FIRST GOOD SAMARITAN BAPTIST CHURCH
The Caring Church, Preparing the World by Sharing the Word

WEEKLY WORD

UNFORGIVENESS IS UNFORGIVING

[Part I-Lessons in Forgiveness and Unforgiveness]

14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Matthew 6:14, 15
New Living Translation

Our sermon exposition is from the context of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in chapters 5-7. It is this sermon that Jesus gives a teaching on a variety of situations, but in chapter 6 HE teaches the disciples how to pray. It is in that prayer that we have taken our text that is tailored to teach us the importance of FORGIVENESS.
WE SHARED WITH THE CONGREGATION WHAT FORGIVENESS IS NOT:

1. FORGIVENESS IS NOT…Pretending like it never happened
Forgiveness does not take away your memory.

2. FORGIVENESS IS NOT…Excusing unhealthy or bad behavior. It does not accept what happened by the perpetrator as permissible.

3. FORGIVENESS IS NOT…giving people a license to repeat bad or hurtful behavior.

SO WHAT IS FORGIVENESS?

FORGIVENESS IS WILLING TO RECOGNIZE YOUR WRONG THAT WAS FORGIVEN AND RECIPROCATE. IN OTHER WORDS, FORGIVENESS SHOWN TO US BY GOD REQUIRES US TO SHARE THAT FORGIVENESS WITH SOMEBODY ELSE WHO HAS WRONGED US.

What we need to realize is that UNFORGIVENESS IS UNRESOLVED PAIN. When there is unresolved pain then you poison any possibilities for greatness in your future. Unforgiveness robs and ruins any new and future relationship because of those who wronged us in our past. When it comes to forgiveness, one must recognize that it is never about the offender but the believer [you]. Allowing yourself to live in unforgiveness will allow people who wronged you to live rent free in your head and heart.

When you can forgive, it is not letting the person off the hook [forgetting the pain it caused you], but it allows you to let go for your liberation. Forgiveness does not forget the hurt it caused you but remembers the lesson it taught you. Forgiveness is necessary for every believer because for God to forgive you, then you need to show Him who you just forgave. WHY? Because if you don’t forgive them then GOD WON’T FORGIVE YOU! UNFORGIVENESS IS UNFORGIVING!

Dr. James A. Simmons, Senior Pastor