1. The Mechanics of Forgiveness

2. WORD STUDY Old Testament words related to forgiveness:
Salach – Pardon
Kipper – Atonement
Nasa – Taking away

3. I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.
- Psalm 32:5

4. Acts of Mercy/Forgiveness in O.T.
Spies sparing Rahab – Joshua 2:12-14
David sparing Mephibosheth – II Sam. 9:3
Esau reconciling with Jacob – Gen. 33
Joseph sparing his brothers – Gen. 50:15-21

5. GOD
FORGIVENESS

6. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
- Ephesians 4:32

7. 21 Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
- Matthew 18:21-22

9. How do I Forgive?

10. Forgiveness – Definitions
Webster – Stop feelings of anger

11. Forgiveness – Definitions
Webster – Stop feelings of anger
Psychologist – Release negative feelings

12. Forgiveness – Definitions
Webster – Stop feelings of anger
Psychologist – Release negative feelings
Bible – Let go

13. “And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”
- Luke 11:4

14. Agape is the main motive for forgiveness

15. [Love] does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
- I Corinthians 13:5

16. What forgiveness is not
Condoning offensive behavior

17. What forgiveness is not
Condoning offensive behavior
Pretending that the offense never happened

18. What forgiveness is not
Condoning offensive behavior
Pretending that the offense never happened
Letting others take advantage of you

19. What forgiveness is not
Condoning offensive behavior
Pretending that the offense never happened
Letting others take advantage of you
Pardoning with no basis

20. 13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. 14 How blessed is the man who fears always, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
- Proverbs 28:13-14

21. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
- Psalm 37:8

22. What forgiveness is not
Condoning offensive behavior
Pretending that the offense never happened
Letting others take advantage of you
Pardoning with no basis
Forgiving every perceived offense and slight

23. Do not be eager in your heart to be angry,
For anger resides in the bosom of fools.
- Ecclesiastes 7:9

24. The Mechanics of Forgiveness

25. The Mechanics of Forgiveness
Define the offense clearly and truthfully

26. DAVID & BATHSHEBA
1 Then the Lord sent Nathan to David. And he came to him and said, “There were two men in one city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 “The rich man had a great many flocks and herds.
- II Samuel 12:1-2

27. “But the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb Which he bought and nourished; And it grew up together with him and his children. It would eat of his bread and drink of his cup and lie in his bosom, And was like a daughter to him.
- II Samuel 12:3

28. “Now a traveler came to the rich man, And he was unwilling to take from his own flock or his own herd, To prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him; Rather he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”
- II Samuel 12:4

29. 5 Then David’s anger burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, surely the man who has done this deserves to die. 6 He must make restitution for the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and had no compassion.”
- II Samuel 12:5-6

30. Nathan then said to David, “You are the man!
- II Samuel 12:7

31. David’s Hard Conscience Permitted Him to:
Take another man’s wife

32. David’s Hard Conscience Permitted Him to:
Take another man’s wife
Plot a murder

33. David’s Hard Conscience Permitted Him to:
Take another man’s wife
Plot a murder
Lie to the nation

34. One-size-fits-all forgiveness rarely brings closure.

35. “Until you find the true source of the offense and turn it off (through forgiveness), it will continue to leak negative emotions.”

36. The Mechanics of Forgiveness
Define the offense clearly and truthfully
Let go … really!

37. Understand that forgiveness is a command, not a suggestion.
How to “Let Go”
Understand that forgiveness is a command, not a suggestion.

38. Stop the mental churning
How to “Let Go”
Stop the mental churning
[Love] does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, - I Corinthians 13:5

39. but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
- Philippians 3:13b-14

40. The Mechanics of Forgiveness
Define the offense clearly and truthfully
Let go … really!
Cancel the debt

41. 10,000 Talents = $7 Billion

42. Forgiveness requires cancelling the debt (apology, justice, compensation) we are owed.

43. The healing doesn’t start until the debt is paid.

44. Review – Forgiveness requires:
Articulation of the offense
Letting go
Cancelling of the debt

45. Is your debt to God paid off?