Garden Valley Community Church
Pastor Shane Moffitt April 29th
2012
“1 Corinthians 13 ~ LOVE”
series
LOVE IS FORGIVING
Love doesn’t
keep a record of wrongs that others do 1 Corinthians 13:5b
As God has
not kept any books on my sin, so I must not keep records on
other’s sin
Romans 4:8; Psalm
32:1-2; Psalm 103:12;
2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 2:13-15
The ultimate test of love is when somebody hurts you.
How do you respond?
FORGIVENESS IS NOT
1) It isn’t conditional
It’s not based on someone else’s
response
Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive
them….”
2)
It isn’t resuming a relationship without changes
a)
Demonstrate genuine repentance
b)
Make appropriate restitution
c)
Over time, rebuild trust
3)
It isn’t forgetting what happened
This requires a
new level of spiritual maturity
KNOW God can
bring GOOD our of BAD
Genesis 50:20,
Romans 8:28
WHAT IS GENUINE FORGIVENESS?
#1. Giving Up My RIGHT To Get Even
“never pay back evil with more evil…”
Romans 12:17-21
#2. RESPONDING To Evil With Good
“...do good to those who hate you, bless
those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.”
Luke 6:27-28
#3. REPEATING THE PROCESS
“Peter asked, ‘"Lord, how
often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?’
‘No.’ Jesus replied, ‘seventy times seven!’”
Matthew 18:21-22
·
How do you know
when you’ve genuinely forgiven somebody?
·
When You can pray
for God to bless them
THE SECRET OF FORGIVENESS
REMEMBER how much God forgave YOU
“Remember, the Lord forgave you,
so you
must forgive others.” Colossians 3:13
"Be kind and compassionate to one
another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians
4:32, Colossians 2:13-14
READ: The “Lord’s Prayer” ~ Matthew 6:9-13
·
Lord, forgive me
to the degree I forgive others
