1. Receiving and Giving

2. Bible evidence I In the Bible forgiveness is given freely by God to humans. We receive it when we come to God with our need. See Acts 2:37,38, I John 1:9

3. Bible evidence II We in turn are to give forgiveness to those who wrong us. See how Jesus (and we) are to forgive—Lk. 23:34 and Matt. 6:14, 15

4. Definition of Forgiveness 1. The Old Testament word for forgive means to “send away” or “cover” 2. 2. The New Testament word means to “send away”, “loose”, “be gracious to”, “pass over” 3. 3. A good English translation would be to “release” or “let go”

5. Forgiveness is NOT 1. Forgetting. Something can be released but not forgotten 2. Condoning. Terrible deeds are not condoned but need to be released 3. Pardoning. 4. Reconciliation. While we should seek to be reconciled it is possible to forgive others without being reconciled.

6. 5 Types of forgiveness I 1. God’s forgiveness of people 2. Forgiveness by others to us NOTE: both 1 and 2 are passive 3. Forgiveness by people to God—not that God has sinned but that some people blame Him for his supposed actions

7. 5 Types of Forgiveness II 4. Forgiveness to those who have wronged us (more later) NOTE: Types 3 and 4 are active 5. Forgiveness of our selves. Some have said, “I can never forgive myself.”

8. Interpreting the Lord’s Prayer What do we do with Matt. 6:14, 15 and Lk. 11:2-4 The deep truth here is that we are spiritually and psychologically not able to truly receive from God what we are not willing to give to others.

9. Conclusion It is a spiritual and psychological truth that we are slaves to those we refuse to forgive. Enter the freedom of forgiveness now