2 Corinthians 2:5-11
We will look at 2 key ideas
the destructive force
in the life of a believer is unforgiveness

And the thought that God
will not fully forgive you.

Neil Anderson in Bondage Breaker,
wrote ‘Most of the ground that Satan gains
in the lives of Christians,
is due to unforgiveness”

Unforgiveness breeds bitterness,
resentment, anger, unkindness,
and even despair.

Secondly; Unforgiveness is often
a core component of stress

Thirdly, unforgiveness may increase
levels of guilt, shame, and regret
that in turn negatively impact
one’s mental health.”

Nothing is more important for us
than to know what forgiveness
is as well as what it isn’t.
God forgives us
We need to forgive others

a. WHY WE NEED FORGIVENESS?
Rom 3:23

b. GOD FORGIVES US
Is1:18

though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.


Psm 103:12
Psm 86:5

c. GOD DOES NOT LIMIT OUR FORGIVENESS
Jer 31:34

‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,
declares the Lord.

For I will forgive their iniquity,
and I will remember their sin no more.”

We may not be able to forget
but God does not dwell
on our mistakes but can move on.



d. WHAT DIFFERENCE
DOES FORGIVENESS BRING?
2 Cor 5:17

e. HOW DO WE FIND FORGIVENESS1 Jn 1:9



f. WE ARE CALLED TO FORGIVING OTHERS
Eph 4:32
Mat 6:14
Mk 11:25
Eph 4:32




1. WHO IS HURT WHEN WE DO WRONG?
2 Cor 2:5

Sin somehow impacts far more
than just the wronged party

We are called to restore, rebirth or renew


a. PERSONAL SPIRITUAL RESTORATION
Psm 51:12
b. RENEWAL THAT IS THE REGAINING
OF INNER STRENGTH
AND RESOLVE IN OUR PURSUIT OF GOD
Is 40:31
Lam 5:21


c. RENEWAL OF THE MIND
Rom 12:2

Col 3:10

d. RENEWAL FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF REPENTANCE
Psm 51:10

2. How to deal with sin?
2 Cor 2:6-7

3. THE BIBLE WARNS US THAT SOME
WILL REJECT FORGIVENESS
Heb 10:26
Jam 4:17

4. HOW ARE WE TO RESPOND
TO CHRISTIANS WHO SIN
Mat 7:1-8:34
1 Cor 5:11

b. WHAT DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT DO?
Jn16:8

c. IF WE REPENT
Act 17:30
2 Chron 7:14
2 Cor 5:17
1 Jn 5:18
Colossians 3:1-25

For you have died,
and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ who is your life appears,
then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:
sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire,
and covetousness, which is idolatry



d,. Restoring sinners
2 Cor 2:8 -9


JESUS
Luke 1:16 And he will turn
many of the sons of Israel
back to the Lord their God.
Matthew 11:28 Come to me,
all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.
OLD TESTAMENT
Amos 9:14 I will bring my people Israel
back from exile.
“They will rebuild the ruined cities
and live in them.

Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.




CHURCH
Galatians 6:1 Brethren,
even if anyone is caught in any trespass,
you who are spiritual,
restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness;
each one looking to yourself,
so that you too will not be tempted.
2 Corinthians 13:9-11 We are glad
whenever we are weak
but you are strong;
and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.

11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice!
Strive for full restoration,
encourage one another,
be of one mind, live in peace.
And the God of love
and peace will be with you.

e. Forgiving
10 Anyone whom you forgive,
I also forgive.
Indeed, what I have forgiven,
if I have forgiven anything,


f. Don’t give Satan a foothold
11 we would not be outwitted by Satan;
for we are not ignorant of his designs.





Some myths about Forgiveness

g. YOU CAN FORGIVE AND FORGET
“forgive and forget”, quite simply,
is psychologically impossible.

But we can pray that what we have forgiven
no longer has power over us.

We can pray for healing.

h. BECAUSE YOU FORGIVE SOMEONE
DOES NOT MEAN
THAT YOU CANNOT HAVE JUSTICE
You may forgive a criminal
but they may need to still go to goal.

It is not our responsibility to seek justice
but God’s and the courts

Do not diminish the gravity of the offence,

Romans 12:19 “Beloved,
never avenge yourselves,
but leave it to the wrath of God,
for it is written,
‘Vengeance is mine,
I will repay, says the Lord’”

1/ FORGIVENESS IT RARELY
A ONE OFF EVENT BUT A PROCESS
We can ask God to change us to be forgiving people even when we do not feel like forgiving


j. FORGIVENESS CAN BE COSTLY
Forgiving people can come at great personal cost and can be hard.

For Jesus it cost him his life


k. WHAT IF I CANNOT FORGIVE
This is where pray comes in.
Some things only the Holy Spirit
can change within us.