FORGIVEN TO
FORGIVE
NOTE:
All of my contents uses multiples versions because I study from the All.
(Any version of the Bible you can understand is the best, the worst version is the one that is NEVER OPENED!!!)
This Session has references from the Literal Standard Version Bible. (LSV)
Introduction:
Have you ever done something you regretted and wished you could have a do-over?
Peter denied Jesus, yet Jesus still loved and forgave him. Before we can forgive others, we need to understand just how much Jesus has forgiven us.
Imagine someone handing you a beautifully wrapped present. Would you stop and ask whether you had earned it? Of course not—a gift is something you receive, not something you earn.
Grace is free for us, but it came at a great cost to Jesus. He gave His life so sinners like us could be forgiven. Can you remember a time when you gave someone something but hoped to get something in return? Jesus shows us a different way. We share grace because He first gave grace to us—not because someone has earned it or because we expect anything back.
Bible Study Session:
54 And having taken Him, they led and brought Him into the house of the chief . And Peter was following far off, 55 and they having kindled a fire in the midst of the court, and having sat down together, Peter was sitting in the midst of them, 56 and a certain maid having seen him sitting at the light, and having earnestly looked at him, she said, “And this one was with Him!” 57 And he disowned Him, saying, “Woman, I have not known Him.” 58 And after a while, another having seen him, said, “And you are of them!” And Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And one hour, as it were, having intervened, a certain other was confidently affirming, saying, “Of a truth this one also was with Him, for he is also a Galilean”; 60 and Peter said, “Man, I have not known what you say”; and immediately, while he is speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 And the LORD, having turned, looked on Peter, and Peter remembered the word of the LORD, how He said to him, “Before a rooster will crow, you may disown Me three times”; 62 and Peter having gone outside, wept bitterly. Luke 22:54-62 (LSV)
Peter promised that he would stay with Jesus, but when fear took over, he denied knowing Him three times. Peter was heartbroken by what he had done, but Jesus didn’t turn him away. After Jesus rose from the dead, He lovingly restored Peter and trusted him to care for His people. Ask yourself: Who did Jesus forgive? What had Peter done?
32 And there were also others—two evildoers—with Him, to be put to death; 33 and when they came to the place that is called “[Place] of [the] Skull,” there they crucified Him and the evildoers, one on the right hand and one on the left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they have not known what they do”; and parting His garments they cast a lot. 35 And the people were standing, looking on, and the rulers were also sneering with them, saying, “He saved others, let Him save Himself, if this be the Christ, the Chosen One of God.” 36 And the soldiers were also mocking Him, coming near and offering vinegar to Him, 37 and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” 38 And there was also an inscription written over Him [[in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew]]: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 39 And one of the evildoers who were hanged was slandering Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” 40 And the other answering, was rebuking him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, that you are in the same judgment? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving back [things] worthy of what we did, but this One did nothing out of place”; 42 and he said to Jesus, “Remember me, Lord, when You may come in Your kingdom”; 43 and Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:32-43 (LVS)
Even as people mocked, harmed, and crucified Jesus, He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they have not known what they do” (Luke 23:34, LSV). He also promised Paradise to the criminal who turned to Him. In the midst of suffering, Jesus chose mercy over revenge. Ask yourself: Whom did Jesus forgive from the cross, and what had they done?
1 After these things Jesus Himself again appeared to the disciples on the Sea of Tiberias, and He revealed Himself thus: 2 Simon Peter, and Thomas who is called Didymus, and Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, and the [sons] of Zebedee, and two of His other disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter says to them, “I go away to fish”; they say to him, “We go—we also—with you”; they went forth and immediately entered into the boat, and on that night they caught nothing. 4 And morning having now come, Jesus stood at the shore, yet indeed the disciples did not know that it is Jesus; 5 Jesus, therefore, says to them, “Boys, do you have any meat?” 6 They answered Him, “No”; and He said to them, “Cast the net at the right side of the boat, and you will find [some]”; they cast, therefore, and no longer were they able to draw it, from the multitude of the fishes. 7 That disciple, therefore, whom Jesus was loving says to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Simon Peter, therefore, having heard that it is the LORD, girded on the outer coat (for he was naked), and cast himself into the sea; 8 and the other disciples came by the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away, dragging the net of the fishes; 9 when, therefore, they came to the land, they behold a fire of coals lying [there], and a fish lying on it, and bread. 10 Jesus says to them, “Bring from the fishes that you caught now”; 11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net up on the land, full of great fishes—one hundred fifty-three; and though they were so many, the net was not split. 12 Jesus says to them, “Come, dine”; and none of the disciples were venturing to inquire of Him, “Who are You?” Knowing that it is the LORD; 13 Jesus, therefore, comes and takes the bread and gives [it] to them, and the fish in like manner; 14 this [is] now a third time Jesus was revealed to His disciples, having been raised from the dead. 15 When, therefore, they dined, Jesus says to Simon Peter, “Simon, [son] of Jonas, do you love Me more than these?” He says to Him, “Yes, Lord; You have known that I cherish You”; He says to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He says to him again, a second time, “Simon, [son] of Jonas, do you love Me?” He says to Him, “Yes, Lord; You have known that I cherish You”; He says to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17 He says to him the third time, “Simon, [son] of Jonas, do you cherish Me?” Peter was grieved that He said to him the third time, “Do you cherish Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You have known all things; You know that I cherish You.” Jesus says to him, “Feed My sheep; 18 truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you were girding yourself and were walking to where you willed, but when you may be old, you will stretch forth your hands, and another will gird you, and will carry [you] to where you do not will” John 21:1-18 (LSV)
Jesus gave His life for everyone’s sins—and that includes yours. No matter what you’ve done, when you turn to Him, He is ready to forgive and welcome you. We don’t forgive others to earn His love. We forgive because He forgave us first and showed us how to do the same. Ask yourself: Who needs Jesus’ forgiveness? What did Jesus do so we could be forgiven?
32 and become kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, according as God also forgave you in Christ. Ephesians 4:32 (LSV)
Because Jesus gave His life for us and freely forgives us, we can find the courage to love people who hurt us and keep following Him—even when it’s difficult or comes at a cost. Walking with Jesus isn’t always easy or comfortable, but we never walk alone. Forgiveness begins with remembering how much He has forgiven us. When we offer that same grace to others, they can catch a glimpse of Jesus through our lives. Some people may choose to follow Him and be baptized, while others may not. We can’t control their response, but we can choose to show mercy—and that mercy may help them see just how real the love of Jesus is. As Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
21 Then Peter having come near to Him, said, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him—until seven times?” 22 Jesus says to him, “I do not say to you until seven times, but until seventy times seven. 23 Because of this was the kingdom of the heavens likened to a man, a king, who willed to take reckoning with his servants, 24 and he having begun to take account, there was brought near to him one debtor of a myriad of talents, 25 and he having nothing to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and the children, and all, whatever he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant then, having fallen down, was prostrating to him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all; 27 and the lord of that servant having been moved with compassion released him, and the debt he forgave him. 28 And that servant having come forth, found one of his fellow-servants who was owing him one hundred denarii, and having laid hold, he took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that which you owe. 29 His fellow-servant then, having fallen down at his feet, was calling on him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay you all; 30 and he would not, but having gone away, he cast him into prison, until he might pay that which was owing. 31 And his fellow-servants having seen the things that were done, were grieved exceedingly, and having come, showed fully to their lord all the things that were done; 32 then having called him, his lord says to him, Evil servant! All that debt I forgave you, seeing you called on me; 33 did it not seem necessary to you to have dealt kindly with your fellow servant, as I also dealt kindly with you? 34 And having been angry, his lord delivered him to the inquisitors, until he might pay all that was owing to him; 35 so also My heavenly Father will do to you, if you may not forgive each one his brother from your hearts their trespasses.” Matthew 18:21-35 (LSV)
Jesus told a story about a servant who owed a king more than he could ever repay. Could you imagine carrying a debt that large, knowing you could never pay it back? Yet the king had compassion on him and forgave the entire debt. Later, that same servant found a fellow servant who owed him only a little, but he refused to show him the same mercy. What do you think he had forgotten? He had forgotten just how much mercy he himself had received. In the same way, Jesus paid the price for our forgiveness on the cross. When we forgive others, we point beyond ourselves to the wonderful mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let’s Review:
1. Can you remember some of the people Jesus forgave in the stories we read?
2. What did Jesus lovingly do to make forgiveness possible for you and me?
3. What do you think the unforgiving servant forgot about the mercy he had received?
4. When someone hurts us, how can remembering Jesus’ forgiveness help us respond with mercy instead of getting even?
Main Point of This Session: “Jesus loves you and gave Himself for you. Because He has forgiven you, you can follow Him today and share that same forgiveness with others.” —Jennifer Sumrall
