Journey with Jesus Change Your World… Love & Forgiveness

And this is the life we live and teach others so we Multiply!

Love one another

Forgive one another

“Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” Luke 17:3-4 Matthew 18: 15-35

“ Even when a person does not repent, Matthew 18:17; we are commanded to love our enemy and pray for those who persecute us and do good to those who hate us. Luke 6:27 The difference is that when a person who wronged us does not repent with contrition and confession and conversion (turning from sin to righteousness), he cuts off the full work of forgiveness. We can still lay down our ill will; we can hand over our anger to God; we can seek to do him good; but we cannot carry through reconciliation or intimacy.” Dr. John Piper

1.Christians should always love their enemies and have a gracious disposition, making forgiveness available to the offender Forgiveness ready but moving toward reconciled 2. Forgiveness is always connected to reconciliation, which involves – Forbearance – overlooking the offence OR Restoration– addressing the offence (Romans 15:14; Gal. 6:1,2)

As you thought about the application of forgiveness in your world this week, what did you hear the Holy Spirit teaching you? What further questions or thoughts came to you?

What are the consequences of not forgiving? 14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Hebrews 12:14,15

3. What about those who see no need for restoration ?... There is a sense of God’s justice and righteousness must factor into the equation where vengeance and judgment is left to God for the unrepentant and we love as an enemy the unrestored by our LOVE in action Romans 12 – How to overcome evil Psalm 37- trust, dwell, delight, commit, wait

Forbearance or Confrontation? Factors in Forgiveness Q1? Christ follower or non-Christ follower 9 When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. 10 But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. I Cor. 5

11 I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people. 12 It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. 13 God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”

5 I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me. 6 Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough. 7 Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement. 8 So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him. 2 Cor. 2

Forbearance 8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. I Peter 4:8 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3

The Goal of Forgiveness is RESTORATION “sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols.” TO GOD AND TO ONE ANOTHER With one caught in sin to God Galatians 6:1 sexual sin-1 Cor. 6; idols-1 John 5:21

The Goal of Forgiveness is RESTORATION “sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols.” TO GOD AND TO ONE ANOTHER With one caught in sin toward one another greedy-1 Cor. 6 – “defraud brothers” cheat-Luke 20:47;Acts 5

What examples are there of sins against us? 1.Bodily injury “slaps you on the face…” Mt. 5:39 2.Personal property “takes your cloak …” Mt. 5:40 3.Using you “forces you to go one mile…”Mt. 5:41