What Forgiveness is NOT

10 Truths about Forgiveness

1. Forgiveness is NOT forgetting.
   It is necessary to remember before you can forgive.
2. Forgiveness is NOT denying the hurt.
   It is feeling the hurt and releasing it to God.
3. Forgiveness is NOT the same as reconciliation.
   It takes two to reconcile, but it takes only one to forgive.
4. Forgiveness is NOT circumventing God’s justice.
   It is allowing God to execute His justice in His time and in His way.
5. Forgiveness is NOT excusing wrong behavior.
   It is acknowledging that the behavior was wrong and shouldn’t happen again.
6. Forgiveness is NOT waiting for “time to heal all wounds.”
   It is clear that time doesn’t always heal wounds; some people will not allow healing.
7. Forgiveness is NOT letting the guilty “off the hook.”
   It is moving the guilty from your hook to God’s hook.
8. Forgiveness is NOT explaining away the hurt.
   It is working through the hurt.
9. Forgiveness is NOT stuffing your anger.
   It is resolving your anger by releasing the offense to God.
10. Forgiveness is NOT a feeling.
    It is a choice – an act of the will.

“Just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.”  (Colossians 3:13)

Remember dear church, releasing someone in forgiveness is freeing yourself!  Pastor Mark