Freedom Through Forgiveness
Craig and LaDonna Smith
tribalrescue.com
We must deal with our own ___________ trauma...
Forgiveness and the Bible...
Concept of forgiveness appears roughly _________ times in the Bible.
Ephesians 4:31-32: Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Colossians 3:13: Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Rationale for forgiveness? As the _______ forgave you.
Forgiveness is a ___ ___ street...
First, it’s the forgiveness God gives each of us for the _____ we’ve ___________.
I John 1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness., and,
Ephesians 1:7: In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace...
Second, it’s the forgiveness e are called to give those who’ve ________ against __.
Mark 11:25: And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Matthew 6:14-15: For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
How often are we called on by God to forgive someone? ________ times!
Matthew 18:21-22: Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. Or, until the anger is gone!
We need to surrender to the _______________ of God in _________.
Who is to initiate the process?
If it’s a fellow believer...
Matthew 18:15, “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.
What if it’s still unresolved?
Matthew 18:16-17, But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’[d]17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
What if I’m still angry after forgiveness happens? Do I need to forgive again?
Matthew 18:21-22, Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.
What if the hurt came from someone who is not a believer in Christ? Jesus is our model...
Luke 23:32-34, Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[c] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
The quicker we can embrace the ____________ of God in all things, the quicker we will be able to overcome the abuse, trauma, and challenges others have brought to our lives.
It means God is __ ________ of all aspects of our lives...
We’re reminded that He is the great ____________ of His children.
Romans 12:9, Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
Remember that God told us that __________ is _________ in this life!
John 15:20a, Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.
God’s not un-______________ by our suffering.
Take the ________ __________ approach.
One of the great results of forgiveness is it releases us from our own _____-imposed ______ _____.
And, we must never forget what Jesus said in John 10:10: I have come that you might have life, and life to the full!
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