Forgiveness

I attended a bible conference by RBC Ministries on 23rd July 2011, saturday in Trinity Methodist Church Penang with elder Ooi and fellow church mates. Met Kwei Yunn and Xu Wen (just knew that she attends this church =D). Besides, provides a reunion of brother and sister in Christ, our Heavenly Father taught me about forgiveness through the mouth of Reverent Dr. Gary Inrig.

Though I may not have photographic memory, these are some of the points which I recalled from his sermon:
(corresponding biblical chapters: * Luke 7:36 - 50, * Matthew 18:21 - 35, * Luke 17:1 - 10, & * Matthew 18-15 - 20)

~ The central principle of forgiveness is where creditor pays off debtor's debt (Jesus died on the cross for our sin)
~ Forgiveness creates love and comes with obligations such as forgiving others
~ Eternal forgiveness of God is not equal to parental/conditional forgiveness of God
~ Forgiveness is not minimizing sin
~ Forgive is not forget but remember to forget
~ To forgive, one has to define the offence and confront the person who offended us so that s/he knows how to repent.
~ Remorse = regret but not repent
~ Repent leads to change of life or direction of living
~ Forgiveness is not equal to the cancellation of sin consequences
~ Forgiveness is effective only to the relevant parties
~ Forgiveness needs faith because it is an act of will or permanent attitude
~ Forgiving is learning to forgive
~ Forgiveness is another offer for others/offender to believe (in Christ), repent and renew
~ In case we cannot forgive offender, we shall offer forgiveness to offender by surrendering this to God.
~ Process of forgive:
    1) Face the offence squarely
    2) Feel the hurt (as consequences of sin)
    3) Forgive (with faith)
    4) Renew

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