12-Steps (or less!) to Forgiveness
Matthew 26:36 - 46
• Forgiveness is a process I chose to begin to
stop punishing someone (including myself) for
something they have done or said that has
hurt me or someone else that I care about.
1. To forgive myself, I must take God at His
word rather than trust my feelings. Our
feelings are the fruit of what our minds are
believing.
– 2 Samuel 12:13
– Psalms 51:4
– Psalms 51:1-2
2. Forgiveness is an act of obedience to God,
first. I forgive myself because God has
forgiven me. I receive the gift of forgiveness
by believing what God says He has done in
Christ to offer it to me.
– 1 Peter 2:24
– Colossians 2:13-14
3. We must accept, admit, and recognize the
injuries inflicted upon ourselves and others
by our sins.
– David Stoop, Forgiving Our Parents, Forgiving
Ourselves.
• We must be honest with ourselves if we are
going to face ourselves, squarely.
– Feel bad? Yes. Grief has that characteristic.
• The old self must be crucified with Christ:
– Galatians 2:20
– Romans 8:12-14
4. We must take personal responsibility for the
sins we have committed.
• Take responsibility – continued:
1. Let the past be the past. Philippians 3:13-14
2. Stop the personal condemnation. 2 Cor 5:17
3. Replace the messages of condemnation with
what God believes about us.
– 51:6, 7, 8, 10, 12
– 2 Corinthians 5:17
– Ps 51:13
5. Limit the consequences of my past actions
on everyone even if it means that I must
sacrifice in the process.
– 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
6. Respond to the current consequences of our
past actions by staying in the will of God
rather than falling back into the old self.