“No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you as white as wool.”

“No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you as white as wool.”

Isaiah 1:18 (NLT)Isaiah 1:18 (NLT)

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FORGIVE?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FORGIVE?

• To excuse for a fault or an offense; pardon.

• To renounce anger or resentment against.

• To absolve from payment of (a debt, for example).

• To excuse for a fault or an offense; pardon.

• To renounce anger or resentment against.

• To absolve from payment of (a debt, for example).

“Forgiveness is when an individual who’s been hurt or offended decides and practices giving up his or her desire to avoid the person who hurt him or her, or giving up the desire to exact revenge on the person, and also to seek a reconciliation between the two people, if it’s safe and possible.”

~ Everett L. Worthington, Jr.

“Forgiveness is when an individual who’s been hurt or offended decides and practices giving up his or her desire to avoid the person who hurt him or her, or giving up the desire to exact revenge on the person, and also to seek a reconciliation between the two people, if it’s safe and possible.”

~ Everett L. Worthington, Jr.

WHY IS IT HARD TOFORGIVE?

WHY IS IT HARD TOFORGIVE?

It costs a lot.It costs a lot.

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”

~ Mahatma Gandhi

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”

~ Mahatma Gandhi

“If you want to see the brave, look at those who can forgive.”

~ Bhagavad-Gita

“If you want to see the brave, look at those who can forgive.”

~ Bhagavad-Gita

WHY IS IT HARD TOFORGIVE?

WHY IS IT HARD TOFORGIVE?

We want justice.

We want justice.

“Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”

~ Mark Twain

“Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”

~ Mark Twain

WHY IS IT HARD TOFORGIVE?

WHY IS IT HARD TOFORGIVE?

We don’t forget.

We don’t forget.

How far has the LORD taken our sins from us? Farther than the distance from east to west!

How far has the LORD taken our sins from us? Farther than the distance from east to west!

Psalm 103:12 (CEV)Psalm 103:12 (CEV)

Christ set the example.

Christ set the example.

WHY SHOULD I FORGIVE?WHY SHOULD I FORGIVE?

Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you.

Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you.

Colossians 3:13 (CEV)Colossians 3:13 (CEV)

…Be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you…

…Be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you…

Ephesians 4:32 (CEV)Ephesians 4:32 (CEV)

For my physical health.

For my physical health.

WHY SHOULD I FORGIVE?WHY SHOULD I FORGIVE?

“[Forgiveness] really reduces the hostility that a person has toward someone who harmed or offended him or her. We know from research that when people feel less hostile, in a chronic way, they tend to have fewer

“[Forgiveness] really reduces the hostility that a person has toward someone who harmed or offended him or her. We know from research that when people feel less hostile, in a chronic way, they tend to have fewer

cardiovascular problems, fewer heart attacks, and to feel less stress. They don’t get or stay as agitated. The less stress a person chronically feels, the better his or her immune system functions.”

~ Everett L. Worthington, Jr.

cardiovascular problems, fewer heart attacks, and to feel less stress. They don’t get or stay as agitated. The less stress a person chronically feels, the better his or her immune system functions.”

~ Everett L. Worthington, Jr.

So I can be forgiven.So I can be forgiven.

WHY SHOULD I FORGIVE?WHY SHOULD I FORGIVE?

“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.”

“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 (NLT)Matthew 6:14-15 (NLT)

So I can be free.So I can be free.

WHY SHOULD I FORGIVE?WHY SHOULD I FORGIVE?

Grudges are like anchors that keep your ship from reaching its appointed destination.

Grudges are like anchors that keep your ship from reaching its appointed destination.

WHAT DOES FORGIVENESS INVOLVE?

WHAT DOES FORGIVENESS INVOLVE?

Don’t keep reminding them about it.

Don’t keep reminding them about it.

“His heart was as great as the world, but there was no room in it to hold the memory of a wrong.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“His heart was as great as the world, but there was no room in it to hold the memory of a wrong.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

WHAT DOES FORGIVENESS INVOLVE?

WHAT DOES FORGIVENESS INVOLVE?

Don’t keep reminding them about it.

Don’t keep reminding them about it.

Don’t tell others about the problem.

Don’t tell others about the problem.

“I understand that the president wanted to know my opinion of Whiting, not Whiting's opinion of me.”

~ General Robert E. Lee

“I understand that the president wanted to know my opinion of Whiting, not Whiting's opinion of me.”

~ General Robert E. Lee

WHAT DOES FORGIVENESS INVOLVE?

WHAT DOES FORGIVENESS INVOLVE?

Don’t keep reminding them about it.

Don’t keep reminding them about it.

Don’t tell others about the problem.

Don’t tell others about the problem.

Don’t dwell on it yourself.Don’t dwell on it yourself.

“If we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

“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 (NIV)1 John 1:9 (NIV)

“If we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Ihhumagiyunaiekvigigamitigut“He will think that it never happened to us.”

“If we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Ihhumagiyunaiekvigigamitigut“He will think that it never happened to us.”

1 John 1:9 (NIV)1 John 1:9 (NIV)

That is how my Father in heaven will treat you, if you don’t forgive each of my followers with all your heart.

That is how my Father in heaven will treat you, if you don’t forgive each of my followers with all your heart.

Matthew 18:35 (CEV)Matthew 18:35 (CEV)

“For man with no forgiveness in heart, life worse punishment than death.”

~ Mr. Miyagi, Karate Kid II

“For man with no forgiveness in heart, life worse punishment than death.”

~ Mr. Miyagi, Karate Kid II

“But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

“But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Matthew 6:15 (NLT)Matthew 6:15 (NLT)

Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, “I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it,” says the Lord.

Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, “I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it,” says the Lord.

Romans 12:18-19 (NLT)Romans 12:18-19 (NLT)

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you.”Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you.”Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Romans 12:20-21 (NLT)Romans 12:20-21 (NLT)