1. Genesis 50: 15-21 创 世 记 50 : 15-21

2. Mayo Clinic website: What are the benefits of forgiving someone? Letting go of grudges and bitterness can make way for compassion, kindness and peace. Forgiveness can lead to:  Healthier relationships  Greater spiritual and psychological well-being  Less anxiety, stress and hostility  Lower blood pressure  Fewer symptoms of depression  Lower risk of alcohol and substance abuse

3.  Matthew 6:15 But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.  馬 太 福 音 6:15 你 们 不 饶 恕 人 的 过 犯 ， 你 们 的 天 父 也 必 不 饶 恕 你 们 的 过 犯 。

4. "Unforgiveness is like taking poison and hoping that the other person dies." Joyce Meyer

5. It was essential that Joseph forgive his brothers  Glory: If Joseph had not been able to really forgive his brothers then his life of faith would have been incomplete, robbed of its potential glory.  Honoring God: Forgiving his brothers meant that it was God that mattered in his life, now, and not anything anyone had ever done to him in the past, or could do to him in the future.  Freedom: Joseph was saying that by faith he had truly been set free from the bondage his brothers had tried to place him in, not only on the outside, but in the inner man.

6.  There is a partial forgiveness.  Ex: People who get along until the kids are grown.  Joseph’s brothers would have settled for conditional forgiveness.  Ex. The prodigal son expected conditional forgiveness, "Make me as one of your hired servants."  Luke 15:11-32 浪子的比喻 把 我 当 作 一 个 雇 工 罢 ！把 我 当 作 一 个 雇 工 罢 ！

7.  What is real forgiveness?  How can I be sure that I have really forgiven the way God intends?  Summary Sentence: We can learn real forgiveness from the way Joseph forgave his brothers.

8. I. Relief for the Victim ( 解脱 如释重负 : And Joseph wept when they spoke to him (50:17b).  Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.  以 賽 亞 書 43:25 惟 有 我 为 自 己 的 缘 故 涂 抹 你 的 过 犯 ； 我 也 不 记 念 你 的 罪 恶 。

9.  Can we really feel, "It's really over and done with."?

10.  II. Reassurance for the Sinner 再次保证 : Joseph said, "Do not be afraid...“ (50:19)  "Do not be afraid..."(50:21)  創 世 記 50:19 约 瑟 对 他 们 说 ： 不 要 害 怕 ， 我 岂 能 代 替 神 呢 ？

11. God does not want us to fear His judgement any longer!  For you have not received a spirit of slavery [g]leading to fear again, but you have received [h]a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” (Rom 8:15)  羅 馬 書 8:15 你 们 所 受 的 ， 不 是 奴 仆 的 心 ， 仍 旧 害 怕 ； 所 受 的 ， 乃 是 儿 子 的 心 ， 因 此 我 们 呼 叫 ： 阿 爸 ！ 父 ！  "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment....." (I Jn 4:18).  約 翰 一 書 4:18 爱 里 没 有 惧 怕 ； 爱 既 完 全 ， 就 把 惧 怕 除 去 。 因 为 惧 怕 里 含 着 刑 罚 ， 惧 怕 的 人 在 爱 里 未 得 完 全 。  Truly Truly I say to you, he who hears my words and believes Him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come into judgement, but has passed out of death, and into life. (Jn 5:24)  約 翰 福 音 5:24 我 实 实 在 在 的 告 诉 你 们 ， 那 听 我 话 、 又 信 差 我 来 者 的 ， 就 有 永 生 ； 不 至 於 定 罪 ， 是 已 经 出 死 入 生 了 。

12. Do we forgive people so completely that we don't want them to feel bad anymore?

13.  III. Rectification of the Wrong ( 纠正, 改正 : (vs 20) "...you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. "  “Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust, my great army which I sent among you. (Joel 2:25)  約 珥 書 2:25 我 打 发 到 你 们 中 间 的 大 军 队 ， 就 是 蝗 虫 、 蝻 子 、 蚂 蚱 、 剪 虫 ， 那 些 年 所 吃 的 ， 我 要 补 还 你 们 。

14.  Do you still feel that you were robbed in life by someone?  Are there mistakes you've made that still haunt you, or can you trust God to set it straight?

15.  IV. Restoration of the Relationship 恢复关系 :  "I will provide..." he comforted them, and spoke kindly. "God will take care of you...“  Both divine AND human relationships were restored.  With Joseph: "I will provide..." (50:21)  With God!: "God will take care of you...." (50:25)

16.  Can we, by faith, say, "You're still my brother, you're still my sister, you're still my friend."?

17. I. Relief for the Victim ( 解脱 如释重负 : And Joseph wept when they spoke to him (50:17b). II. Reassurance for the Sinner 再次保证 : Joseph said, "Do not be afraid...“ (50:19) "Do not be afraid..."(50:21) III. Rectification of the Wrong ( 纠正, 改正 : (vs 20) "...you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. " IV. Restoration of the Relationship 恢复关系 : "I will provide..." he comforted them, and spoke kindly. "God will take care of you..."