Finally adding the rest of the key passages.

I will post what I added to Forgiveness #5 here for a few days and then delete it.

Everything is all in one place in this post.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

An acknowledgment of our own need for forgiveness.

A faith in God to honor our own sincere request for forgiveness again.

Romans 12:19

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

A release of our own desire and actions of revenge. (The essence of personal forgiveness)

A trust in God to handle, with proper concern for the offense, the need for vengeance.

“What if they repent and He forgives them!”

Special look at Romans 12:17-21

*Christian conduct should never betray the high moral standards of the gospel, or it will provoke disdain among believers and bring the Gospel into disrepute.

*Christians are to respect what is intrinsically proper and honest. “Good” carries the idea of visible and obviously having the right behavior when they are around others, especially unbelievers.

*You don’t have to get along with everyone, but you don’t be the one causing the problems.

*Doing good to one’s enemy (v 21) instead of trying to take revenge may bring about his repentance.

Proverbs 25:22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

Don’t contribute to the evil. The goal is to bring them to Christ.

The coals of fire could have come from an Egyptian custom.

When a person wanted to demonstrate public contrition, he would carry on his head a pan of burning coals to represent the burning pain of his shame and guilt. The point here is that, when we love our enemy and genuinely seek to meet his needs, we shame him for his hatred.” MacArthur, J. (1996, c1991, c1994). Romans. Chicago: Moody Press.

*If the only thing that happens through my releasing my right to revenge is that the righteousness of God is revealed in my life–it’s all worth my holding this position.

 

What have we learned from looking at these passages?

*God has addressed the issue of forgiveness: our need to seek forgiveness and to grant forgiveness.

*God’s Word acknowledges that serious real life offenses take place which require a Biblical response. The expected response is not vague or obscure.

*God’s perspective on forgiveness focuses on the offended having appropriate attitudes, initiating proper actions of reconciliation.

*What if God waited for us before initiating forgiveness?

*My response before God as a Christian has nothing to do with them.

Summary

*I need to forgive as God has forgiven me. Eph 4:32

*I need to have God’s perspective. The offended one initiates actions of forgiveness.

Rom 5:1-11

*I need to accept others as they are. I must recognize that I too have idiosyncrasies.

Eph 4:2

*I need to be ready to receive the sincer request for forgiveness (as often as it is requested) from those who have offended me. Mt 18:21,22. YES, things may need to be dealt with.

*I need to remember that I offend God and others and need to seek and accept forgiveness for my wrongs. 1 John 1:9

*I need to release my own desire for revenge and trust God to handle any need for judgment. Rom 12:19

 

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