Total Forgiveness Matthew 18:21-35 Total forgiveness does not mean being a or refusing to take seriously the wrong that has happened. Total forgiveness does not necessarily mean . When God forgives sin, He forgives insurmountable debt—debts we can never repay. Yet we often blindly refuse to forgive the much smaller debts others owe us. When we do this, we are hypocrites. The way we forgive others affects our relationship with God. Lessons from this parable: When one person sins against another, a is created. • People who won’t forgive often search for repayment that be repaid. We are often to our hypocrisy when we refuse to forgive. Holding on to wrongs done to us will us. Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. • Unresolved anger gives Satan an in our lives. Ephesians 4:26-27 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. Matt 5:22 – Murderous anger Holding onto an offense affects our with God. Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. • Because Christians have been forgiven so much, we no longer have the to hold an offense. Steps to forgiving others: the offense: • In prayer before God, write down the name of the person who wronged you, spell out the offense, and consider what you believe they owe you. (Often, you will realize you are seeking something that can’t be repaid) the debt that the person owes you. 1 John 2:2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. The power to forgive comes from Jesus. When you release the person that owes you, you give up some of your rights: Give up your right to on it – forgiveness is often a daily process. 2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Give up your right to it back in their face. Jeremiah 31:34 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Give up your right to about it to others. James 3:9–10 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Resolve to for those who have you. “The ultimate proof of total forgiveness takes place is when we sincerely petition the Father to let those who have hurt us off the hook—even if they have hurt not only us, but also those close to us.” - RT Kendall, Total Forgiveness • Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”