Responding to God’s acceptance of us by forgiving/accepting others
     1.   Col 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievance you may have against
     one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
               a.   sense of belonging: essential ingredient of acceptance is forgiveness — can’t
          accept someone if you won’t forgive them.
               b.   verse reminds us: God forgave/accepted us
               c.   we’re to forgive others as he forgave us. How did God forgive us? completely,
          unconditionally, continuously
     2.   Forgiving means to stop judging, stop holding them responsible, stop rejecting.
               a.   Mt 7:1-2 “do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you
          judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be
          measured to you.”
               b.   Greek word (“to judge”) literally means “to separate, select, choose”; involves
          rejecting, opposite of accepting.
               c.   Lk 6:37-38 Luke’s version of same statement by Jesus. Usually apply this verse
          to giving money, material things; but context is being merciful, not judging
          others (separating, rejecting).
               d.   Mt 6:14-15 “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly
          Father will also forgive you. but if you do not forgive men their sins, your
          Father will not forgive your sins.”
               e.   Group discussion: What does the Bible mean by “a love which covers a
          multitude of sins”?
                         i.   How many of you occasionally get upset about something someone did to
               you in the past?
                         ii.  By now we understand why we should forgive.
     3.   How can we forgive?
               a.   Recognize why we don’t want to: pride, self-centeredness
                         i.   “I’ve been hurt. I want to avenge.”
                         ii.  pride (predominant characteristic of sinful nature) focuses on self.
                         iii. if you weren’t concerned for yourself, wouldn’t be angry/bitter
                         iv.  pride is wrong motivation
               b.   Recognize who’s responsible for avenging, if necessary
                         i.   covenant relationship: who’s responsible for protecting, defending and
               avenging me? my covenant brother.
                         ii.  does this mean that if someone deliberately hurts me, I should do
               nothing?
                                   (1)  Mt 5:38-39 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and
                    tooth for tooth.’ but I tell, Do not resist an evil person. If
                    someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other
                    also.” — don’t resist or try to defend yourself against things or
                    people that would try to harm you!
                                   (2)  Rom 12:19, 21 “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave
                    room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I
                    will repay,’ says the Lord.... do not be overcome by evil, but
                    overcome evil with good.”
                                   (3)  God’s covenant: he’ll do for us what we can’t do for ourselves
                                             (a)  repeatedly: we take care of needs of others, he’ll take care
                         of us.
                                             (b)  God’s justice: if we punish someone, there’s no need for
                         God to punish also.
                                   (4)  key: forgiving them for hurting us; blessing them

Conclusion
Three things accomplished if we forgive others and accept them:
     1.   Allows God to do what needs to be done with the offender.
     2.   We increase that person’s sense of belonging by accepting them.
     3.   We increase our own sense of belonging to God by forgiving the way he does.