Offenses and Forgiveness

Last night at OCF bible study i had the chance to be part of it and listen to the leaders messing with our heads=). The topic that night was "Offenses and Forgiveness". I kinda liked the talk because it's really helpful in life. Here's a short summary.




Offenses by definition means being hurtful and doing others wrong. To offend is to hurt by intention. Sometimes it's not. Misunderstanding can happen too, especially if one culture crosses another. Offense is also resentment and failure to show regard to other people's feelings.







Forgiveness is the ability to absolve payment of debt, by giving away the right to earn something back from the person that offended you. It is also to renounce anger or resentment. Forgiveness doesn't NECESSARILY mean forgetting. Forgive and forget is perhaps a misunderstood statement. Can you offend or be offended and hope it all goes away? Can you try and shove the unwanted memory? It's difficult.




Forgiveness is a one way traffic. Imagine 2 people. One being the offender and being offended. Forgiveness works one way. The offended forgives but the offender stands by his principles. Therefore forgiveness doesn't settle just everything. RECONCILIATION does. It is something that involves both parties. To forgive is easy, say sorry and all is over, to reconcile is not, talk it over, compromise and resolve the issue.







God sent Jesus to this world to reconcile our sins. He did not just forgive us with the word of mouth or the snap of His finger. He could, but He didn't. Instead, He sent His son to die for us, so that in return, we may reconcile with others. In Jesus's sacrifice, our sins are forgiven.



Read Matthew 18:21-35




If we set revenge, we are making ourselves judges and passing judgements which rightfully only belongs to God.