Bible Question BoxBible Question Box

Forgiving those who sin against usForgiving those who sin against us

2

Forgiving OthersForgiving OthersMatthew 18:21-35Matthew 18:21-35

• Our forgiveness depends on forgiving Our forgiveness depends on forgiving those who sin against us, those who sin against us, 18:21-22, 3518:21-22, 35

• HeartHeart of compassion, of compassion, 18:27, 3318:27, 33• ActionAction of forgiveness comes from such of forgiveness comes from such a heart,a heart, 18:27, 3518:27, 35

3

Question:Question:• Can you please clarify this for me?Can you please clarify this for me?

• Eph. 4:32Eph. 4:32 is used to say we are to forgive as is used to say we are to forgive as Christ forgives – meaning we forgive when Christ forgives – meaning we forgive when asked. asked.

• Mk. 11:25-26Mk. 11:25-26 is used to say we forgive even if is used to say we forgive even if the person in sin doesn’t ask for forgiveness.the person in sin doesn’t ask for forgiveness.

• As Christians are we to forgive another if they As Christians are we to forgive another if they do not ask us to forgive when sinned against?do not ask us to forgive when sinned against?

4

What is Forgiveness?What is Forgiveness?

• Forgive: “to send forth, send away”Forgive: “to send forth, send away”• Forgiveness: “a dismissal, release”Forgiveness: “a dismissal, release”

• Display of mercy,Display of mercy, Matt. 18:27Matt. 18:27• Cover, conceal, wipe away, Cover, conceal, wipe away, Rom. 4:7Rom. 4:7• Result: Pardon; no longer held guilty Result: Pardon; no longer held guilty ((Rom. 4:8Rom. 4:8))

5

Forgiving Sinners is an Forgiving Sinners is an act of…act of…

• Mercy & compassion (grace):Mercy & compassion (grace):• God’s mercy,God’s mercy, Psa. 51:1; Eph. 1:7Psa. 51:1; Eph. 1:7• Our mercy, Our mercy, Matt. 18:33Matt. 18:33

• Love:Love:• God’s love,God’s love, Rom. 5:8Rom. 5:8• Our love, Our love, 1 Jno. 4:7-11 (1 Pet. 4:8)1 Jno. 4:7-11 (1 Pet. 4:8)

6

Actually being forgiven is Actually being forgiven is the result of an obedient the result of an obedient faithfaith

• Sinner obtains forgiveness through Sinner obtains forgiveness through faith, faith, Eph. 2:8Eph. 2:8

• If we do not have faith to obey God’s If we do not have faith to obey God’s terms of forgiveness, we will not be terms of forgiveness, we will not be forgiven forgiven (cf. Acts 17:30)(cf. Acts 17:30)

7

Forgiveness is not…Forgiveness is not…

• Ignoring, permitting or overlooking sin Ignoring, permitting or overlooking sin (1 Pet. 4:8)(1 Pet. 4:8)

• Continuing to harbor ill will, Continuing to harbor ill will, resentment, bitterness, malice, anger, resentment, bitterness, malice, anger, etc. toward those who have sinned etc. toward those who have sinned against us against us (Eph. 4:31-32)(Eph. 4:31-32)

8

We must forgive as God We must forgive as God forgives us forgives us Eph. 4:32Eph. 4:32

• Completely, immediately, with finalityCompletely, immediately, with finality• Always (without limit), Always (without limit), Matt. 18:21-22Matt. 18:21-22• From heart, From heart, Matt. 18:35; Col. 3:12-14Matt. 18:35; Col. 3:12-14

• Mercy, grace & love, Mercy, grace & love, Psa. 86:5Psa. 86:5• Otherwise, not like God, Otherwise, not like God, Eph. 4:31; Col. Eph. 4:31; Col. 3:133:13

9

What about when sinner What about when sinner does not ask our does not ask our forgiveness? forgiveness? Mark 11:25-26Mark 11:25-26

• Must have a Must have a heartheart that is always ready that is always ready to practice forgiveness, to practice forgiveness, Matt. 18:35Matt. 18:35

• God does, God does, Lk. 23:34 (1 Ti. 2:3-4; Tit. 2:11)Lk. 23:34 (1 Ti. 2:3-4; Tit. 2:11)• We must, We must, Col. 3:12-13; Matt. 18:21-22Col. 3:12-13; Matt. 18:21-22

• Don’t hold grudges, do good, etc.,Don’t hold grudges, do good, etc., Eph. 4:31; Rom. 12:17-21Eph. 4:31; Rom. 12:17-21

• Stephen,Stephen, Acts 7:60 Acts 7:60

10

What about when sinner What about when sinner does not ask our does not ask our forgiveness? forgiveness? Mark 11:25-26Mark 11:25-26

• ActualActual forgiveness occurs when God’s forgiveness occurs when God’s conditions for forgiveness are met, conditions for forgiveness are met, Acts 26:17-18 (Matt. 7:21)Acts 26:17-18 (Matt. 7:21)

• God’s conditions:God’s conditions:• Become a Christian,Become a Christian, Acts 2:37-38, 41Acts 2:37-38, 41• Sinning Christian,Sinning Christian, Acts 8:22; 1 Jno. 1:9 Acts 8:22; 1 Jno. 1:9

11

What about when sinner What about when sinner does not ask our does not ask our forgiveness? forgiveness? Mark 11:25-26Mark 11:25-26

• We must give (practice) forgiveness We must give (practice) forgiveness when God’s conditions are met, when God’s conditions are met, Luke Luke 17:3-4; Matt. 18:21-22, 1517:3-4; Matt. 18:21-22, 15

• Sinner rebuked & disciplined, Sinner rebuked & disciplined, 1 Cor. 5:1, 1 Cor. 5:1, 4-54-5

• Sinner repents…Christians forgive him, Sinner repents…Christians forgive him, 2 Cor. 2:6-112 Cor. 2:6-11

12

Ephesians 4:32Ephesians 4:32• Yes,Yes, we must have we must have heartshearts of mercy of mercy & compassion that are & compassion that are readyready to to forgiveforgive even when sinners do not even when sinners do not repent repent (Lk. 23:34; Rom. 10:21)(Lk. 23:34; Rom. 10:21)

13

Luke 17:3-4Luke 17:3-4• No,No, we cannot we cannot actuallyactually forgive forgive (grant or give forgiveness) one (grant or give forgiveness) one who has not met God’s conditions who has not met God’s conditions for forgivenessfor forgiveness

14

Mark 11:25-26Mark 11:25-26• When God forgives & we forgive…When God forgives & we forgive…

• We will be forgiven!We will be forgiven!

• When God forgives & we do not…When God forgives & we do not…• We will not be forgiven!We will not be forgiven!

• WhenWhen God forgives & we do not…God forgives & we do not…• We are lost & need forgiveness!We are lost & need forgiveness!