Forgiveness

Forgiveness What some prominent people have said : “Love is an act of endless forgiveness.” Peter Ustinov “One pardons to the degree that one loves.” Francois Di La Rochefoucauld “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” Mahatma Ghandi “Forgiveness is the release of all hope for a better past.” Alexa Young

Forgiveness “ You know that you have forgiven someone when he or she has harmless passage through your mind.” Rev Karyl Huntley “Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.” Mark Twain “If we really want to love, we must learn how to forgive.” Mother Theresa

Forgiveness A key-element in the Bible: 1.God is the greatest forgiver – (Gen 4:24) with God forgiving Adam & Eve 2.Joseph to his brothers – Gen 50:15-20; David – Ps. 32 and 51; Jonah, Job

Forgiveness A key-element in the Bible: 3. Jesus – kissing Judas; Lk 23:34; John 9; Matt 18:23-25 (unmerciful servant);Lk 7: Col 3:13; Eph 4:32; Mk 11:25 + Matt 6:14 5. Conditional forgiving : 1John 1:7+9

Forgiveness How not to apply Scripture: Hilary Clinton : “The Bible tells us to forgive 70 times 7 times. I want to let my enemies know that I am counting.” Oscar Wilde: “Always forgive your enemies – nothing annoys them so much.” CHECK your attitude: What is my motive in forgiving/not forgiving others?

Forgiveness - Forgiveness - In the Qur’an Yussuf Ali’s concordance has 12 references: 1.Muslims seeking forgiveness from God Sura 4:110 “ he who does evil…and afterwards asks pardon of God, shall find God gracious and merciful.” Sura 57:21 “ Therefore strive emulously for the pardon of your Lord, and for a paradise as vast as heaven and earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and his apostles.” Sura 42:5 “ the angels celebrate the praise of their Lord, and ask pardon for those who dwell on earth. Is not God the forgiver of sins, the merciful?”

Forgiveness Forgiveness – In the Qur’an 2.God forgiving Muslims: Sura 4:48 “ Surely God will not pardon the giving him an equal, but will pardon any other sin, except that, to whom he pleaseth” (also 116) Sura 39:53 “ despair not of the mercy of God: seeing that God forgives all sins” (to those who sincerely repent) Sura 53:32 “ God forgives those who commit lighter faults” (but not those with greater sins)

Forgiveness Forgiveness – In the Qur’an 3. Muslims are to forgive others: Sura 2:109 “ Many of the people of the book desire to render you again unbelievers…forgive them and avoid them (‘bear with them’ Dawood)” Sura 7:199 “ Use indulgence (‘take the line of disregarding’ Bell) = accept alms” Sura 42:40 “ but he who forgives and is reconciled unto his enemy shall receive his reward from God” Sura 45:14 “ speak to the true believers that they forgive those who hope not for the days of God… or ‘Tell the believers to pardon those who dread the days of victory, the day when A will reward men according to the deeds.”

Forgiveness What is the basic reason for forgiveness -In the Qur’an? In the Qur’an = His omnipotence -And in the Bible? In the Bible= His sacrificial love Ask – Receive – extend Forgiveness.