Lesson 12 – Forgiveness | Discover the Book Ministries

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Forgiveness BC&D

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BCF Lesson 12 “boxed notes”

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The practice of Christ-like love is the distinctive characteristic of a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. As part of loving others biblically, faithful and consistent forgiveness of them indicates your thankfulness and understanding of God’s forgiveness which is available to you through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus (based on Matthew 18:21-35; John 13:35; Ephesians 4:32).

Doctrine: Forgiveness

Note: This type of love is a byproduct of walking in the Spirit: Romans 5 & Galatians 5.

Study: The Gift of Salvation

Salvation’s Mighty Work

Through the divine work of God, guilty sinners are made ready for dwelling in the Presence of God forever; and their bodies formerly slaves to sin instantly become the very dwelling place, and temple of God.

How does God do all that? He does it through the seven elements that make up the Gift of Salvation.

Remember with me what God does in each of us who believe:

In FORGIVENESS: God removes my debts.

Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

In JUSTIFICATION: God changes my Status.

Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In REGENERATION: God transforms my Heart

Ezekiel 36:26-27 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

In RECONCILIATION: God becomes my Friend.

Romans 5:10-11 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

In ADOPTION: God Changes my Family.

Romans 8:14-15 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

In REDEMPTION: God changes my ownership.

I Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

In SANCTIFICATION: God Changes my Behavior.

Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

OPEN THE GIFT OF FORGIVENESS

Because of our sin—we are all debtors to God’s Righteousness; so we need forgiveness.

In Forgiveness we go from hopelessly offending God stained by sin to the peace of complete forgiveness.

We need to experience what the Scriptures often declare—God is a God who offers His children complete forgiveness. Trace with me these life giving words in your hearts as I read them to you.

Then repeat the truth of what God has done!

“… as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us”. (Psalm 103:12).

God said all my sins are gone. Say that aloud with me.

“ Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “ Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool..” (Is. 1:18).

I am white as snow in God’s sight. Say that aloud with me.

“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no mor” (Jeremiah 31:34b).

God has forgotten all of my sins. Say that aloud with me.

“She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” (John 8:11). “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 8:1).

Jesus will never condemn me for my sins. Say that aloud with me.

START A NEW SPIRITUAL EXERCISE

As you begin each day, each month, and this new year, one of our greatest privileges is to open and enjoy the gift of salvation God has given to us. By faith we please God when we believe what He’s said about us. We need to not live by what others say or have said about us all your life.

Satan is the Accuser and wants us to only remember all the many times we have fallen; Satan delights in the days, weeks, or months he can keep us condemning ourselves for what we’ve done. That is his plan, so don’t fall for it.

Resist Satan as you believe the truth; speak the truth; and preach the Gospel to yourself.

And when ever we fall down, God says to just turn back to Him and repent, confessing our sin immediately–and believe that what God has promised in His salvation. We are forgiven, justified, regenerated, reconciled, adopted, redeemed, and sanctified. That makes us precious in His sight, special in His plan.

One of the most powerful habits you could grow is to take this list of the ramifications of having received the only gift everyone really needs and rejoice by faith in your great salvation!

Keep these seven elements in your Bible, at home, on your computer, put one on your mirror where you start your day, and in your car. Where ever you need to keep reminding yourself of what great things God has promised and done through Christ’s death for us!

Slowly as you understand and lay hold on these truths a life-changing transformation take place in our minds, and then in our emotions, and finally throughout our entire life as we live each day based on God’s eternal truth. This starts as we:

This morning celebrate your forgiveness that is only in Christ.

“… as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us”. (Psalm 103:12)
” Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “ Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” ( 1:18)
“… But You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, For You have cast all my sins behind Your back. ( 38:17)
“I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” (Isaiah 44:22)
“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34b)
“You will … hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:19)
[At the Last Supper, Jesus commanded his own to drink, saying] “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28)
“She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” (John 8:11)
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

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The great and foremost commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second great commandment is to love your neighbor as you already love yourself. The first statement may sound simple to do, but the reality of loving God with such intensity is directly linked to your loving others in a biblical manner (based on Matthew 22:36-40; Mark 12:30-31; 1 John 2:10-11, 4:7-11, 4:20-21).

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God’s forgiveness is an outpouring of abundant grace and mercy that provides pardon to the guilty. Although God’s forgiveness does not necessarily release the offender from the physical or material consequences of his sin, it provides full release from the guilt of the wrongdoing. For you to practice biblical forgiveness, you must understand and accept God’s gracious forgiveness of you and must follow His example in providing forgiveness to others (based on 2 Samuel 12:13-14; Psalm 103:10-14; Luke 23:39-43; Romans 5:8, 8:1; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:12-14, 3:25).

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Asking for forgiveness from others in a scriptural manner involves acknowledging that you have sinned against them and that you desire mercy and pardon (not to be given what you deserve). Asking for forgiveness is vital for reconciliations and may lead to a difference in the relationship. For complete restoration to occur, specific steps of biblical action must be taken (based on Matthew 5:23-24, 18:21-35; Romans 12:18, 14:19; 2 Corinthians 5:17-19; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:12-14; James 5:16; 1 John 1:9).

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While God’s plan of forgiveness is stated clearly in Scripture, man’s humanistic wisdom has introduced confusion. To protect yourself from accepting and believing erroneous teaching about forgiveness, follow this simple truth: If a particular viewpoint is not supported by Scripture, it is not from God and must be discarded (base on Proverbs 21:30; Isaiah 55:8-9; Jeremiah 10:23; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:3-4).

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Helping another to solve his problems biblically requires that you deal with that person’s relationship with the Lord and his subsequent obedience in practicing biblical love in all of his relationships (based on Matthew 22:37-39; John 13:35, 14:23-24; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a; 2 Corinthians 2:14; 1 John 4:8, 10-11, 19, 5:3).

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This lesson’s homework presents God’s perspective on forgiveness. As you practice biblical forgiveness, you demonstrate the difference Jesus has made in your life (based on Matthew 5:16; John 13:35; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13).

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This lesson’s study guide presents God’s perspective on forgiveness. As you practice biblical forgiveness, you demonstrate the difference Jesus has made in your life (based on Matthew 5:16; John 13:35; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13).

Christ’s Teaching on Being Forgiven & Forgiving