Finding Freedom In Forgiveness

Matthew 6:14-15 (NLT)  If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

THERE ARE 4 REASONS WHY I SHOULDN’T FORGIVE

1.     Forgiveness denies the _________________________ of sin.

·        Proverbs 17:14 (NLT)  Beginning a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

·        Proverbs 19:11 (NLT)  People with good sense restrain their anger; they earn esteem by overlooking wrongs.

·        Nahum 1:3a (NLT)  The Lord is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished.

2.     Forgiveness lets people ______________________ too easily.

·        Matthew 18:21 (NLT)  Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”

3.     Forgiveness places too much responsibility on the __________.

·        Matthew 5:38-41 (CEV)  ³⁸ You know that you have been taught, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” ³⁹ But I tell you not to try to get even with a person who has done something to you. When someone slaps your right cheek, turn and let that person slap your other cheek. ⁴⁰ If someone sues you for your shirt, give up your coat as well. ⁴¹ If a soldier forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles.

4.     Forgiveness is ____________________.

WHEN WE FORGIVE

·        We ____________________________ that a wrong has occurred.

·        We ____________________________ that there is an obligation for repayment.

·        We ____________________________ to release our offender from that obligation and to cover the loss ourselves.

THERE ARE 4 REASONS WHY I SHOULD FORGIVE

1.     Forgiveness is often the only way to ____________________.

·        Forgiveness is sometimes the only way to break the endless cycle of __________________ and _________________________________.

2.     Forgiveness frees us to get on with _____________________.

·        If we hold on to an offense, we in effect become an __________________ _____________________ to our offender.

·        Hebrews 12:1b (NLT)  Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.

3.     Forgiveness is an antidote to needless ___________________.

·        Those who refuse to forgive enter their own private __________________ _________________, sentencing themselves to a lifetime of needless pain.

·        THE BIBLE TERM FOR UNFORGIVENESS IS _________________________.

·        Hebrews 12:15 (AMP)  Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another] … in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it.

·        ONE OF THE STRONGEST ARGUMENTS FOR FORGIVENESS IS THE _____________________________________ OF UNFORGIVENESS!

4.     Forgiveness is the _______________________ of the forgiven.