Salina First Church of the Nazarene

I forgive you. Will you forgive me?

Accountability is a requirement for a relationship with Christ, and in any relationship you highly value.

Forgive as we have been forgiven.

Forgiveness here is not an optional consideration but a divine mandate.

The words "debts" and "debtors" are used figuratively here. A more appropriate translation would be "sins" and "sinned against."

Verse 14 -- God's forgiveness of us, is determined by our forgiveness of others.

Verse 15 -- Jesus is quick to say that if we withhold forgiveness from others, then by our own choice, we are choosing not to be forgiven by God.

1. Forgiveness begins with us understanding that as followers of Chsit, we have been forgiven.

You can't understand forgiveness until you first realize the significance of the fact that in Christ you are forgiven.

2. We are called to forgive because we have been forgiven.

Forgiveness is not optional..and that is the hardest part about it.

3. Forgiveness is key to restoring broken relationships.

Jesus forgave Peter for denying Him. The restoration that forgiveness made possible yielded incredible results as Peter was God's messenger at Pentecost.

4. Forgiveness is the path to agape love.

Agape love is love without limits and that is exactly what forgiveness requires...love without limits.

5. Forgiveness always precedes healing.

When you are confronted with a broken relationship, before healing can ever happen, there has to be forgiveness.

6. Forgiveness is not optional when it comes to growing in our relationship with God and others. You cannot bear a grudge or exact vengeance and remain in relationship with the Lord.

We must be forgiven forgivers!