Bible Study February 23, 2024
John 8: 31 – 33 (ESV)
“31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
When you forgive someone does it change the circumstances? Does it eliminate the harm done? The answers to those questions is it does not change it. But who does it change? That’s right the one forgiving. Learning to forgive helps both the forgiven and the forgiver.
There are multiple stories in the scriptures about forgiveness. There are two Old Testament words for forgive in the Bible. The first and more common one is means “to practice forbearance, pardon, or forgive.” It is never used of a man forgiving another human, but only of God forgiving man. The other Old Testament word for forgive means to lift up, take away, bear up, or carry. It offers a beautiful visual for what God does with our sin and guilt.
The New Testament word used for forgive means to release from legal or moral obligation or consequence, to cancel, remit, or pardon. It can also mean “to go away or send away, to disregard, to let be.”
For some references to look at you might consider the following. Jacob and Esau – Genesis 33, Joseph and his brothers, God’s continuing forgiveness for Israel, David’s forgiveness after and adultery and murder are some samples of forgiveness.
Paul J. Meyer authored several books on self-help. In one he said, “Forgiveness does not mean we have to allow ourselves to be mistreated … [it] does mean that we allow God to work in our lives ad it the lives of the people against whom we hold bitterness.”
God Bless.
Asbury Chapel 