Surprises About Forgiveness

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This week we dedicated a full day of our CPx training to matters of the heart. A ministry called "Fresh Start" came in walked us through a biblical view of forgiveness helping leaders to admit and release past offenses, hurts and losses. Through the process there were several surprising pearls of forgiveness that I want to share:

  1. Forgiveness is not a feeling. It is a decision and a process. 
  2. Forgiveness gives up all rights to apologies, explanations, fairness and justice.
  3. Forgiveness means Jesus is enough and you owe me nothing more.
  4. Forgiveness is a command and always possible (even if the offender is dead or unwilling). Reconciliation is not always possible...and that is ok.
  5. Forgiveness does NOT equal trust.
  6. Forgiveness does NOT mean you forget.
  7. There is no such thing as "forgiving God" -- he is sinless. It is an authority issue, not a forgiveness issue.
  8. There is no such thing as forgiving yourself. There is no Biblical example of this. This is more of pride issue and learning surrender to the Lord.