1. THE SIN OF FORGIVENESS Matthew 18:21-35

2. Introduction Why even ask about forgiving another? Do we seek to avoid forgiving? Are we to forgive others even if they have not repented? Can we forgive in behalf of others?

3. Forgiving The Shooter The fact that the shooting had happened during prayer circle seemed significant to me. I had often attended the early morning prayer meeting, and I felt both blessed I had been late that morning and guilty I hadn't been attending the prayer circle more regularly.

4. Forgiving The Shooter My simultaneous feelings of guilt and gratitude manifested in a driving desire to forgive Michael Carneal. I went to the library and spent hours making signs with several of my classmates to display in the school windows.

5. Forgiving The Shooter "We forgive you, Michael," they read. There was also the one I can never forget: "We forgive you because God forgave us.“ ---Sarah Stewart Holland, 16 yrs old at the time of the shooting on December 1, 1997 at Heath High School in Paducah, KY (Atlantic Monthly, December 17, 2012)

6. Seems Impossible to Forgive The wrong committed was great We are angry Some anger is proper (Matthew 21:12, 13) Anger can be destructive (Ephesians 4:26) Cannot return evil for evil (Romans 12:17) Approach the sinner (Matthew 18:15-17)

7. When Do We Forgive? Genuine repentance (2 Samuel 12:1-15;1 John 3:4) Assurance that God forgives (Psalm 32:1-11; Romans 4:6-8) Repentance (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 17:30) Christian must repent (Acts 8:22-24) Christians must confess their sins (Psalm 51:1-17; James 5:16; 1 John 1:9)

8. Why Must We Forgive Others? A command from God (Matthew 6:14, 15) Taught His disciples (Luke 23:34, 43) Gratitude for our own forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32) Desire for them to be blessed also

9. Conclusion We must forgive those who sin against us when conditions are met Cannot lead them to think they are right when they are not Make sure that God’s will has been followed