FORGIVE AS WE WERE FORGIVEN Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ

God forgave you. Forgiveness starts with God, comes down to us, and then goes out to other people, or it comes from God to us and go out to us. This is what Ephesians 4:32 says. We are to forgive as God has forgiven us. Gospel also tells us "Love those who hate you." In our society we don't know how to forgive we look to get even. Or we say, "I forgive that person, but I won't forget."True forgiveness means forgetting, and washing the slate clean. Forgiving people can be one of the toughest things that Christ commands us to do, but it is something that we are commanded to do. But before forgiveness takes place there is always a price to be paid. 1) What is forgivness Forgiveness is a choice, not a feeling. God never says, Forgive them if you feel like it. Forgiveness is not about your feelings. If you have been deeply hurt, you will probably never feel like forgiving someone. Forgiveness is a choice, a decision you make in your heart. It is a choice to release others from their sins against you. Thats why I Corinthians 13:5 tells us that love keeps no record of wrongs. Forgiveness means letting go of the anger and the desire for revenge. Seen in its true light, forgiveness is an act of mercy toward the offender. Sometimes we hear people say, He doesnt deserve to be forgiven. Of course he doesnt. No one deserves forgiveness. Forgiveness isnt earned, and if a person could earn forgiveness, he wouldnt need it in the first place. It is a gift of mercy that you give to someone who has hurt you. When you forgive, God knows and you know, and thats all that matters. And the end result is a change in the way you feel and act toward that other person. 2) We must forgive to be forgiven. Jesus says it in a number of places: in Matthew 7:2 For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. in Matthew 18:35 ``This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.( in Mark 11:25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. Paul says it in Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. James says it in James 2:13

because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! It covers the New Testament. If we do not forgive those who harm us, God will not forgive us! 3) How do we know when we have truly forgiven? Here is a simple answer to this question. You know you have forgiven when you A. no longer think about it day and night, B. no longer have to talk about it all the time, C. no longer feel the need to seek revenge, D. no longer live in bitterness and anger, E. can recall those who hurt you and can wish them well. When you feel a heavy weight has been lifted from your heart and mind you will know that Jesus has taken the suffering and pain from you. And that will be your change in attitude. Jesus Christ, died for forgiveness, therefore it is only through Him that we can forgive! We do not have the power on our own to forgive. God gave us forgiveness through Jesus Christ. 4) Is forgiveness an event or a process? It is not easy to forgive, but God in his grace gives us the power to do it. We are able to forgive because God is in charge. The answer is yes. It is both an event in the sense that you must at some point decide to forgive. And it is a process that often must be repeated over time., forgiveness isnt a tool for manipulating people into having a good relationship with you. No one can force another person to be reconciled. That must come from a heart prompted by Gods Holy Spirit. When it comes down to it, there are two very good reasons to forgive that have nothing to do with the other person: A. You should forgive because God has commanded it. B. You should forgive because forgiveness is good for your own soul. that.

Forgiveness is an act of faith, because we are saying, "if there is any punishment that is needed, or any giving of mercy, God will look after it just fine." Paul says in Romans 12:19-21 "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Conclusion We must forgive those who have hurt us. because God commands it, because our own forgiveness hinges on it, but also because it is the best thing for us. When we refuse to forgive the bitterness grows like a cancer with in us and it eats away at us, causing stress and illness and great lack of joy. The only therapy for this cancer is the surgery of forgiveness. When we refuse to forgive, we allow the sin that was committed against us to hurt us twice: once when we were first sinned against, and again by keeping us from receiving Gods forgiveness. We need to stop the pain and forgive. If God has moved the fence for us, can we not do the same for others? If God found a way to include us in his love, can we not reach out to include those who have sinned against us? This is the very heart of the gospel. What God has freely done for us, we are called to do for others. The heart of God is filled with love and at its center stands a cross. Through that cross we have been forgiven. May God give us grace to move the fence for others as God has moved the fence for us.