“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)
“Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
Mercy: undeserved forgiveness and kindness; unearned kindness; compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.
Mercy means God forgives you!
- He desires to forgive you.
“… You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in faithful love, and You did not abandon them.” (Nehemiah 9:17b)
- He freely forgives you.
“23 Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal; 24 yet now God declares us “not guilty” of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins.” (Romans 3:23-24) [TLB]
- He immediately forgives you.
“Let the wicked leave their way of life and change their way of thinking. Let them turn to the Lord, our God; he is merciful and quick to forgive.” (Isaiah 55:7 emphasis added) [GNT]
- He completely forgives you.
“13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-14 emphasis added) [NLT]
Mercy means I forgive others.
- Forgiveness is NOT conditional!
“… be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32) [NLT]
- Forgiveness is NOT forgetting or trusting!
“14 Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works. 15 Watch out for him yourself because he strongly opposed our words.” (2 Timothy 4:14-15)
- Forgiveness is releasing it to God.
“12 Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive.” (Colossians 3:12-13)