Forgiving Others and Yourself
1 Jn.1:9
God is faithful to forgive our sins. We should be faithful in forgiving others and ourselves.
Forgiving Others
Fulfills God’s Commandment
- [1 Jn.1:9] God is faithful to forgive
- [Matt.18:21-22] 70 x 7 times!
- [Luke 17:4] 7 times a day!
- [Matt.6:12] If God forgives us AS we forgive our debtors, then do we receive the same as what we dish out to others when it concerns forgiveness?
- [Matt.6:14-15] “Forgive to be forgiven” is not a New Testament doctrine, but there is a point to make here, God does want us to show mercy to our fellow man. God does say “thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” [Jas.2:8]
Affects your Fellowship with God
- Your unforgiving heart does affect your fellowship with God [Matt.18:35] the parable is for the Kingdom of Heaven, but the spiritual principle still applies.
Forgiving Yourself
Acknowledges God’s forgiveness
- To not forgive yourself, while God has forgiven you, calls God a liar
- If God is willing to forgive your sin, you should forgive yourself and move on
Enables you to move on and put it behind you
- [2Sam.12] David knows that the death of his child is due to his own sin. He feels the guilt.
- [2Sam.12:21-23] He did what he could and then put it behind him and moved on
- No use to God is a man laying around feeling guilty about a confessed and forgiven sin, David not only moved on but was more committed to the Lord’s work [Ps.51:13-15]
- David forgave himself, God forgave him and blessed him with another child [2Sam12:24]