The Anatomy of Biblical Forgiveness - CrossCulture Inductive Bible Study Series

Motivation: Forgiveness is required, not optional.
Read Matthew 6:12,14,15; Matthew 18:21-35

Retribution, Retaliation
Matthew 5:38-42, 43-48

4 kinds of Retribution:

1. Consequences  - Natural and Divine Law
2. Justice - Institutional or Divine punishment
3. Discipline - Institutional or Divine correction
4. Revenge - Personal satisfaction or appeasement

Of the 4 kinds of retribution only one is personal and a means of retaliation frowned upon by the Sermon on the Mount, yet most Christians always take or prefer that path. 

The Subject and Issue of Forgiveness 1:

1. Who carries the burden of forgiveness? The offender or the victim?
2. Anatomy of conflict and resolution? 
1. Offense and Offender and Victim
2. Apology or non-Apology. Is it necessary?
3. Victim Response:
1. Anger, Resentment, Venting out
2. Need to Correct
3. Christ-like FORGIVENESS. This happens when the #1 and #2 above is so short-lived or short-term and overwhelmed by God's forgiveness for our own sins. Responding the other way where #1 and #2 affect us long-term, continually or intermittently is its own reward and God does nothing else or nothing positive for you.
3. The desire for immediate satisfaction is living by sight and NOT by faith. (Hebrews 11:13; 39). If we really believe in our hearts that we do NOT need immediate satisfaction and that when we truly exercise forgiveness, God Himself will reward us abundantly.
4. How about Christ and the money-changers (Mark 11:15ff)? Christ and the Pharisees (Matt 23; 12:34)? 

The Subject and Issue of Forgiveness 2:

Ephesians 4:30-32 (How did Christ forgive?)

1. What conditions exist when you have truly and biblically forgiven?
1. Condition of the mind?
2. Condition of the heart?
3. Emotional state
2. What conditions should NOT exist?
3. Forgive and FORGET? How do you do it? Psalm 25:7; 79:8; 103:10,12; Isaiah 43:25; Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrews 8:12; 10:17

BIBLICAL CONCLUSIONS:

1. Forgiveness needs to be FULL and COMPLETE if we want God to forgive us FULLY and COMPLETELY (Matt 6)
2. Forgiveness is a REQUIRED response of the Kingdom Child. It is NOT an OPTION. (Matt 6)
3. The starting point of forgiving others is realizing fully that God has forgiven us with a much greater debt than others own us (Matt 18)
4. Forgiveness is a Kingdom RESPONSE to insult or injury. 
5. Apology is not and NEVER a requirement for forgiveness (Matt 5:32ff)
6. Forgiveness is ENTIRELY the burden of the victim. It has NOTHING to do with the offender.
7. Desire for Immediate satisfaction or retribution hinders total and complete forgiveness (Hebrews 11). 
8. Emphasis or emphasizing the Biblical point, including personal insult and SARCASM has a place in Biblical teaching when hearers are too dense and obstinate and only in the context of teaching and correction.
9. Biblical FORGETTING when related to FORGIVENESS involves ONLY the heart. The MIND NEVER forgets without divine intervention.