1. Gagging Jesus: Forgiveness What is Forgiveness: Human forgiveness: “To stop blaming or being angry with someone for something they have done, or not punish them for something.” Cambridge Dictionary

2. Gagging Jesus: Forgiveness God’s forgiveness: 1.Is not dependent on the wrong doer apologising (Romans 5:10 & Colossians 1:20-22). 2.Is not dependent on our goodness but God’s (Mathew 18:22). 3.It requires that we love our enemies (Mat 5:44 & Eph 2:1-7). 4.It enables relationships to be restored (Romans 12:18).

3. Gagging Jesus: Forgiveness God’s forgiveness is Heavenly: It’s divine in nature! It’s proactive, it’s limitless, it seeks a person’s good and it enables the relationship to be restored.

4. Gagging Jesus: Forgiveness Heaven’s way & The Father’s requirement: Commanded to forgive (Mathew 6:15). Called to represent the Father (Mathew 5:44). Commanded to be perfect (Mathew 5:48).

5. Gagging Jesus: Forgiveness Why is forgiveness so important: God wants to bless you (Luke 6:36-38). Unforgiveness hinders the work of the Holy- Spirit in our lives. Unforgiveness is like cancer to us. Unforgiveness leads to torture (Mathew 18:32-35). You can not have two masters (Mathew 6:24).

6. Gagging Jesus: Forgiveness The Grace to forgive: Godlike forgiveness flows from our understanding of the cross. Our debt is in the billions with God, how can we not forgive? At the cross our perspective is altered from earthly to heavenly.