Forgiveness

Gtcotr/ws012517

First things first!

Forgiveness is not about the past it is about the future … Your Future!

Forgiveness is the act of turning it all over to God by faith.

Forgiveness and restoration are two separate issues.

Forgiveness is the measure of God in the person who forgives.

Mark 11  NKJV

25  "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

26  "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."

And = both copulative and cumulative

Stand = Persist; stand firm; persevere

Trespasses = to offend; deviate; fall or be at fault

(Potions below copied in part from the Strong’s Online Bible Concordance)

Forgive = Greek “aphiemi”

AV-leave 52, forgive 47, suffer 14, let 8, forsake 6, let alone 6, misc 13; 146

1) to send away

1a) to bid going away or depart

1a1) of a husband divorcing his wife

1b) to send forth, yield up, to expire

Matthew 13:36  Then Jesus sent the multitude away …

1c) to let go, let alone, let be

1c1) to disregard

1c2) to leave, not to discuss now, (a topic) 1c21) of teachers, writers and speakers

Matthew 4

19  Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

20  They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

1c3) to omit, neglect

1d) to let go, give up a debt, forgive, to remit

Matthew 6:12  And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

1e) to give up, keep no longer

2) to permit, allow, not to hinder, to give up a thing to a person

3) to leave, go way from one

Mark 7:8  "For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men — the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do."

3a) in order to go to another place

3b) to depart from any one

3c) to depart from one and leave him to himself so that all mutual claims are abandoned

1 Corinthians 7:12  But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her.

3d) to desert wrongfully

3e) to go away leaving something behind

Mark 10:28  Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You."

3f) to leave one by not taking him as a companion

Mark 14:50  Then they all forsook Him and fled.

3g) to leave on dying, leave behind one

3h) to leave so that what is left may remain, leave remaining

3i) abandon, leave destitute

Forgiveness is a focused letting go of or forsaking and abandoning our claim against.

Perhaps some of you recall the scriptures we surveyed last week. Remember, we focused on faith and on putting first things first. We heard how that if we do not have faith we cannot please God. The scriptures we used last week to help us observe faith in action all came from the 11 Chapter of Mark. In fact they led us right up to the verses we are discussing tonight.

Let’s read them all in context so we can better understand the whole conversation Jesus had with His disciples that day on the side of the Mount of Olives near the withered fig tree. Contextual understanding is one of the best ways to insure we gain the correct perspective on the truth shared by one verse of group of verses.

Mark 11  NKJV

22  So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God.

23  "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ’Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

24  "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Remember we began our lesson this evening by saying that the word “And” is both copulative and cumulative. Let’s continue to read in context to best understand the cumulative intent of Jesus concerning His teaching on forgiveness.

25  "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

26  "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."

Faith and standing in faith and praying in faith and confessions of faith were first aimed by Christ at uncovering the power of forgiveness by faith.

·        If you are facing a mountain of unforgiveness because of offense … speak to that mountain by faith …

·        Whatever things you ask when you pray … the first is forgiveness

Forgiveness is many times an act of our faith.

Forgiveness is a confession we make when we speak to that mountain of hurt, offense and betrayal.

On the cross Jesus prayed,

Luke 23:34  Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.

Forgiveness does not set others free from the burden of their guilt – only God can forgive the penalty of sin. However, forgiveness is the power of God that sets the offended free from the power of sin.