Forgiveness

WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT

FORGIVENESS - UNFORGIVENESS?

"Listen to this carefully. I'm warning you. There's nothing done or said that can't be forgiven. But if you persist in your slanders against GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT, you are repudiating the very ONE WHO forgives, sawing off the branch on which you're sitting, severing by your own perversity all connection with the ONE who forgives." HE gave this warning because they were accusing HIM of being in league with Evil.

Mark 3:28-30

(The Message Bible)

Because of the sacrifice of the MESSIAH, HIS BLOOD poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! HE thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans HE took such delight in making. HE set it all out before us in CHRIST, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in HIM, everything in deepest Heaven, everything on planet earth.

Ephesians 1:7-10

(The Message Bible)

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard

and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When GOD'S people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge;

I will pay them back,”

says the LORD.

Instead,

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.

If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap

burning coals of shame on their heads.”

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

1 Corinthians 13:5

Love...is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it pays no attention to a suffered wrong.

Have you ever tried to forgive someone and found you simply couldn't do it? You've cried about it and prayed about it and asked GOD to help you, but those old feelings of resentment just failed to go away.

Put an end to those kinds of failures in the future by basing your forgiveness on faith rather than feelings. True forgiveness doesn't have anything at all to do with how you feel. It's an act of the will. It is based on obedience to GOD and on faith in HIM.

That means once you've forgiven a person, you need to consider him permanently forgiven! When old feelings rise up within you and satan tries to convince you that you haven't really forgiven, resist him. Say, "No, I've already forgiven that person by faith. I refuse to dwell on those old feelings."

Then, according to 1 John 1:9, believe that you receive forgiveness and cleansing from the sin of unforgiveness and from all unrighteousness associated with it including any remembrance of having been wronged!

Have you ever heard anyone say, "I may forgive, but I'll never forget!" That's a second rate kind of forgiveness that you, as a believer, are never supposed to settle for. You're to forgive supernaturally "even as GOD for CHRIST sake hath forgiven you" (Eph. 4:32).

You're to forgive as GOD forgives. To release that person from guilt permanently and unconditionally and to operate as if nothing bad ever happened between you. You're to purposely forget as well as forgive.

As you do that, something supernatural will happen within you. The pain once caused by that incident will disappear. The power of GOD will wash away the effects of it and you'll be able to leave it behind you once and for all.

Don't become an emotional bookkeeper, keeping careful accounts of the wrongs you have suffered. Learn to forgive and forget. It will open a whole new world of blessing for you.

Scripture Reading: Luke 6:27-37

-Kenneth Copeland

Faith to Faith

Colossians 1:13-14 NLT

For HE has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of HIS dear SON, WHO purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Acts 26:18 NLT

Open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of satan to GOD. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among GOD'S people, who are set apart by faith in ME.’

Acts 13:38 NLT

“Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins.

Ephesians 1:7 NLT

HE is so rich in kindness and grace that HE purchased our freedom with the blood of HIS SON and forgave our sins.

HE said to HIS disciples, "Hard trials and temptations are bound to come, but too bad for whoever brings them on! Better to wear a millstone necklace and take a swim in the deep blue sea than give even one of these dear little ones a hard time!

"Be alert. If you see your friend going wrong, correct him. If he responds, forgive him. Even if it's personal against you and repeated seven times through the day, and seven times he says, 'I'm sorry, I won't do it again,' forgive him."

Luke 17:1-4

{The Message}

Ephesians 4:32 NKJV

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as GOD in CHRIST forgave you.