Message: “Forgive Forget Love” from Pastor Joe

Forgive and Forget- Love   Lesson Objective-  To understand how true love can be affected by true forgetting Specific Objectives: All will be able to explain what the Bible teaches about being able to forget and forgive All will be able to identify at least three methods that can be used that will help to forget and forgive All will be able to explain that all love characteristics identified in 1 Corinthians Chapter 13 work  collectively for the development of love.  Similar to Fruit of the Spirit, it is one love that exhibits all of the traits identified.   Scriptures:  1 Corinthians 13: 4-7; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13; Matthew 18: 21 Review and Discussion   1 Corinthians 13: 4-7  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Defining Forgiveness Ephesians 4: 32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God 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. How many times should I forgive:? Matthew 18: 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. The Greek word for “forgive” in the New Testament is the word “aphes”, which also means to dismiss or free. So God’s forgiveness is not just about being pardoned from doing something wrong, but also about being released and freed from it. It is a truly life changing experience.Things that get in the way of forgiveness Pride or EGO. Judging others Matthew 7: 1-2 Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you Holding non-Christians to Christian standards 1 Corinthians 6: 1-2 When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers Unwillingness to reconcile Matthew 5: 23-24 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Wanting revenge Reasons to forgive Luke 17: 3-4 So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister[a] sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us Reasons not to forgive Hebrews 10: 26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins Lack of true remorse Forget What does forget mean? So God’s forgiveness is not just about being pardoned from doing something wrong, but also about being released and freed from it to disregard intentionally : overlook Not the literal to remove from memory but understanding that one does not remind Ways to help to forget and forgive 1 Corinthians 13: 5 ( means do not seek revenge by keeping score) it keeps no record of wrongs NIV thinketh no evil; KJV it does not take into account a wrong endured. Amplified Try to understand why the person did what they did. Not necessarily agreeing but understanding Analyze the situation to ascertain if you contributed to the situation To be able to be thankful for the experience Isaiah 43.25 I, even I, am he that blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and will not remember your sins Summary There is not such a mandate that we forgive and forget as many misinterpret and cause us ongoing grief. Forgiving does not mean that you continue to put yourself in harms way Forgiving is a requirement for Love True love is defined by all of the characteristics listed in 1 Corinthians 13. Forgiveness is an essential component as are each of the others.    

Scripture References: Colossians 3:13, Ephesians 4:32

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From Series: "Sunday Service"

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