To understand our

, we must first understand God’s mercy and

Reveal Answer

to forgive.

Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” Matthew 18:21–22 NLT

Forgiveness has both

and

Reveal Answer

dimensions.

• A gracious act of God by which believers are put into a

by faith in Jesus Christ through His sacrifice on the cross.

• An ongoing gift of God provided to His followers freeing us from a life of

and

Reveal Answer

.

• An act and attitude of the believer toward those who have

which restores relationships and renews fellowship.

Discovering the Power of Forgiveness

1) The divine dimension of forgiveness

•

needs forgiveness

When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” Genesis 3:8–10 NLT

So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. Genesis 3:23 NLT

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin… . Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow… . Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Psalm 51:1–2, 7, 10 NLT

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Romans 3:23 NLT

• God’s plan of forgiveness in the Old Testament

The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared. But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. Hebrews 10:1–3 NLT

“What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?” says the Lord. “I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened cattle. I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.” … “Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed… . ” Isaiah 1:11, 16–17 NLT

But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward. Jeremiah 7:24 NLT

I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6 NLT

is a forgiving God!

• Jesus’s expression of forgiveness in the New Testament

Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. Romans 3:24 NLT

But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Hebrews 10:12 NLT

Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:5 NLT

offers forgiveness!

2) The human dimensions of forgiveness

… and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. Matthew 6:12 NLT

But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:15 NLT

Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, “You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?” Matthew 18:32–33 NLT

Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 NLT

Healthy hearts

!

Memory Verse

Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 NLT

Next Steps

I will quickly forgive those who have hurt me just as Jesus has forgiven me.

I will join a Connection Group today.