Forgive And Forget

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, KUBWA-ABUJA BIBLE STUDY THEME:

REDISCOVERING THE KINGDOM PRINCIPLE

TOPIC:

FORGIVE AND FORGET

BIBLE PASSAGES:

Matt. 6: 14-15, Jer. 31:34

Forgiveness is a conscious decision of the mind and heart to freely remit the offense of another, regardless of the cost. Unfortunately, many of us have difficulty forgiving others because we confuse forgiveness with what are not. While Forgetting is to lose the remembrance or recollection of something. It is a passive process in which the passing of time causes a thing to fade from memory. 1. Forgiveness is not excusing the wrong conduct of others. The Bible says, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). True forgiveness honestly acknowledges that what a person did to us is wrong, but chooses, by the grace of God, to let go. 2. Forgiveness is not weakness. When God chooses to forgive us, it is not because He is powerless. Only those with resolute convictions and sterling character can truly forgive. On the other hand, as long as we choose not to forgive, we become the slaves of those who have hurt us. 3. Forgiveness is not forgetting. When God says He will “remember your sins no more” (Isaiah 43:25), it does not mean He cannot remember our sins, but that He will not remember them. It is a conscious choice on His part not to reckon those sins against us nor take action on them. 4. Forgiveness is not a feeling—a fleeting emotional experience. It is a conscious choice, an act of the will. Forgiveness is a decision not to think, talk about, or be influenced by the ill conduct of another. Why Forgive and Forget? Our willingness or unwillingness to forgive reveals much about us. Any time we cherish an unforgiving attitude, stubbornly withholding forgiveness from others, let us remember the following facts: 1. Our unforgiving spirit reveals how we want God to treat us. When we get very hurt, we often say things like, “I will never forgive him” or that “though I will forgive, I will never forget what he did to me,” Others say, “I will always stay away or not talk to her again as long as I live.” What would happen if God applied the Golden Rule and treats us the same way we treat others? (The Golden Rule, by the way, says in essence, “Do unto others what you want to be done unto you”; see Matt 7:12; Luke 6:31). 2. Our unforgiving spirit reveals our un-appreciation of God’s forgiveness. A forgiven Christian is always forgiving. If we don’t forgive others it is an indication that we don’t value Christ’s forgiveness. This fact is remarkably captured in Christ’s parable of the two debtors in Matthew 18:21-35. Jesus concludes the parable with these sobering words: “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses” (Matt 18:35). 3. Our unforgiving spirit reveals whether or not we shall receive and/or retain our forgiveness. In the teachings of Christ, we learn that unless we forgive, God will not forgive us. In the Lord’s Prayer says, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive those who tresspass against us. . . .” (Matt 6:12). He continues: “For if ye forgive men their tresspasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your tresspasses” (Matt 6:14-15).

Conclusion If you are struggling with un-forgiveness, remind yourself of how God has forgiven you and respond in kind. “Ps. 103:8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger forever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us” (Ps 103:8-12). Forgiveness is possible when we understand and have experienced God’s own forgiveness. Refusal to forgive as Christ has forgiven us is an indication that we have not truly experienced the life-changing work of God’s forgiveness.

The Motivation to Forgive 1. We must forgive one another for Christ’s sake: “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Eph 4:32) 2. We must pray for one another for Christ’s sake: “For the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me” (Rom 15:30). 3. We must become fools in the eyes of others and be despised for Christ’s sake:“We are fools for Christ’s sake; but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised” (1 Cor 4:10). 4. We must preach the truth and be true servants of God for Christ’s sake:“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Cor 4:5). 5. We must patiently endure the trials of life for Christ’s sake: “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Cor12:10). 6. We must be willing to suffer for Christ’s sake:“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake” (Phi 1:29). 7. We must suffer persecution for Christ’s (church’s) sake: “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my fleshfor his body’s sake, which is the church” (Col 1:24). 8. We must be willing to die for Christ’s sake: “For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh” ( 2 Cor 4:11). 9. We must submit to good ordinances of those in power for Christ’s sake: “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme” (1 Pet 2:13). 10. The Lord will richly bless and save us if we endure unto the end for Christ’s sake: “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake” (Matthew 5:11; cf. Lk 6:22). “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Mark 13:13). It is obvious from the above passages that the most compelling reason to do the right thing, including forgiving those who have hurt us, is “for Christ’s sake.” The more we understand the amazing grace of God’s forgiveness, the more our motivation to forgive others. The basis and motivation to forgive others is what Christ has done for us.