Forgiveness Bible Study Part 4: Important Facts About Forgiveness
There are several important facts about forgiveness that you need to know. If you do not forgive others you cannot be forgiven by the Lord And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Matthew 6:12 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you Matt. 6:14 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:15 You should forgive someone at least 490 times (70 times 7) Peter asked Jesus how many times should he forgive his brother and Jesus advised him that seventy times seven is how many times we should forgive. Then came Peter to him, and said Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? till seven times? Matt. 18:21 Jesus told Peter to forgive seventy times seven which is at least 490 times! Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven time: but Until seventy times seven. Matthew 18:22 Jesus set an example for us to follow! Jesus bought our forgiveness from God with his blood. When asked how many times we are to forgive He said, we are to forgive others at least seven times seventy times. That is a lot. Forgiveness comes in many forms. Asking the Lord for forgiveness is the first step to forgiveness. Forgiving others for what wrongs we feel they may have done to us.We have to forgive others who have wronged us if we want to get forgiveness from the Lord Forgive ourselves for wrongs we have done to God, others and ourselves. Bottom line is if you want to be forgiven by God for your wrongs, you have to forgive others who have wronged you first.
Forgiveness separates the sin from the sinner: When people forgive one another they are letting go of hostile feelings and feelings of revenge or resentment. When God forgives it means He is letting go of hostile feelings and foregoing any penalty or punishment for the sins committed that would have come to the sinner had they not asked God for forgiveness and accepted Christ as the Son of God, their savior whose blood was shed so that all mankind could receive forgiveness under the new covenant.
Matthew 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
Matthew 26:27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
We receive forgiveness from God through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ because without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
We can only be forgiven of our own sins if we forgive other people who have sinned against us. Sin is forgiven when a person confesses their sins but this forgiveness is only given because of Christ’s blood sacrifice.