Gospel Centered Forgiveness Series week 3: Forgiving Others

#1) Forgiven people forgive people according to the words of Jesus! Matthew  18:21-35… Peter asks this question thinking he's being generous, but Jesus gives an answer that shows we really shouldn't be keeping count of how many times we forgive others. Then he tells a parable that illustrates why we should forgive others. This servant owed an unfathomable amount to his master and begged for it to be forgiven. His master forgave him. Then the servant goes to another servant who owes him a more manageable amount but refuses to forgive him. The master hears of the incident and withdraws his forgiveness of the debt because the servant didn't forgive the much smaller debt…. We can't pay back the debt we owe to God

#2) Forgiven people forgive people living out the will of Jesus! Matthew 6:9-15… The Lord's Prayer shows us that not only do we rely on God for our daily needs, but also for forgiveness of our sins, and it links that forgiveness to our forgiveness of others. 1 John 1:5-6 also shows that we should be reflecting the character of Jesus. Part of that character is forgiveness. We should desire to be like Jesus. Paul also tells the churches in Ephesus and Colossae. 

#3) Forgiven people forgive people to show the love of Christ ! 1 Peter 2:9-10… As Christians, we represent Christ on Earth. We are to show His love to others. Part of that is showing mercy and forgiveness. Just as Christ has shown that same mercy and forgiveness, we should show it to others. By doing so, we also show them His love.