1 Corinthians 9 Lesson

FORGIVENESS

Did you know that forgiving somebody can improve your health? 

According to John Hopkins Medicine:

“Studies have found that the act of forgiveness can reap huge rewards for your health, lowering the risk of heart attack; improving cholesterol levels and sleep; and reducing pain, blood pressure, and levels of anxiety, depression, and stress.”

More importantly, forgiveness is something that we are commanded to do in the Bible and an important part of being a Christian. 

The world may hold grudges, but Christians do not.  

BIBLE VERSES ABOUT FORGIVENESS

The Bible has a lot to say about forgiveness.

For today’s lesson, we have highlighted the following five verses:

1. “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” - Ephesians 4:32,
2. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9,
3. “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in Heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. [But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”] - Mark 11:25-26,
4. “If you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” -Mathew 6:14-15,
5. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.” -Luke 6:37.

JESUS AND PETER

Peter asked Jesus:

• “How often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times? – Mathew 18:21.

Jesus responded:

• “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” - Mathew 18:22.

JUSTICE VS. MERCY

The subjects of mercy and forgiveness are closely related. 

Too many times, we want justice when it comes to others and mercy for ourselves. 

That is not how God wants us to be, and not what the Bible teaches.

The Bible teaches us that to receive mercy, we must show mercy to others. Consider the following scripture from the Book of James:

• “For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.” – James 2:13.

Shortly after choosing His twelve Apostles, Jesus spoke in front of a large gathering of His disciples and said:

• “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” – Luke 6:36. 

THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS

The Bible says that all of us are sinners.

Every one of us!

The Apostle Paul wrote about this in his letter to the Romans:

• “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23. 

None of us are perfect. 

And despite our best intentions, we often find ourselves failing to keep God's commandments the way that we would like to.  

The same thing cannot be said about Jesus. 

Jesus was perfect! 

He was blameless and without sin. (1 John 3:5, 1 Peter 2:22, Hebrews 4:15). 

And despite this, He was hunted down, beaten, ridiculed, and killed! 

If anyone had reason to be angry and merciless it was Jesus.  And yet, our Savior uttered the following words just moments before His death on the cross:

• “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” – Luke 23:34.

If Jesus can forgive the people who had him nailed to the cross, how much more should we be able to forgive the people in our lives who have offended us in far less serious ways? 

CONCLUSION

Practicing forgiveness benefits us in many ways. 

Forgiving others improves our health, restore relationships, and most importantly keep us in the good graces of God. 

Throughout the Bible, we read about how the importance of forgiveness. Jesus demonstrated His enormous capacity for forgiveness on the cross at Calvary when he said:

• “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” – Luke 23:34.

We will end today’s lesson with what is commonly referred to as, “The Lord’s Prayer.” 

In it, Jesus teaches us about how to pray and stresses the importance of forgiveness:

• “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name.  Your kingdom come.  Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]  For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” – Mathew 6:9-15.