Forgiveness

Forgiveness

1. The act of excusing or pardoning another in spite of his slights, shortcomings, and errors. As a theological term, forgiveness refers to God's pardon of the sins of human beings.
2. To cancel the debt that another owes you.
3. To know that the person is guilty of wronging you, and not let the act come between you and the guilty party.
4. To take full responsibility for the restoration of a relationship, when someone has wronged you, I mean to go 100% of the way to bring that person back into the right relationship with you.
5. To take the person back into your heart, and continue to love them when you know you can’t trust them.

To forgive is an act of GRACE. Grace is the Undeserved love and kindness of God. We are saved by grace Eph. 2:8-9. Those that have received God’s forgiveness are to extend forgiveness to others Eph. 4:32.

Unwillingness to forgive is a sin, for we are COMMANDED to forgive. We are never more like Christ than when we forgive.

Christ forgives us of all our sins and if we are going to be like Christ we must forgive. Regardless of what someone has done to us. None of us have been treated as worst as Christ was treated.

Three things to ponder:
The Goal of Forgiveness is to Glorify the Father -------- Restoration
The Grounds of Forgiveness is the Cross of the Son------Redemption
The Gift of Forgiveness is the Enabling Power of the Spirit-----Release

Lord forgives us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12

Guard the Truth

I was blessed to attend the Shepherds Conference sponsored by John Macarthur in California a couple of weeks ago. Dr. Steve Lawson really convicted and challenged me with his exposition of Galatians 1:6-10 Guarding the Truth. It reminded me of the tremendous responsibility we have as preachers of the gospel in a day when so much of preaching is not the gospel at all. May all called preachers of God be faithful to the assignment. Preach the Gospel! There is only one!

II Timothy 4:1-2 Paul says we have been solemnly charged to Preach the Word. This charge that Paul gives is an Apostolic Admonition that has Trinitrian Testimony. God the Father and Jesus Christ are the witnesses to our obedience. They are not just the witnessess but Christ is also the judge. Which means there are no appeals. Brothers this is serious business.