Forgiveness: Why Bother?

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Sermon Notes
Scripture: Ephesians 1:6-7
“Forgiveness: Why?”

True forgiveness is not:

  1. Forgiveness is not forgetting. (Colossians 2:13-14)
  2. Forgiveness is not condoning. (2 Corinthians 5:17-18)
  3. Forgiveness is not absolving those who hurt us. (1 John 2:1-2)
  4. Forgiveness is not self-sacrifice or being a martyr. (Hebrews 8:12)
  5. Forgiveness is not a one time decision; it is a process. (Mark 11:25)

What is forgiveness?

  1. It’s a discovery; the byproduct of ongoing healing; a process that heals so we can forgive. (Isaiah 55:7)
  2. Forgiveness is something that happens as a sign of positive self-esteem. (Isaiah 1:18)
  3. We recognize that we no longer need our hatred, no longer need to punish people. (Colossians 3:13)
  4. Forgiveness puts the energy of rage, anger and resentment back into healing. (Jeremiah 33:8)

The simple truth is we are to forgive in obedience to God forgiving us. In this obedience comes valuable lessons of healing, peace, glorifying God’s grace and mercy and never allowing our anger or resentment to guide our lives.