Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Forgiveness means stopping being angry with someone who's done something wrong. Christianity teaches that forgiveness comes from love.
Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross to atone for the sins of all those who believed in him, so that God might forgive our sins.
1. Jesus taught that God is always ready to forgive us but we must accept that forgiveness and forgive tohers in turn.
  1. "For if you forgive me when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Matthew 6:14-15
Forgiveness is closely related to repentance. Christians believe God's forgiveness can only come when we repent our sins.
1. If we repent and put our faith in God, God forgives us and we are reconciled with him. Christians believe the same sort of reconciliation (coming together and making peace) is needed between people.
Jesus taught that people shouldn't seek revenge - he said that they should instead forgive, and "turn the other cheek."
1. "If someone strikes you on the right cheek ,turn to him the other also." Matthew 5:39
2. Jesus said we should forgive "not seven times, but seventy-seven times". Matthew 18:22
There are some evils that are very hard to forgive. Should we forgive Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin?
1. Many Christians would say yes - it is better to forgive, for the sake of the forgiver, and leave judgement in the hands of God.

Resource summary

	Created by Beccca Weasley over 9 years ago