Forgiveness (Colossians #52)

Forgiveness

Text: Colossians 3:12

Forgiveness is restoration based on the acknowledgement of sin

  • Forgiveness is not turning a blind eye to sin, it requires the acknowledgement of sin.
  • Just because Jesus Christ shed His blood for you does that mean you were forgiven?  Or was there something required of you? Does God require something of you before He forgave you? Or were you automatically forgiven when Jesus died on the cross for you? Confession and repentance are required by God for forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.
  • Forgiveness is not blindly applied everywhere.

Forgiveness restores relationships but does not eliminate consequences

  • A person can be forgiven and still suffer consequences.  Someone that says they have sinned and may never recover, may never get their family back, may never be looked on favorably again, but their chief concern is between them and God.
  • David’s confession in Psalm 51:1-12
  • God can forgive you, as He did David, but that didn’t bring back the dead baby.  That didn’t make all the men David killed trying to get rid of Uriah in battle come back to life.

Forgiveness is God’s character

  • Psalm 86:5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive…
  • …even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Forgiveness allows you to be free from bondage

  • Ready to forgive is the right attitude. If you’re going to be ready to forgive, then some things have to be let go. Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Forgiveness is Christian duty

  • Luke 17:3-10

Forgiveness makes you quit playing the victim

  • The reason you play the victim is so you can get away with doing something wrong. Sometimes it’s fun to have a pity party.
  • Willingness to forgive is a willingness to quit manipulating people and take responsibility for your own decisions.

Forgiveness prevents Satan from gaining the advantage

  • 2 Corinthians 2:6-11
  • 1 Corinthians 5:1-5. Carnal Christians are quick to gloss over the wicked because it makes them feel like good people, and more apt to judge and criticize the spiritual Christian. Don’t spiritualize your arrogance.