1. The Grace Of Forgiveness Eph. 4:32
Spiritual Growth

2. Eph. 4:31
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

3. Bitterness = a heart ready to take offence at any word or act; the opposite of kindness and longsuffering
Wrath = worse than anger; outburst of rage fed by bitterness

4. Anger = a strong feeling of displeasure brought about by a wrong or a supposed wrong
Clamor = the out crying of anger; opposite of calmness and gentleness

5. Evil speaking = to utter words against God or man; the opposite of the Golden Rule
Malice = the desire that another person be hurt; ill-will toward another;

6. It can fester and smolder in the heart/mind of man until it destroys ones peace of mind and soul

7. Eph. 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

8. I. Why Should We Forgive?
1. Because we have been forgiven
The fact that we have received mercy should teach us to give mercy

9. Mt. 18:33-35
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

10. And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses

11. 2. We often stand in need of forgiveness
From the Lord
From our fellow man

12. Mt. 6:14-15
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

13. 3. That we may experience the joy known only to the forgiving heart
There is no joy in ill-will - spite

14. 4. That others may have joy
The greatest need of the world is forgiveness
Hearts hunger for it and rejoice when it is forgiven

15. 5. It is Christ-like
Lk. 23:34
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

16. II. How We Should Forgive
1. From the heart
Mt. 18:35
“So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”

17. To forgive is to forget
Heb. 8:12
“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”

18. 2. Without limit (No degrees of forgiveness)
Mt. 18:21-22 “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

19. 3. As Christ forgives
He forgives the darkest sins; completely; freely

20. Eph. 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you

21. III. The Evil Of Unforgiveness
It strangles the best within us – crucifies the higher self

22. It breaks the heart to pieces, wrecks one’s health etc.

23. Saxifrage plant - Rock breaker
Google Images

24. It crushes friendships
“Like a prison-wall, it isolates us from humanity and from God, giving to life a loneliness. --- God does not forgive the unforgiving” Frank L. Cox

25. Conclusion
Joseph forgave his brothers and did them good
David forgave Saul who was trying to kill him
Our Lord and Savior forgave his bitter enemies

26. 2 Pet. 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance

27. References
Material by Frank L. Cox