Forgiveness

I. Forgiveness
a. Forgiveness defined
b. Webster: to grant relief from payment
c. Dictionary.com: to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.);
absolve.
d. Absolve: to free from guilt or blame or their consequences
e. Sin: (Strong's Dictionary) that which is done wrong, sin, an offence, a violation of
the divine law in thought or in act
f. Rom 8:1 no more condemnation
g. (The New Unger's Bible Dictionary) the declaring of an evildoer to be guilty
h. It doesn’t just go away. It can persist until you apply the Word. Reach the place
of no regrets.

II. What Forgiveness is not:

a. Evidence that sin is no big deal.
i. Your sin is not as bad as you thought it was, it’s worse!
ii. Should have never been removed, separated us from God, left us
condemned, sent us to eternal punishment in hell.
iii. It is so big only God could get us free from its affects. We couldn’t do a
thing about it. We’re not trying to minimize our mistakes or make light of
sin. It is bad worse than we thought.
b. It’s not cheap even though it’s free.
c. It’s not just Ignoring the facts,
i. Mind over matter just a way to put it out of your mind so it doesn’t
bother you. I’m not trying to be positive just to make you feel better
about your past.
d. It’s not God sweeping your sins under the rug and acting as if you are innocent.
e. Not proof that God doesn’t care what you do.
f. Is not an indication that God has changed His mind about sin from Old
Testament times to New. Or that somehow God has softened in His stance
against sin. That now He’s changed He’s older and gentler like a Grandfather in
the sky. He doesn’t change. His views don’t change, His standards don’t change.
g. Apply the Word. Reach the place of no regrets.
i. Rom 8:1 no more condemnation. (Webster) to declare to be
reprehensible, wrong, or evil
ii. Hebrews 9:14 (NKJV) how much more shall the blood of Christ, who
through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse
your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
iii. 1 John 3:20-22 (NKJV) For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than
our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not
condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask
we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those
things that are pleasing in His sight.

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 h. What Jesus did He did for you and it will impact your life today as we apply the
Word of God to your life.
III. Forgiveness promised and preached
a. Matt 1:21 Save His people from their sins
b. Acts 5:31 repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins
c. Acts 13:38 Eph 1:7 Col 1:14
IV. One sacrifice forever
a. Heb 9:24-26,28 Once for all
b. Hebrews 10:12
V. No remembrance.
a. Heb 8
b. Heb 10:17-18
c. No more offering
d. The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
e. Luke 18:9 (NKJV) 9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves
that they were righteous, and despised others:
VI. No more guilt
a. Rev 20:11-15 The dead were judged by the things written in the books
b. Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which
was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; (KJV)
c. (Lau) God crossed out the whole debt against us in His account books. He no
longer counted the laws we had broken. He nailed the account book to the cross
and closed the account.
d. (Pl Eng) He destroyed the record of the debts standing against us...He nailed it to
the cross and put it out of sight.
VII. No Condemnation
a. Rom 8:33-34 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God
that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather,
that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh
intercession for us. (KJV)
b. Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation
c. 1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if
any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
(KJV)
d. Rich young got ruler, what must I do to be saved. Tried to work for it himself.
e. Mark 10:17 (NKJV) Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler
f. (Matt. 19:16–22; Luke 18:18–23) 17 Now as He was going out on the road, one
came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do
that I may inherit eternal life?”
g. Woman caught in adultry.
h. John 8:4 (NKJV) they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery,
in the very act.
VIII. Forgiveness:
a. Webster: to grant relief from payment
b. if you’re not forgiven you owe, if you are forgiven your debt has been paid.

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 c. Ephesians 1:7 (NKJV) In Him we have redemption through His blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
d. Rom 8:1
e. 1 John 3:20-21
f. Rom 8:33-34
g. 1 John 3:21-22 (NKJV) 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have
confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because
we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
h. Jesus Restores Peter
i. John 21:15 (NKJV) So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes,
Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
j. Forget the past look to the future.
IX. Prodigal son
a. Luke 15 After all the son had done wrong the Father was only looking for his
return. He didn’t punish him or try to teach him a lesson. He didn’t make him
rehearse everything he had done wrong, he didn’t send him into mourning or
grieving for a period of time. He paid little attention to the sons offer to come
back as a hired servant.
b. Luke 15:20 (NKJV) “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a
great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his
neck and kissed him.
c. The Father’s response was to put the royal robe back on the son and the family
ring,
d. (Arch SB) all these were signs of position and acceptance.
e. (NSFLBnote) He does not even have a chance to finish his confession before his
father calls for a celebration of joy.
f. Kill the fatted calf and immediately begin the celebration.
g. Forget the past look to the future.
h. Luke 15:23 (NKJV) And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be
merry;
i. Even the older brother thought it was over the top.
j. To the Father it was all about relationship, fellowship, Love.
k. You may be tempted to go back and dig up the past and relive your failures but
the sin problem has been solved, your past sins are forgiven and if you want the
Father he wants to celebrate.
l. He made sin go away but He won’t make you come back. If you do, there is
celebration Heaven.
m. Luke 15:4 the lost sheep
n. Luke 15:8 The lost coin

X. Forgiving Others
a. 70x7
b. Increase our faith Luke 17:3
c. Mark 11:25 if you have ought
d. The unforgiving servant
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e. 70x7 Matt 18:21
f. God allows us to be the bigger person to do the right thing even if others don’t.
g. Personal responsibility
h. Romans 12:18 (NKJV) If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably
with all men.
i. We are not to offend while being instructed to do our best not to offend others.
j. Romans 14:3 (NKJV) Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let
not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.
k. Romans 14:13 (NKJV) Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but
rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s
way.
l. 1 Corinthians 10:24 (NKJV) Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s
well-being.
m. 1 Corinthians 10:31-32 (NKJV) Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever
you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the
Greeks or to the church of God,
n. 1 Corinthians 8:13 (NKJV) Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will
never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
o. We can do the right thing even if those around us do the wrong things.
p. 2 Timothy 2:5 (NKJV) And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned
unless he competes according to the rules.
q. Ephesians 4:31 (NKJV) Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking
be put away from you, with all malice.
r. Called to Blessing
s. 1 Peter 3:8-9 (NKJV) 8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for
one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning
evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you
were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
t. Suffering for Right and Wrong
u. 1 Peter 3:13-14 (NKJV) 13 And who is he who will harm you if you become
followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’
sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
v. 1 Peter 3:16-17 (NKJV) 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you
as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17
For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil