Five principles of total forgiveness

Five principles of total forgiveness -based on Genesis 45:1-15

You will not let anyone know what they did to you. Joseph put his brothers out of the room so that nobody in Egypt would know what they did to him. Joseph hid their sin, as God hides our sin.

You will not punish through fear or intimidation. Joseph didn’t want his brothers to be afraid of him. When we want another to feel intimidated it is because we haven’t totally forgiven.

You will not let that person be angry with himself for what he has done. You want him to forgive himself

You want that person to save face. Joseph showed God’s sovereign purpose; God was behind all that happened, so don’t feel guilty.

You refuse to blackmail that person by threatening to tell what you know.

From R T Kendall “Higher Ground”