QUESTION: Do you have anyone in your life you are having trouble forgiving?

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Ephesians 4: 32

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” John 8:1-11

Jesus chose forgiveness over judgement

#1: Forgiveness is amazing!

Forgiveness—believe it

• 1 John 1: 9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to purify us from all unrighteousness.”
• Psalm 51:1-4. He says, “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. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight.”
• II Corinthians 7:10, it says, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

#2: Forgiveness- apply it

• Matt 6:14-15. Jesus said,“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.”
• Romans 12:19 “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written, ‘It is mine to avenge, I will repay, says the Lord.’”

#3: Forgiveness—accept it

• “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my confess my transgressions to the LORD.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin.” Psalm 32:5.
• Your vertical relationship with God will be weakened when your horizontal relationships with others are strained.

CHALLENGE:

Today is your time to drop you rock(s). If you don’t want to drop it today, keep it with you until God convicts you.