Unforgiveness | David Jeremiah | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Unforgiveness

David Jeremiah

Shadow Mountain Community Church • Oct 26, 2026 • 25 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

Dr. David Jeremiah teaches that harboring unforgiveness is one of the greatest enemies of the soul, causing internal bitterness while failing to harm the offender. Because God has fully wiped away our unpayable debt through Christ, believers are called to extend that same complete mercy to others. By moving through the stages of healing and choosing daily forgiveness, we protect our fellowship with God and experience true spiritual freedom.

Themes

ForgivenessGraceSoul CareBitternessSpiritual FreedomRelational Reconciliation

Pastor's Points

1.

We are to forgive because we are forgiven.

2.

We forgive just as we are forgiven.

3.

We forgive that we might be forgiven.

Key Points

1.
Unforgiveness is one of the greatest enemies of the soul, hurting the person holding the grudge far more than the offender.
2.
We are to forgive because we are forgiven; God wiped away our unpayable debt on the cross and credited Christ's perfect righteousness to our account.
3.
We forgive just as we are forgiven—freely, completely, and for Christ's sake, without holding back mercy or keeping records of wrongs.
4.
Scripture illustrates God's complete forgiveness through five powerful pictures: removing sins as far as east from west, casting them into the sea, putting them behind His back, blotting them out, and remembering them no more.
5.
We forgive that we might be forgiven, recognizing that holding onto an unforgiving heart blocks our daily relational fellowship with the Father.
6.
There is a crucial distinction between judicial forgiveness, which eternally secures our position as God's children, and relational forgiveness, which preserves our daily closeness with Him.
7.

Sermon Moments

“When we refuse to forgive, we do not harm the offender as much as we wound our own soul, causing it to wither in bitterness.”

“God acts as the ultimate heavenly accountant: when we confess, He wipes away our unpayable liability ledger and credits the asset column with Christ's perfect righteousness.”

“Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones remarked that whenever he sees himself before God and realizes what Christ has done, he can forgive anybody for anything.”

“The five biblical pictures of forgiveness prove that the sins you cannot forget, God chooses to remember no more.”

“Judicial forgiveness legally settles our eternal salvation in heaven, while relational forgiveness maintains our daily intimate fellowship with God.”

“Lewis Smedes noted that forgiveness unfolds across four stages: hurting, hating, healing, and coming together.”

“Proactively praying forgiveness in the morning allows a believer to release offenses before they even happen during the day.”

“William Cowper's hymn reminds us that no matter how deep our guilt, there is a fountain filled with blood that washes away every stain.”

This Week

Reflect on the vast debt of sin God has forgiven in your life whenever you feel tempted to hold a grudge.

Identify one person toward whom you have harbored bitterness or anger, and choose to release that offense to God today.

In your morning prayer time, proactively decide to extend grace to anyone who might hurt or offend you throughout the day.

Distinguish between judicial forgiveness and relational forgiveness, confessing daily sins to maintain close fellowship with God.

Refuse to bring up past offenses or hold records of wrongs against family members, friends, or co-workers.

When experiencing emotional pain from an offense, allow God to guide you through the stages of hurting, hating, and healing without getting stuck in bitterness.

If you have never received God's salvation, place your faith in Jesus Christ to have your spiritual debt wiped clean and credited with His righteousness.

Remember This

Because God has freely wiped away our vast debt of sin through Jesus Christ, we must extend that same complete forgiveness to others to preserve our soul's peace and our daily fellowship with the Father.

A Challenge for You

Examine your heart and answer the most important question for your soul: Have your sins been forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ? Receive God's complete forgiveness today, and make the choice to extend that same grace to everyone who has wounded you.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.