MEMORY VERSE: ‘And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.’ Luke 11:4.
LESSON AIM: To study what it truly means to forgive.
‘In the prayer that Christ taught His disciples was the request: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. We cannot repeat this prayer from the heart and dare to be unforgiving, for we ask the Lord to forgive our trespasses against Him in the same manner that we forgive those who trespass against us. But few realise the true import of this prayer. If those who are unforgiving did comprehend the depth of its meaning, they would not dare to repeat it and ask God to deal with them as they deal with their fellow mortals. We need to examine our hearts as a preparation for coming before God in prayer, that we may know what manner of spirit we are of. If we do not forgive those who have trespassed against us, our prayers for forgiveness will not be heard. “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” When as sinners we approach the mercy-seat, we cannot express the sentiment of this petition without forgiveness in our hearts for all who have done us an injury. Upon this petition Jesus makes a comment: “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”’ Prayer, page 240.
1. If we forgive someone, should we retain feelings of resentment against that person? Romans 12:17, first part.
NOTE: ‘We have a harsh, unforgiving nature. If one injures us, we find it difficult, yes, impossible to forgive the wrong. Stop now, and think of God’s tender, forbearing, forgiving disposition. See how gentle He is to all, how patient and considerate with the erring, and especially how patient He has been and is with us, and how much He has freely forgiven us. As we gaze and meditate, our impatience and bitterness vanishes, we know not how. Certain it is, that no person can contemplate the wondrous love of God in Christ, and at the same time harbour resentment towards anyone. Whatever the sin that besets you, consider the absence of that sin the corresponding righteousness-in Christ, and you have the remedy.’ E. J. Waggoner: Present Truth, January 20, 1898.
2. How does forgiveness free us from a desire to avenge ourselves? Romans 12:19. Consider Leviticus 19:18.
NOTE: ‘The Word says: “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Such forgiving is certainly not like that which our Heavenly Father has shown to us. Suppose He should reason the same way: “Man has rebelled against My authority, I will forgive him this, but to restore him to favour is impossible. Henceforth I can never regard him with the affection I had for him before. He does not deserve My friendship.” How different would be our prospects under such a regime! Fortunately, this is an impossible supposition. The fact is that the Lord has given the most precious thing that Heaven could provide, His only begotten Son; and He not only provides for our perfect and complete restoration to our former estate, but grants us now His comfort and love, in richest measure. Similarly we are not only to forgive him who has wronged us, but as Paul tells us, “comfort him lest perhaps such an one should be swallowed up with over-much sorrow.”’ E. J. Waggoner: Present Truth, August 2, 1900.