Four Characteristics of Biblical Forgiveness

 

Current Teaching Series Good News About Grace

Four Characteristics of Biblical Forgiveness By Rick Warren — October 8, 2018 "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32 NIV). Biblical forgiveness is not a cheap term you just throw around that instantly makes everybody feel better. That's not real forgiveness. The Bible says there are four characteristics to biblical forgiveness: Forgiveness is remembering how much you've been forgiven. "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32 NIV). This is the starting point for genuine forgiveness. If you don't feel forgiven, you won't want to forgive anybody else. If you're hard on yourself, you're going to be hard on others. But the more grace you receive from God, the more gracious you're going to be with others. The more forgiven you feel by God, the more forgiving you'll be toward others. Forgiveness is relinquishing your right to get even. Romans 12:19 says, "Never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for he has said that he will repay those who deserve it" (TLB). Life is not fair, but one day God's going to settle the score. He's going to right the wrongs. So, who can get better justice—you or God? Forgiveness is responding to evil with good. The Bible says in Luke 6:27-28, "Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you" (NIV). How can you tell when you've really forgiven somebody? When you can look at that person's hurt and not just your own, and pray for God to bless him or her. You ask, "How could I ever do that for the person who's hurt me?" You can't unless you allow the love of God to penetrate your life. Only the love of God can help you do something like that. Forgiveness is repeating the process as long as necessary. "Peter came to him and asked, 'Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?' 'No, not seven times,' Jesus replied, 'but seventy times seven!'" (Matthew 18:21-22 NLT). Jewish law said you had to forgive a person three times, so Peter doubled it and threw one in for good measure. But Jesus said to go even further with your forgiveness! How long do you have to keep forgiving someone? As long as it takes. You have to keep forgiving that person until the pain stops and the desire to get revenge goes away.PLAY today's audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk About It What difference has God's grace made in your life? How can you extend that grace to others? For whom do you need to pray God's blessing today? How can that prayer be part of the process of letting go of your hurt? What good can you do for someone in your life who dislikes you or who has wronged you?

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Series Summary Session 1: Saving Grace Session 2: Sustaining Grace Session 3: Liberating Grace Session 4: Offering Grace Session 5: Restoring Grace Session 6: Living in God's Amazing Grace PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST

Pastor Rick Warren

Enjoy today's Devotional? Listen instantly to the full radio message at Daily Hope Radio. Did someone forward this devotional to you? Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional. This devotional is based on the current Daily Hope radio series at pastorrick.com. Rick Warren has helped people live with hope and on purpose for more than 40 years. He's the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California and author of several books, including The Purpose Driven Church and The Purpose Driven Life, which has been translated into 137 languages and sold more than 50 million copies in all formats. He created the PEACE Plan (plant churches of reconciliation, equip servant leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, educate the next generation), which is used by churches in 196 countries. His radio teaching and daily devotional, Daily Hope, is offered around the world. This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe at any time by changing your e-mail preferences. Update your preferences | Unsubscribe

 

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