1. Today’s Scripture Reading
Luke 17:3-5

2. Real Christians Are FORGIVING
Luke 17:3-5

3. To Err Is Human
Have you heard the proverb: “To err is human, to forgive divine?”
It was made popular by Alexander Pope.
The saying is much older. Cicero said, “Errare humanum est, ignoscere divinum.” Which is Latin for the above quote.

4. Forgiveness Comes From God
Either way you say it, forgiveness originated with God.
The Lord has introduced us to the subject of forgiveness.
He has bound us with the cords of His love, so that we have to proclaim, “Real Christians are FORGIVING!”

5. God Forgave Me Complete Forgiveness Is A Blessing of the New Covenant
For I will forgive their wickedness       and will remember their sins no more.
Hebrews 8:12
God Forgave Me

6. Forgiveness Through God’s Grace In Jesus Christ
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace…
Ephesians 1:7

7. Because forgiveness is by grace:
It cannot be earned
It is without condition, except for faith

8. Psalm 103:11-13
“For as high as the heavens are above the earth,        so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,        so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
 As a father has compassion on his children,        so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him….”
God’s forgiveness cannot be measured

9. Forgiveness delivered us from Satan and placed us back in God.
Acts 26:17-18
I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.‘
Forgiveness delivered us from Satan and placed us back in God.

10. Having been forgiven, I am now obligated to forgive others.
I Must Forgive Others
Having been forgiven,
I am now obligated to
forgive others.

11. Luke 17:3-5 – So watch yourselves
Luke 17:3-5 – So watch yourselves.       "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."
 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!“
How many times must I forgive transgressors?

12. Judgment is forbidden…
Luke 6:37
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
…forgiveness is commanded!

13. Is There Anything I Don’t Have To Forgive?
Colossians 3:13 – Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

14. No Grudges Allowed!
Leviticus 19:18
'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”

15. What If I Don’t Forgive?
Matthew 6: Forgive us our debts,       as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation,    but deliver us from the evil one.' For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

16. Matthew 18:21-35
Unlimited forgiveness
Unending punishment if we don’t forgive.
If we don’t forgive, God will not forgive us.

17. “To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and discover the prisoner was you.”
Lewis Smedes

18. What Will Keep Us Out of Heaven?
It could be something as “BIG” as murder.
It could be something as “SMALL” as a single grudge.