My hope is to help you forgive when people sin against you. 

And to free your conscience to not feel guilty if you are feeling something. 

First, when Jesus asks us to forgive, is not saying what you think it is.

Secondly, bitterness is also not what you were told! 

English definition of Forgive: stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone for (an offense, flaw, or mistake).

English definition of Bitterness:

1. sharpness of taste; lack of sweetness.

2. anger and disappointment at being treated unfairly; resentment: (bitter indignation)

According to the English language: if you feel angry toward someone / haven’t forgiven them. If you are anger, not only have you not forgiven someone, but are resentful & bitter! 

Let’s study about Forgiveness & Bitterness

Matthew 6:14-15

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.”

Af-ee’-ay-mee: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g863/kjv/tr/0-1/ 

Actual definition 146 times in Bible

Af-ee’-ay-mee : 146 Times in NT

• to send away
  • to bid going away or depart
    • of a husband divorcing his wife
  • to send forth, yield up, to expire
  • to let go, let alone, let be
    • to disregard
    • to leave, not to discuss now, (a topic)
      • of teachers, writers and speakers
    • to omit, neglect
  • to let go, give up a debt, forgive, to remit
  • to give up, keep no longer
• to permit, allow, not to hinder, to give up a thing to a person
• to leave, go way from one
  • in order to go to another place
  • to depart from any one
  • to depart from one and leave him to himself so that all mutual claims are abandoned
  • to desert wrongfully
  • to go away leaving something behind
  • to leave one by not taking him as a companion
  • to leave on dying, leave behind one
  • to leave so that what is left may remain, leave remaining
  • abandon, leave destitute

• if you do this, then feelings will change in time. But just because you feel something, doesn’t mean you haven’t forgiven. Forgiveness can be expected because it’s a decision. Not an emotion. 

One other word for forgive, found only 17 times https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g859/kjv/tr/0-1/ 

Af’-es-is : 17 times in NT 

1. release from bondage or imprisonment
2. forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty

Jew under the Old covenant: 

Mark 1:4

“John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission G859 of sins.”

New covenant: Blood of Christ

Mat 26:28

“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission G859 of sins.”

Eph 1:7

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness G859 of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

Act 2:38

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission G859 of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

• When you get baptized!

Better understanding of forgiveness. 

Let’s talk about Bitterness

Bitterness: Hebrews 12:15 is most commonly used. 4 different Greek words used for bitter and each one has a slightly different definition.

1. Word pik-roce’

Bitterly

metaph. with poignant grief (a keen sense of sadness or regret.)

Two times. Both describing Peter crying:

Matthew 26:75

Luke 22:62

See this idea in 2 Corinthians 7:8-11

Word loo-peh’-o 

to make sorrowful

to affect with sadness, cause grief, to throw into sorrow

to grieve, offend

to make one uneasy, cause him a scruple

***But it Leaves no regret!

Regret in English: feel sad, repentant, or disappointed over (something that has happened or been done, especially a loss or missed opportunity).

What does “No Regret” in 2 Cor 7 mean?

it is a care to one afterwards

Afterwards to have no care! 

I don’t care! 

What we might say today: “Im over it”

2. Word pik-rah’-ee-no

to make bitter

to produce a bitter taste in the stomach

to embitter. exasperate

render angry, indignant

to be embittered, irritated

to visit with bitterness, to grieve (deal bitterly with)

Used 4 times

Colossians 3:19

Rev 8:11,10:9,10

3. Word pik-ros’ : 

 bitter

metaph. harsh, virulent “virelent”: ((of a disease or poison) extremely severe or harmful in its effects.) poison! 

Used 2 times: 

James 3:11,14

4. Word: pik-ree’-ah

bitter gall

extreme wickedness

a bitter root, and so producing a bitter fruit

metaph. bitterness, bitter hatred

Used 4 times.

Acts 8:23

Romans 3:14

Ephesians 4:31

Hebrews 12:15

Hebrews 12:15 already used

Acts 8:23 – “see you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

Ephesians 4:26-27

“In your anger do not sin” d : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold.”

Ephesians 4:31-32

“31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

How does this look played out, to feel. But It not be sinfully bitter:

Jesus:

Ability to Speak the truth without being bitter.

• Its ok to feel!

John 2:16 Bearean Study Bible

“To those selling doves He said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Father’s house into a marketplace!” 

• Indignant

Jesus was sad because Jerusalem was ignorant

Luke 19:41-42

“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.” 

• Jesus felt things toward the people. 
• He spoke some hard truths. 
• But he didn’t allow those feelings to manifest into sinful actions.

Matthew 23:25-28

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! 26You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish,i and then the outside will become clean, too. 27“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. 28Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

• Jesus was not in sin for saying these things. 
• People would tell you, “you’re bitter” if you said this about certain people in the movement…. But are you?
• How do you have these truths of people but not go crazy, not go down a self destructive path! 

Forgiveness! Let it Go!

• This doesn’t mean you don’t ask for God to grant you justice, or bring people’s sins to light. 

Luke 12:49

“I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning!” NLT

• Jesus was longing for the judgment to come.

Romans 12:19 

“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”

1. Was able to let things go, while people did it with wrong motives. (Self preservation)

Luke 22:57 NLT

“But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!”

• When someone disowns you, Denies you. In order to keep a status, a job, a title, preserving their own life. 

Luke 22:32

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Peter loved Jesus (John 21 ““Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.”) 

• but he was afraid. 
• Jesus loved him, and prayed for him!

Amazing how many people from the icc, current members, are contacting us, thanking us for taking a stand but too scared to take a stand themselves. 

I’m talking all around the world! People are reaching out.  

But some of our closest friends refuse to reach out, because of self preservation & fear, like Peter. “I don’t know them!”

• I still love them, and hope that one day they will have the courage to take a stand for righteousness.

2. Was able to let go when people were manipulated and ignorant. (Soldiers)

• Luke 23:34

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive G863 them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” 

3. Was even able to let it go when people were deliberately sinning against him. (Pharisees)

• John 11:47-53

“Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened the Sanhedrinf and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. 48If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49But one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all!50You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”51Caiaphas did not say this on his own. Instead, as high priest that year, he was prophesying that Jesus would die for the nation, 52and not only for the nation, but also for the scattered children of God, to gather them together into one.53So from that day on they plotted to kill Him.” John 11:47-53

• They knew. How painful. 
• It was intentional, for selfish gain, had nothing to do with God, the truth, or the scriptures. 
• It was self preservation, it was greed, it was status amongst the crowds. 
• This has been painful to me, because the people I have looked up to as leaders who were supposed to be guiding my soul and protecting me, are the very people sinning against me.

Looking to Jesus, we too can move forward, because we choose to not carry a weight. 

• The weight of other people’s sins. 

Not forgiving them because they deserve it, or because they repented, or because you no longer have feelings about it, you choose to forgive for your heart, for your soul, to move forward! 

When we make this decision, in time, Healing will come!