consequences for his actions regardless
Basic Concepts of
Biblical Forgiveness
Taught by Lou Priolo
Compiled by Rob Wilkerson
1. Forgiveness involves focusing on how God
is using the offense for my ultimate good
rather than on how the offender has hurt
or wronged me.
See James 1:2-4; Romans 8:28-29; Proverbs
19:11; 10;12; Luke 17:3; Genesis 42:21
2. Forgiveness visualizes the offender as a
tool in God’s hand. If we view the offense
as a tool in God’s hands, we mature. If
we don’t, we become bitter.
See Proverbs 16:4
3. Forgiveness involves looking at the
offense as God’s way of revealing to us
the offender’s needs.
See Romans 12:20; Matthew 5:43-47
4. Forgiveness realizes that bitterness is a
form of vengeance which God forbids us
to take up.
See Romans 12:19-21; Ephesians
Hebrews 12:15
5. Forgiveness realizes that the one who
offended us is already experiencing
of any punishment we give to him.
See Proverbs 24:17; Romans 12:19; 13:4
6. Forgiveness means that we are willing to
cooperate with God in the offender’s life.
See 1 Peter 2:18-24
7. Forgiveness compares the trivial offense
which I must forgive with the enormous
eternal offense which God has already
forgiven me. And it compares what trivial
suffering I go through now to the
suffering Christ experienced on the cross
for my sins.
See Matthew 18:-21-25
8. Forgiveness realizes that suffering is a
part of the Christian life and accepts the
fact that God has purpose in it.
See 1 Peter 4:12; Romans 8:28
9. Forgiveness involves an act of the will to
take what offense is before us and put it
behind us as God did for our sins.
See Matthew 6:12; Psalm 103:12
4:31;