How do you settle relational accounts?

Jesus says…forgive

• Then 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! Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt. But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt. But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full. When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt. That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.” (Matthew 18:21-35)

The cost of not forgiving…prison

• Drag the angst of the past into our future

• Scandal…people don’t see the gospel…forgiveness

• We don’t experience God’s grace and freedom

• “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)

  “Releasing the past…so the past will release you”

Forgiveness

• IS NOT: Denying, approving, excusing, conditional, indifference, reasonable, reconciling

• IS: Unconditional grace

I need to forgive

• Embrace: God’s forgiveness in Jesus

  …just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)

• Decide: forgiveness takes one…I am the one

  …forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)

  And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26,27)

• Faith: “I can’t…help”

  And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live…Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another… (Ephesians 4:30-32)

Reflection Question: How is God leading you to embrace His forgiveness and decide to forgive others as He’s forgiven you?