confess your wrongdoing, you suffer.

Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night Your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally, I confessed all my sins to You and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And You forgave me! All my guilt is gone. (Psalm 32:1-5)

1. Forgiveness can change your life.

“I tell you, her sins — and they are many — have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” (Luke 7:47)

1. Forgiveness shows us God’s power and mercy and leads us to respect Him in a deeper way.

LORD, if You kept a record of our sins, who, O LORD, could ever survive? But You offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear You.” (Psalm 130:3-4)

1. It’s better to confess and receive forgiveness than to try to cover up your wrongdoings.

People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)

1. It’s important to forgive for your own sake so that bitterness doesn’t take root in your life.

Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. (Hebrews 12:14-15)

III. How to Forgive.

1. Prioritize forgiving others for a healthy spiritual life.

But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. (Mark 11:25)

1. Prioritize repenting and seeking forgiveness for a healthy spiritual life.

So, if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. (Matthew 5:23-24)

1. Forgiveness requires allowing other people to be imperfect and make mistakes.

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. (Colossians 3:13)

1. God not only forgives but also banishes the thought of our sins. He is not waiting to bring them back up next time we do something wrong. We should do the same when we forgive others.

For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103:11-12)

1. God does not limit how many times He will forgive us, so we should not limit how many times we will forgive others.

Then Peter came to Him and asked, Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” (Matthew 18:21-22)

1. Forgiveness doesn’t require ignoring that a wrong has been done. You can call out a wrong and still be ready to forgive.

If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive. (Luke 17:3-4)

1. Jesus is our ultimate example: When He was hanging on the cross, He forgave the people who nailed Him to it.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

Some personal reflections from David.

1. Next Steps.

• Learn how you can experience God’s forgiveness and know God.
• Pray right now and confess any sins you have not yet confessed. Ask God to reveal anything that you need to confess. Thank God for His forgiveness and grace.
• Do you struggle with accepting forgiveness or feeling weighed down by guilt? Ask God to help you to let go of your guilt and shame and receive His forgiveness and peace.
• Is there someone you need to forgive?

1. Confess to God that you have held onto unforgiveness or bitterness but that you want to let go and forgive. Ask for God’s strength to forgive when it’s hard.
2. If the person you need to forgive is a safe person and reconciliation is possible, consider calling or getting together with that person. Share that you felt hurt by them but that you forgive them and want to restore the relationship.
3. Forgiveness ideally leads to reconciliation, but that is not always possible. Some people may be unrepentant or unsafe. In those cases, you can forgive without reconciling. (For example, if you were in a relationship with someone violent and abusive, you can forgive that person without contacting that person and risking your safety.) In other cases, with time, you may find that reconciliation is possible.
4. If no one comes to mind, ask God to show you if there is someone you need to forgive that you don’t know of.

• If you need to ask for forgiveness from someone else, call them and set up a time to get together. If it’s someone you haven’t talked to in a long time, you can still send a message to them to share that you know you wronged them and to ask them to forgive you. You could even share that your faith is motivating you to seek and grant forgiveness to others.