2 Corinthians 2:5-11King James Version (KJV)

⁵ But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.

⁶ Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

⁷ So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

⁸ Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

⁹ For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

¹⁰ To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;

¹¹ Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Is it important that we forgive people? Well the scriptures are plain.

Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)
³² And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Matthew 6:14-15 (KJV)
¹⁴ For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
¹⁵ But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Forgiveness- Is separating the Offense from the Offender. Act of sacrifice on our part not use our legal right and forego the wrong committed against us. It’s not letting the Offender off the hook, it’s not passing over the transgression, and it’s you foregoing your right

1. Forbearance- patient self-control; restraint and tolerance. the action of refraining from exercising a legal right, especially enforcing the payment of a debt. Colossians 3:13 (KJV) ¹³ Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Proverbs 19:11 (KJV) Why don’t you just look over things and quit being so easily offended. ¹¹ The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression

Psalm 119:165 (KJV) ¹⁶⁵ Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

Matthew 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Take care of issues quickly with people before they fester!

Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

1. Forgive and Forget- Jeremiah 31:34 (KJV)
   ³⁴ And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Romans 4:5-8 (KJV)
⁵ But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
⁶ Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
⁷ Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
⁸ Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

1. Forgiveness and Feelings- People still have feelings. Forgiveness is a definite act. Proverbs 16:3 (KJV) ³ Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

If I will be obedient to what God says He will change my feelings and my thoughts about the matter. You Can’t change what you feel but you can change what you do.

1. Forgiveness and fellowship- Can I forgive you and not fellowship? Right here will take care of 99 percent of our issues with people in life.

Mark 11:25 (KJV) ²⁵ And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

I John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth, verse 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Matthew 18:15-17 (KJV)
¹⁵ Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. ¹⁶ But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. ¹⁷ And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.