Forgiveness

Marks of a Believer

By Joe Denbow, January 14, 2024

Forgiveness should leave a mark.

Genesis 17:13 All must be circumcised. Your bodies will bear the mark of my everlasting covenant.

Galatians 2:11-12 But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore.

Galatians 2:16 We have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”

Galatians 5:22-23 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Galatians 6:17 From now on, don’t let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus.

NASB ….From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body >the marks of Jesus.


How should we be marked by forgiveness?

1. I NEED .

1 John 1:8-10 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

Galatians 2:21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.


2. I FORGIVENESS

Luke 15:23-24 We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

There’s a difference between about forgiveness and it.


3. I GIVE FORGIVENESS

Ephesians 4:32 be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Mark 11:25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

Matthew 6:14 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.

You can’t enjoy forgiveness without sharing forgiveness.


4. I , I’VE BEEN .

2 Peter 1:9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

Colossians 3:13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Sin should leave a mark, but because of God’s forgiveness, it doesn’t.

Psalm 103:10-13 He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.