1. Total Forgiveness
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2. Definitions – To Forgive
Hebrew: Salach (verb)
To pardon
Greek: Charizomai (verb)
“Forward – Giving” or to Freely Give
To give graciously, give freely, bestow
Graciously to restore one to another who desires his safety
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3. GOD Why Forgive? Me You Fellowship Forgiveness Love Love Love
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Why Forgive?
Forgiveness is a Reflection of the Greatest Commandments
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind… love thy neighbor as thyself. (Matthew 22:34-40)
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15)
GOD
Love
Love
Forgiveness Me
You
Love
Fellowship
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4. Total Forgiveness Brings us back into Fellowship
Is Continual and Lasts Forever
Does Not Intimidate
Does Not Tell
Does Not Make The Person Feel Guilty
Protects Them From Their Darkest Fears
Let’s The Person Save Face
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5. Brings us back into Fellowship
What do you Bind and What Do You Loose (Matt 18:15 -20)
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Forgiveness is at the Heart of Fellowship (1 John 1)
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6. Is Continual and Lasts Forever
Peter Asks Jesus about the Limits of Forgiveness
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Matthew 18: 21-22
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7. Does Not Intimidate The Parable of the unforgiving servant
Who are our “Slave Owners” today that we ask mercy from and reside in there “Grace Period” by paying our bills late.
(Visa, MasterCard, SunTrust Mortgage, etc.)
Forgiving from your heart (v.35)
Matthew 18:21-35
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8. Does not Tell Jesus and the Woman Caught in Adultery
When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
 “No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
John 8:1-11
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9. Does Not Make The Person Feel Guilty
Paul’s advise to the Corinthian church to restore the Member caught in Sin
For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
2 Corinthians 2:4-8
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10. Protects The Person From Their Darkest Fears
Jacob Meets His Brother Esau
And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.  And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant. Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.
And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord. And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself. (verses 4-8)
Genesis 33:1-2
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11. Let’s The Person Save Face
Joseph Reveals His Identity to His Brothers
And he said again, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. 5 But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.
Genesis 45:1-8
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12. Why Forgive? The First To Apologize Is The Bravest
The First To Forgive Is The Strongest
The First To Forget Is The Happiest…
Author - Unknown
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