Forgiveness, Session 2: Why Should We Forgive?

 

Forgiveness, Session 2: Why Should We Forgive?

Colossians 1:13-14; 2:6-14; and 3:12-13

(Please feel free to copy, share and use these blogs in any way that the spirit leads you... share this URL with others!)

1. Review

   1. Session 1: Forgiveness is God’s Purpose – Luke 4: 14-30

      1. Recognize the complexity of forgiveness and aspects of its definition:

         1. Question of justice, revenge, repentance, confession, pride, enemies, sin & Fellowship

         2. “lift up, bear, dismiss, send away, let go, pardon, loose, be gracious”

      2. Define God’s forgiveness and identify some aspects of it in the Bible

         1. Reason for blood sacrifice in Old Testament (demonstration of obedience)

         2. Essential part of God’s character: Nehemiah 9:16-20, Psalm 32: 1-2, 103:v8-14

      3. Better understand the role of Jesus Christ in God’s purpose

         1. Salvation through forgiveness offered by Jesus – Luke 1:76-77

         2. Jesus’ instructions to love our enemies, forgive each other – Matthew 5:43-48, 6:12

      4. Realize the universal scope of God’s forgiveness.

         1. Forgiveness is initiative of God – Luke 1:76-77, Acts 26:17-18

         2. God’s forgiveness through Jesus Christ – Luke 5:17-26, Luke 7:36-50

         3. God’s gift to all mankind – Luke 1:67-79, John 3:16, Acts 2:36-50

         4. God’s forgiveness is necessary to restore fellowship with Him

   2. We can only truly forgive when we have love within us; hence, “love your enemies”. It is unlike secular love requiring man-defined justice (not God’s justice) and revenge. Only through Jesus can we truly forgive each other (and ourselves).

2. Session 2: Why Should We Forgive - Colossians 1:13-14; 2:6-14; and 3:12-13

   1. Objectives of this lesson

      1. Clarify and prioritize three Christian motivations to forgive others

      2. Better understand the Christian obligation to forgive others

      3. Realize that true, Christ-like forgiveness is not possible, we are invited to participate in God’s forgiving activities

   2. Three reasons to forgive others:

      1. Forgive for Christ’s sake – His ministry of reconciliation (Luke 1:76-77)

         1. Luke 9:23

         2. 2 Corinthians 5:17-18

      2. Forgive for the sake of others – John 20:23

         1. Romans 5:8 (Demonstration of love)

         2. Luke 23:34

      3. Forgive for our own sake – Matthew 6:14-15

         1. Matthew 18:23-35

         2. Matthew 5:23-24

   3. Are we obligated to forgive others? – 2 Corinthians 2:9-11 (Obedience)

      1. Hebrews 2:1-4

      2. Luke 11:4

   4. Can we truly forgive as Christ forgave? Matthew 26:40 (Flesh is weak)

      1. Romans 7:18-25 (21-23)

      2. 1 John 1:8-10

3. Questions

   1. In the Colossians verses for this lesson, what reason does Paul give for forgiving?

   2. If, as Christians, we are to reconcile our differences and forgive, how does this affect the idea of justice and fair play? Must we be “stepped on” to achieve peace?

   3. Is the order in which the three reasons for forgiving given in this lesson important? What order of priority is most important for us?

   4. Why do we not experience true Christ-like forgiveness more often in our world today? Is it because Christians are a minority? Are too few Christians practicing forgiveness? Is the lack of forgiveness because we are too weak to really forgive? Is true forgiveness impossible?

   5. Read Hebrews 4:14-16. What does this tell us about our weaknesses – including inability to forgive as Christ forgave us – and what we should do concerning our failings?

Please leave a comment on this blog page with any suggestions you may have, encouragement you may wish to give me or criticism that you feel I should consider.