The Power of Forgiveness

October 12, 2025: “The Power of Forgiveness” Countdown: “Fall Like Rain” Call To Worship: “Let Everything That Has Breath” “I Stand Amazed” Words from the Word: (NLT): Psalm 145:1-10 Worship In Song: “Chain Breaker” “Broken Vessels” Message: “The Power of Forgiveness” What is Forgiveness? The Biblical Definition Biblically, forgiveness means to "release," "send away," or "cancel a debt." It's a deliberate decision to release a person from the debt of their wrongdoing, just as God releases us. The Hebrew word "salah" means to pardon or spare, while the Greek word "aphesis" means to let go, to release from bondage or punishment. What Forgiveness if not: Forgiveness in Scripture is not ignoring sin. It's not pretending the hurt never happened. It's not minimizing the pain or excusing the behavior. Rather, it's a powerful spiritual act that acknowledges the wrong while choosing grace over judgment, mercy over revenge. God’s Perfect Model Psalm 103:12 Ephesians 1:7 Deuteronomy 12:23 Two Dimensions of Forgiveness Is thinking "I forgive someone" the same as speaking forgiveness aloud? Scripture reveals that forgiveness operates in two powerful dimensions: the internal work of the heart and the external work of reconciliation. Both matter, and both have their place in God's design. The Internal Process Heart Forgiveness: The Private Act Mark 11:25 Mark 18:35 Proverbs 19:11 Internal forgiveness is a decision before God Is thinking "I forgive someone" the same as speaking forgiveness aloud? Scripture reveals that forgiveness operates in two powerful dimensions: the internal work of the heart and the external work of reconciliation. Both matter, and both have their place in God's design. The External Process Spoken Forgiveness: The Relational Act Luke 17:3-4 John 3:16 The Power of Speaking Forgiveness James 5:16 Forgiveness spoken aloud leads to healing and restoration within relationships. Matthew 18:15 Speaking forgiveness is part of biblical conflict resolution and reconciliation. Summary Thought: External forgiveness is a spoken act of grace-it brings relational healing when both hearts are open and honest before God and each other. Joseph’s Examples of Forgiveness Genesis 50:19-21 The Foundation of All Forgiveness Romans 5:8 This single verse captures the heart of the gospel and the foundation of all Christian forgiveness. God didn't wait for us to clean ourselves up. He didn't require perfection before extending grace. While we were still in rebellion, still broken, still sinful—Christ died for us. The Constitution of the Church Condemnation All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. No one meets his standards on their own. Justification We’re made righteous through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of the law. Sanctification We live out that righteousness I n daily life, transformed by God’s grace. Righteousness if not achieved - it’s received Through Christ, God's grace not only forgives but transforms, bringing peace with Him and power to live as His representatives in the world. This is the foundation upon which everything else is built—including our ability to forgive others. Seven Biblical Truths About Forgiveness That Will Set You Free. Today, we're going to walk through seven powerful truths from God's Word about forgiveness. Each one will challenge you, encourage you, and ultimately free you to live in the fullness of God's grace. Truth #1: Forgiveness Begins with God’s Grace Romans 5:8 Truth #2: Forgiveness Reflects the Heart of God Luke 23:34 Truth #3: Forgiveness Frees You Before It Frees Others Ephesians 4:31-32 Truth #4: Forgiveness Is a Command, Not an Option Matthew 6:14-15 You can’t live in grace and refuse to give it. If you've truly encountered the forgiveness of God, it will flow through you to others. Not because you're strong enough, but because His grace is powerful enough to transform even the most wounded, angry heart into a channel of mercy. Truth #5: Forgiveness Restores Fellowship Colossians 3:13 Truth #6: Forgiveness Requires Faith Luke 17:3-5 Trusting God’s Justice God Sees He knows every detail of what happened to you, every wound, every betrayal. Nothing escapes His notice. God Judges Righteously His justice is perfect, without favoritism or error. He will make all things right in His time. You Release You let go of the burden of revenge and place it in His capable hands, trusting His judgment over your own. Key Thought: Forgiveness is not weakness—it's trusting God to handle what you can’t. It takes more strength to forgive than to hold a grudge. Truth #7: Forgiveness Is Complete in Christ Psalm 103:12 Freedom of Forgiveness Choosing Mercy Over Bitterness Forgiveness is not about forgetting—it's about freeing. It's choosing mercy over bitterness, grace over judgment, healing over hurt. It's making the deliberate decision that what someone did to you will not define the rest of your life. Our Model and Command Ephesians 4:32 Call to Action Who Do You Need to Forgive Today? This morning, the Holy Spirit is bringing someone to mind. Maybe it's a family member who wounded you deeply. Maybe it's a friend who betrayed your trust. Maybe it's someone from your past whose actions still haunt you today. Three Important Questions Who do you need to forgive today? Is there someone whose name immediately came to mind when we started talking about forgiveness? That's the Holy Spirit prompting you. Who do you need to release to God? Who are you still carrying, still trying to make pay for what they did? It's time to put that burden down and let God handle it. Do you need to forgive yourself? Maybe the hardest person to forgive is yourself. You've accepted God's forgiveness, but you still carry guilt and shame. Today is the day to receive what God has already given. (Scriptures and points by Elder Mark Gray)