CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST: FORGIVING OTHERS AS YOU HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN AND AS YOU HAVE FORGIVEN YOURSELF...

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"Blessed are you when men cast insults at you,

and persecute you,

and say all kinds of evil against you falsely,

on account of Me.

"Rejoice, and be glad,

for your reward in heaven is great,

for so they persecuted the prophets

who were before you."

Matthew 5:11-12

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"Father, forgive them;

for they do not know what they are doing."

Luke 23:34

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"'You shall love the Lord your God

with all your heart,

and with all your soul,

and with all your mind.'

"This is the great and foremost commandment.

"The second is like it,

'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'

"On these two commandments

depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

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These scriptures connect us with some things that Steve presented to us in his sermon on Sunday. I posted his outline here on Monday and encouraged your meditation on it. Then, in the last 36 hours I have had multiple discussions with several of you on the phone, via email, and face to face about how hard this is. Yes, forgiveness is hard! Please read it here again:

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TWO QUESTIONS

1. Can I be saved if I am UNFORGIVEN? NO! - see Acts 2:36-40
2. Can I be saved if I am UNFORGIVING? NO! - see Matthew 6:14-15

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HOW DO I FORGIVE?

1. Make a decision to forgive!
2. Say the words!
3. When you forgive, FORGIVE!
4. Forgive completely!
5. Forgive repeatedly! (Satan will keep tempting you to take back in your hands what you have already chosed to Lay Aside - don't pick it back up again... choose to forgive repeatedly...70 x 7)

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Now, you've forgiven...you've been forgiven...

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BE THANKFUL AND...

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REJOICE!!!!!

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