Functional Forgiveness

Jesus wants to settle some accounts! He says 70 X 7!

The practice of forgiveness comes from a place of compassion that allows us to release and forgive. Church, we get to be the carriers, the agents of forgiveness for the world to see, so we can point people to Jesus!

Forgiveness in the “C”hurch has been made attractive and not very practical or useful. Forgiveness is necessary, and we’ve made it unnecessary. Jesus is addressing issues and showing us areas where we haven’t released and forgiven people of debts, and He wants to tackle the complacency that has given us up to a place of avoiding the practice of forgiveness.

How do we practice forgiveness?

We must know what it looks like! Eph 4 : 31-32

We must look to Jesus – our greatest example of forgiveness! Col. 3 : 12

We must deliver forgiveness. Matt 6 : 14 – 15

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. Matthew 18:21-27

Matthew 18:21–27, Luke 17:1–4, Ephesians 2:14–15, Ephesians 4:31–32, Colossians 3:12–13