Generations Church
Forgiveness is a process. It takes time. It is costly and hard. It is the restoring of relationships by releasing a painful past with an attitude of love. Nothing keeps us in bondage to the past as much as our unwillingness to forgive. In this series we will explore: the depths of God’s grace to forgive others, what the Bible says about conflict with other Christians, Biblical conflict resolution, how to know I have forgiven, and receiving God’s forgiveness for our own lives.
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Forgive, Forgiving, Forgiven
Exodus 21, Matthew 5
In this series we will explore:
• The depths of God’s grace to forgive others
• What the Bible says about conflict with other Christians
• Biblical conflict resolution
• How to know I have forgiven
• Receiving God’s forgiveness
The World Before the Old Testament Law
The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. Genesis 6:5-6
But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. Exodus 21:23-25
If anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. As he has injured the other, so he is to be injured. Leviticus 24:19-20
1. Old Testament laws of retribution:
• It should only be done with approval of religious or civil authorities
• The punishment should always be in proportion to the wrong committed.
• It limited the retribution that an offender would have to endure.
...I killed a man because he hit me... Genesis 4:23
2. What did Jesus say about the law of retribution?
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:38-44
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15
Retribution:
• Taking revenge on your enemy makes you even with him.
• Never gives closure to the heart, only the satisfaction of the revenge.
Jesus teaches forgiveness.
• Forgiveness is a choice to no longer hold a sin or transgression against the offender and to not seek any form of revenge or retribution.
• Think about the “injustice of forgiveness.”
Forgiveness sets you free.
“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” Lewis Smedes
3. Forgiveness, what are the rules?
• Keep forgiving!
“Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
“I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.”
Matthew 18:21-22
• Forgiving does not condone the offense.
• Forgiving does not pretend that the offense never happened.
• Forgiving does not mean allowing others to continually take advantage of you.
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalms 147:3
Ask God for grace to forgive those that have hurt or offended us.
For additional reading about forgiveness, check out the YouVersion devotional below.
