Forgiveness

Luke 6:37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

*Our actions speak what is in our heart. We will be judged with our hearts actions. Truly we have to act like our teacher Jesus has taught us through His word.
*The opposite of showing mercy is judgement.
*Mercy is not just feeling compassion but showing compassion(to identify with… suffer with… to take on others pain and suffering).

Psalm 32:1-2 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.

*That’s a blessedness that’s available to every one of us.
Do you know why it’s available to every one of us?
**Because there’s none of us that hasn’t sinned. And, in a certain sense, the fact that we are sinners opens us up to this blessing, because God is willing to:
* Forgive our sins.
* He’s willing to cover our sins.
* He’s willing to count no sin against us, if we repent, if we turn to Him in faith.

Again three things the psalmist says there that God will do:(Psalm 32:1-2)
1. He will forgive our transgressions.
2. He will cover our sins.
3. He will not count our sin against us.
***But then there’s one thing that God requires of us. It says, “In whose spirit is no deceit.”
God does require from every one of us sincerity, honesty, openness. We do not put on a religious act, we do not try to cover up, we do not excuse.
We humbly and sincerely acknowledge that we have sinned, that we deserve God’s wrath and judgment, that we turn from our sin, we confess sin and acknowledge sin and God forgives.
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.
I had to ask myself these questions:
1. Do you confess your sins openly consistently and privately to the Lord?
2. Do you confess publically when you offended someone else?
3. Do you have an attitude of gratitude?
4. Do you ask the Lord for help in resisting temptation?
We need to own up, man up, and step up. He will always make a way of escape.
5. Do you have an accountability partner or group?
I need to “Get back to confessing”.
Oh, let’s cultivate a habit of being honest with God. Don’t Fear Him! God knows it ALL anyway. What are we trying to hide from him? What do we think God does not see or hear?

Have you feared Jesus because of what He might require of you? Have you feared that He might ask of you something you are not prepared to give? Do not let your fears drive Him from your presence. God’s motive is always love for His children. You can trust Him.

To be fully free, we must have the desire, the ability, and the opportunity to do what will make us happy forever. No regrets.
And only Jesus, the Son of God who died and rose for us, can make that possible. If the Son shall set you free, you shall be free indeed.

Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

What God is showing here through Paul’s letter is how we should learn how to use Love to be a witness AND become one body.
– but not just a heartfelt love or something that was feelings, but:
* a love that will forgive regardless of ‘who did it’,
*a love that does not have conditions. Too many times we attach conditions to loving a brother or sister in Christ- that ‘they should know better’, or that ‘they gotta show their love to me first’, or things like that.
But Paul is reiterating something Jesus said- that love & forgiveness are two pillars that we cannot just take lightly!!

We MUST love our brothers and sisters in Christ, otherwise OUR Faith is nothing to those who are outside!

To see if I am loving Laura, family, friends properly- I put my name in for Love when reading: 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.
Do we love like that above??????

God, You do not deal with us as we deserve, but in Your mercy and grace, You forgive us through Christ!
Lord, thank you for the precious gift of your Spirit. Help me to stay on the path you have laid out for me and not wander off in my own direction. Open my eyes and ears so that I can hear your voice and follow you. You are so good to me and so patient with me!
Give me more of Your Forgiving Spirit!
I love you! Help me to Love more with your supernatural Love! In Jesus Name! Amen