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Matthew 18:21-35
Recap from last week
- There is no limit in forgiveness.
- Forgiveness agrees there is an unplayable debt
- You can never justify NOT forgiving someone
- Forgiving others is essential to godly character
What forgiveness is NOT
- Downplaying the hurt
- Not forgetting
- The absence of future accountability
Forgiveness Q&A
Q: Does forgiveness mean I have to let people walk all over me?
A. No. Forgiveness is a refusal to go on the offensive; it is the refusal to seek vengeance. It does not mean making excuses for other people’s sin or overlooking abuse or denying that others tried to hurt you.
Q. Does forgiveness always lead to reconciliation?
A. No. Reconciliation requires forgiveness, but forgiveness does not demand full reconciliation. Forgiveness depends on you. Reconciliation depends on you plus the other person.
Romans 12:18, Hebrews 12:14
Q. Are we called to seek forgiveness in any certain way or grant forgiveness only when asked a certain way?
A. The true power of words is their attachment to the affections and motives of your heart.
Q. Does forgiveness remove consequences?
A. No. There are natural consequences of sin.
Q. How do we forgiven when the other person is not repentant?
A. It is difficult. Godly sorrow leads to repentance. Worldly sorrow does not.
Think of forgiveness in two phases.
Phase 1: Releasing the bitterness. (Not optional)
Phase 2: Restoring the relationship. (Requires discernment and time spent observing the deeds and fruits of genuine repentance.