Forgiveness, the four step process God’s way
What did Jesus mean when He said….?
Matthew 18:21-35
“Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times? No! Jesus Replied, “Seventy times 7!” “For this reason, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. He couldn’t pay, so the king ordered that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt. But the man fell down before the king and begged him, oh sir, be patient with me, and I will pay it all. Then the king was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.
But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. Be patient and I will pay it, he pleaded. But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and jailed until the debt could be paid in full. When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him what happened. The king called in the man he had forgiven and said, you evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you? Then the angry king sent the man to prison until he had paid every penny. ‘That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters in your heart.
Jesus meant that we shouldn’t even keep track of how many times we forgive someone. We should always forgive those who are truly repentant, no matter how many times they ask.”
Step #1: Forget about keeping count like God does.
Jeremiah 31:34
“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
Step #2: Cancel the debt like God does.
Micah 7:18, 19
“Where is another God like you, who pardons the sins of the survivors among his people? You cannot stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing mercy. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean.”
God throws away our sin when we repent of our sins and turn to Him
God delights in showing mercy! He does not forgive grudgingly but is glad when we repent. He offers forgiveness to all who come back to him. Today you can confess your sins and receive his loving forgiveness. Don’t be too proud to accept god’s mercy.
Psalms 103:12
“He has removed our rebellious acts as far away from us as the east is from the west.
View video from Casting Crowns “East to West”
Isaiah 44:22
“I have swept away your sins like the morning mists. I have scattered your offenses like the clouds. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.”
Isaiah 38:17
“Yes, it was good for me to suffer this anguish, for you have rescued me from death and have forgiven all of my sins.”
Step #3: Keep people accountable like does.
God holds us accountable like the king held the servant in Matthew 18
Romans 3:19
“…and the whole world held accountable to God.”
Hebrews 12:5
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves.”
Step #4: Consider God’s mercy in your life like God does.
Luke 23:34
“Jesus said, “Father forgive these people, because they don’t know what they are doing.”
It is never too late to turn to God. Even in his misery, Jesus had mercy on the criminal who decided to believe in him. Our life is much more useful and fulfilling if we turn to God early, but even those who repent at the very last moment will be with God in his Kingdom.
Matthew 6:9-13
“Being forgiven and forgiving others are inseparable concepts.”
A model prayer from Jesus may be found in Matthew 6:9-13
