We Must Forgive Others?

Why Must we Forgive Others?

ForGIVEness is an act of GIVING — of giving someone the “grace” or “unmerited favor” of God

The most important thing that we learn today is FORGIVENESS. It’s the most difficult thing to do in this world, be it to forgive ourself or forgive others.
Forgiveness is a choice. It is not a feeling. It is an act of will.
*Don’t wait to forgive until you feel like forgiving, you will never get there. Feelings take time to heal after the choice to forgive is made.

*True love always looks like Jesus, True love is sacrificial, true love is always willing to serve.

Only because of Jesus are we able to extend unconditional forgiveness. If we love and serve Him, He will give us the grace we need to forgive others.
* “…for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 2:10
*If you don’t forgive quickly you open the door for the devil to gain an advantage against you!
*When we forgive, we show Satan that “we are not ignorant of his designs” and that we can have victory over him through Christ’s grace and the example of forgiveness that He has given us to follow. Jesus has won the Victory already
Forgiveness is a decision I’m making.
In Matthew 6:14–15 Jesus said, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But, [don’t miss this] if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Now, sometimes a passage of Scripture seems complicated as soon as you read it. That’s not the case when we realize what Matthew 6:14–15 says. Jesus’ words are stunningly clear. Read them again above.

Do you get it? I mean, those are pretty serious verses, right? Not hard to understand—just hard to undertake.
(I know because I’m working through it myself).  You read the verses and think, “That’s gonna leave a mark! I’m going to have to look again at how forgiving I am.” That’s nothing you want to be messing around about, or sort-of getting it right. The verses aren’t complicated—but they will definitely complicate your life if you are an un-forgiving person!

We often forget this but . . . God won’t forgive us unless we forgive others.
*His forgiveness is utterly conditioned on our faithfulness to forgive.
*So, if we say “we can’t forgive” . . . what we’re essentially saying is “we can’t be forgiven”.
*We forfeit forgiveness by not forgiving.
If you can’t seem to forgive someone, ask God to help you forgive so that you may be forgiven.
*And you know what, that’s a prayer God’s going to answer every single time.

And it’s not saying that you get saved by forgiving. It is saying that people who are really are saved are forgiving people, increasingly so.
* Not perfectly, not entirely, but increasingly we are more and more forgiving.
***As the love of Christ penetrates our hearts more and more deeply and more and more genuinely, we just become more forgiving people.
*Mark 11:25 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.”
*Forgiveness is one of the expected by-products of genuine salvation.

You ought to be the most forgiving person that you work with. Out of all the people, when they talk about you, they’re like, “Man, he’s not a guy who holds grudges. He’s just not someone who finds fault.” “She doesn’t try to make people pay, she just lets it go. She just moves on. She’s not petty.” “He’s not a scorekeeper. He’s just not like that. He’s forgiving; that’s what he is.” That’s what people ought to be saying about you. The more you get to know Jesus, the more it ought to be true in your life that you choose forgiveness

“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.  Above all, clothe yourselves with love…”. (Colossians 3:13,14)
*The foundation for a healthy relationship is Love, and the four cornerstones are Loyalty, Kindness, Respect and Forgiveness.

If you will cooperate with the work the Lord is doing in you and in His Body, the Lord will bring you into a wide place, and you will be released from restrictions that have kept you from moving freely with the flow of His Spirit.  Some of these restrictions have been the result of your interaction with other people, and some restrictions have been of your own making and choices.  Now is the time when you can establish yourself in greater freedom than you have ever known.
* John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Lord I do forgive but just don’t feel the peace after turning it over to You. Help me Lord in this area of unforgiveness. I know You are a Just Judge –I Give You the situation. Thank You Jesus-Thank You!
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.  Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (Eph. 4:31,32).
Amen!!!
1 Peter 4:8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.