The Power of Forgiveness in Biblical Teachings
The concept of forgiveness is deeply rooted in Biblical teachings, emphasizing the importance of forgiving others as a reflection of the mercy and grace we receive. Through parables and scripture verses, the message is clear: forgiveness is not just a suggestion but a commandment, illustrating the transformative nature of offering and receiving forgiveness.
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Forgiveness Forgiveness Why Must I forgive? Its not my problem Its not my fault
Scripture texts Matthew 6: 12-15 Matthew 18:21-28 Luke 6:37 Luke 15 Luke 23:34 Col. 3:13 Eph. 4:31-32
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant Mtt 21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times? 22Jesus answered, I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold[was brought to him. 25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. Mtt. 18:21 . 18:21- -35 35
26At this the servant fell on his knees before him. Be patient with me, he begged, and I will pay back everything. 27The servant s master took pity on him, cancelled the debt and let him go. 28 But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. Pay back what you owe me! he demanded. 29 His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.
30 But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 Then the master called the servant in. You wicked servant, he said, I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33Shouldn t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you? 34In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.
Forgiveness Forgiveness Jesus command not a suggestion or mere advice - that we love our enemies is perhaps the most challenging element of Christian life.
Forgiveness Forgiveness Grace is what we receive that we don t deserve. Forgiveness is what we show to those who do not deserve it. Why should we forgive the person who does not deserve our forgiveness? We forgive because it is an act of Mercy
Forgiveness Forgiveness The act of forgiveness comes from God. Forgiveness is the only natural remedy for sin. Our sins are forgiven by God and God wants us to be like him in forgiving
God in charity poured his love, mercy and forgiveness on us. For God, love and mercy are the same. Jesus makes it clear to us: Unless you forgive your brother and sister from your heart, you will not be forgiven your sin . Mtt. 18:35. If we hold others in slavery and captivity, God will hold us to ours.
When we pray the Our Father, we recognize our common Father. We ask him to be merciful and he has given us same power of mercy towards others. If we want to be as Our Father , we have to learn to do what he does.
By forgiving, I am beginning to understand that it is an act of faith. By forgiving, I am trusting that God is a better judge and justice-maker than I am. By forgiving, I release and give up my own right to get even. I leave in God s hands the issues of fairness; I leave it to him to balance the scales between justice and mercy.
Forgiveness and Justice Forgiveness and Justice Many times we are slow to forgive because we seek justice Justice is what everyone deserve. When others offend us we want justice, but when we commit similar offence, we seek mercy
Through the sacrament of reconciliation we have received the forgiveness of Christ. This is the same forgiveness God is asking us to show to others
We have to admit that forgiveness is unfair. Wrong does not disappear when I forgive, but it loses its grip on me, releases me from the jail of hatred, and the matter is handed over to God who knows what to do about it. Such a decision involves some risk: God may not deal with the person as I want.
Not to forgive simply imprisons me in the past. The first and often the only person to be healed by forgiveness is the person who does the forgiveness. When we genuinely forgive, we set a prisoner free, and we then discover that the prisoner we set free is oneself. It is a kind of spiritual surgery .
THE PROCESS OF FORGIVENESS THE PROCESS OF FORGIVENESS 1. Forgiveness is a process for our own healing; it is not something we do for the person who hurt us 2. Forgiveness is one-sided; i.e. I change my thinking, feeling and behavior towards the person who hurt me 3. Forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation, which seeks to restore a relationship with someone who hurt me
THE PROCESS OF FORGIVENESS THE PROCESS OF FORGIVENESS 4. Forgiveness does not have to wait for the offender to apologize; that puts the power and timing of healing in the offender s hand rather than my own. This is why God is God. He does not need our permission before we are forgiven. This is why Jesus forgave easily because the power of forgiveness lies in his power not from the people. God s forgiveness emanates from Love. 5. Forgiveness can be assisted with God s grace instead of trying to do it all on my own
Is there someone in my life I still hold grudge against because they hurt me and have never asked for forgiveness? Are there sins within me that I need to ask for forgiveness? Can I make a step in asking forgiveness from the one I have offended?
