Title: Bible Studies: Forgiveness

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The Consequences: Lavish Forgiveness
Overcoming evil with good provides us with a logical reason for grace. But you know what; there IS a part of grace that is supposed to be illogical, and shocking. That is why we sometimes struggle with it. God designed grace to be a shocking idea, so that the people around Christians would see that they are supernaturally different. It is common for people to treat people well who treat them well in return. But when we imitate God by loving our enemies, praying for those who persecute us, turning the other cheek to the one who strikes us, THAT’s when the world will sit up and notice. We are called to live a life of extraordinary, lavish, excessive forgiveness. To quote the words of Jesus it’s about not walking just one mile with our enemy but two, not forgiving just seven times but seventy seven! (See Matt 5:39-41 and 18:21-22)

In Ephesians 5: 1-2 we are told “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” True forgiveness of others is hard, and it does hurt, because it’s a sacrifice to God, and all sacrifice is painful. But it is only when, in obedience to God, we’re being a ‘fragrant offering’ and demonstrating this forgiveness, that others around us will catch the remarkably pleasing scent, and will want to find the source of the fragrance for themselves. Verse BankSome Bible readings if you want to read more about forgiveness for yourself: 

Matthew 6: 14-15; 18:21-22; 5:39-41
Colossians 3:12-14
James 2:12-13
1 Corinthians 13
Ephesians 4:29-5:2
Hebrews 12:14-15
Romans 5: 6-8; 12:17-21
Luke 11:4; 15:25-31