Revisited
Luke 23:34 WEB Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.
Forgiveness
B1 The Greek word is ἀφίημι aphíēmi. It means
C1 To send away
C2 To yield, send out as in death or a shout (Matthew 27:50 (yielded) and Mark 15:37 (cried out))
C3 To leave (a topic as in Hebrews 6:1)
C4 To forgive
C5 To allow (Luke 18:16 NIV But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.) that is not stopping (John 18:8)
C6 To leave a place or someone as in John 16:28 CSB I came from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.
B2 It is likened to a burden
C1 Matthew 11:28 NLT Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
C2 Matthew 23:4 ESV They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.
C3 Psalm 38:4 ESV For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
C4 This burden of sin has a wage—death. Romans 6:23 ESV 7.
C5 This burden has an emotion—guilt. Psalm 51:2, 9 CSB Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. … Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt.
B3 Forgiveness is like a burden that is removed.
C1 Isaiah 53:11 NLT When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.
C2 1 Peter 2:24 ESV He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
C3 Hebrews 9:28 WEB so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, without sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for him for salvation.
B4 This is the idea of sins are against God. It is His law that we have broken. It is His person we have offended.
C1 All sin is against God.
D1 Genesis 39:9 NRSV He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
D2 Psalm 51:4 CSB Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge.
C2 Only God can forgive sin. Mark 2:7 NLT What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!
C3 We have offended God: Jeremiah 16:10 NET When you tell these people about all this, they will undoubtedly ask you, ‘Why has the LORD threatened us with such great disaster? What wrong have we done? What sin have we done to offend the LORD our God?‘
Sin against other people
B1 Example
C1 1 Corinthians 8:12 NLT And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ.
C2 Matthew 18:21 NLT Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?
B2 The effect
C1 Might cause them to fall from the faith: 1 Corinthians 8:13 GW Therefore, if eating food offered to false gods causes other believers to lose their faith, I will never eat that kind of food so that I won’t make other believers lose their faith.
C2 Will cause problems for the one who sins: 1 Corinthians 8:13 GW Therefore, if eating food offered to false gods causes other believers to lose their faith, I will never eat that kind of food so that I won’t make other believers lose their faith.
A Few Thoughts on Forgiveness
Forgiveness