Why Forgive?

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· It is only fair, since God has forgiven me of a much greater offense.
· I want to be forgiven by God.
· Forgiveness is a fountain of life and love.
· It brings great glory to God and joy to the heart.
- Because He said so.

God said it better than any man's lecture can:

Scripture: (NIV)

Genesis 50:17
'This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.' Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father." When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

Matthew 5:7
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

Matthew 5:23-24
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”

Matthew 6:12-15
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.[a]' For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Matthew 18:35
"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

Mark 11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

Luke 6:27-29
“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.”

Luke 6:36-37
"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Luke 7:47
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

Luke 11:4
Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. ' "

The Parable of the Prodigal Son
Luke 15:11-32

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
Matthew 18:21-22
For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[a]
Luke 17:3-4
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."


Luke 23: 34
Jesus asked for God's forgiveness of those who crucified him. "And Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.'"

2 Corinthians 2:5-11
[ Forgiveness for the Sinner ] 5If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Part II - What IS Forgiveness?
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