Genesis 50:15-21 NIV

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said,
“What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all
the wrongs we did to him?” So they sent word to Joseph, saying,
“Your father left these instructions before he died: ‘This is what you
are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and
the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please
forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their
message came to him, Joseph wept.
His brothers then came and threw themselves down before
him. “We are your slaves,” they said.
But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of
God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to
accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So
then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And
he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

What is biblical forgiveness?

1. Giving up my right to

for the offense… it is not denying the offense.

Ephesians 4:15
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every
respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

2. Releasing my right to

… it is not releasing the need for justice.

3. Letting go of

… it is not

Reveal Answer

.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is
not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not
easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

4. Dependent on

… not on the other person.

“The forgiveness that Joseph extended to his brothers, was emerely the

of the Grace that God had extended to him”

Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

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.

5. Freedom… it is not necessarily

.
Matthew 18:34-35
In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”