Forgiveness is an important aspect to our relationship with God and toward others. God has so graciously forgiven us of all our sins and expects us to learn how to walk in forgiveness toward others. In this study on forgiveness, we will look to the Bible for revelation from God as to how this forgiveness can be a reality in our life. Sometimes the only way to stop the anger and inner rage that can come from being hurt or sinned against is to forgive. We need to learn to release it to find relief from the violation, injustice, and hurt instead of stuffing it, holding it inside, or continually rehearsing it in our mind.
We get an excellent definition of what forgiveness is from Matthew 18.
Matthew 18:21-35, “Then came Peter to Him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Therefore is the Kingdom of Heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee?
And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my Heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses.”
Jesus describes an offense situation being like a debt which is owed. This unpaid debt is the result of something that should have been done but was not or something that should not have been done but was. Forgiveness is the release of the debt or obligation (what they did wrong or the right thing they should have done). Forgiveness essentially means to release or dismiss.
The release of forgiveness can include:
1. Release from our personal judgment, “I’ll not keep bringing the case or issue up before my mind to prove who is right or wrong.”
2. Release from personal vengeance, “I’ll not try to get even or punish the person back to make them pay.”
3. Release from personal predictions, “I’ll not negatively speak what is going to happen to them because they hurt me.”
God’s Word and Spirit which deliver His enabling and all sufficient grace to us can work in us to bring us to the point of this release. All together forgiveness is defined as:
1. “I release you.”
2. “You don’t owe me.”
3. “I’ll not make you pay.”
4. “I release you from my personal judgment, personal vengeance, and personal predictions.”
Pastor John Rasicci is the founder and Pastor of Word of His Grace Church in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, where we are building people who are building the Church. Pastor's ministry mission is to help people discover God's dream for their Life, the Local Church, and the Last Days' Harvest. With a strong emphasis on the grace of God and with a prophetic voice, Pastor John preaches and teaches in churches, conferences, and crusades both locally and throughout the world. He has produced books, tapes, and other teaching materials to empower, enable, and equip Believers with the Word of God. Pastor John is married to his wife Candy who with their three children, Krista, Joanna, John Anthony, and two son-in-laws, Matt and Doug, serve together in the ministry. After graduating from Kent State University, Pastor John pursued a career in professional baseball before accepting the call to the ministry. He and his wife, Candy, received their ministry training from Rhema Bible Training Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
John Rasicci 
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