Introduction: Forgiving others is not optional for Christians; it is a command. In Matthew 6:12, Jesus taught us to pray, ‘Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us’. He made it clear that God’s offer of forgiveness is inseparable from our willingness to forgive others. So what is the nature of this link?
Read Matthew 18:21-35
- Why do you think the man forgiven of his huge debt found it difficult to forgive the little debt owed him?
- What is the connection between God’s forgiveness of your sins and you forgiving those who have wrong you?
- How would describe the inconsistency and hypocritical behaviors of those that expect God to forgive them of their sins but struggle to forgive those that have wrong them?
Read Colossians 3:12-15
- What is the connection between loving people and forgiving people, that wrong you?
- How does this passage challenge us in our relationships with people who have hurt us?
Read Luke 22:34-38
Jesus knew what was about to happen and he pray the prayer of forgiveness.
- How unique is Jesus in terms of addressing the issue of forgiveness?
- Which is easier for you to do, asking for forgiveness from people you have wronged or forgiving those who wronged you? Why?
- What are the social implications of the Christian faith, in terms of bringing reconciliation between different people?
- Are there any people that you need to forgive or to ask forgiveness from?
Summary
- Forgiving others what they have done to us is a reliable test for our faith. Does our faith make a real difference in our life?
- Forgiving others is not easy. It is not natural – our natural response is to want to take revenge. But Jesus forgave his enemies who crucified him
- If Christianity is about having a personal relationship with God, and if God is real and powerful, then surely he will empower those who trust in him to experience the power of his love and forgiveness in their own lives.
- Without forgiveness there is no genuine peace. As all of us do wrong and hurt each other, we need to ask forgiveness as much as to forgive.
