Pastor Marty Sloan | Sep. 25 & 26, 2021

Forgiveness and Forbearance

Fully devoted holistic follower of Christ

Fully devoted followers are called to live a life engaged in Christian

.

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality. Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. - Colossians 3:12-25, 4:1 (NKJV)

… bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. - Colossians 3:13 (NKJV)

To live as a Christ-follower is to simply treat

as Christ has treated you.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. - Matthew 7:7-12 (NIV)

“Every one says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive…” – C.S. Lewis

Forgiveness aims toward

as part of Christ’s cosmic reconciliation.

To enter into God’s eternal presence, one must be forgiven and

.

Is there any temporal wrong worth

all eternity for?

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. - Colossians 2:13-15 (NIV)

Christian forgiveness is not based on an exchange—it’s based on

.

Christian forgiveness is not

in Christian community.

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. - Galatians 6:1-2 (NIV)

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” - I Peter 2:21-24 (NIV)

Christian communities are called to bear with one another in their

.

Christian communities are called to bear with each other under the

of sin.

Next Steps
1. Is there unforgiveness in your life?
2. Is there a step of repentance needed in your life?
3. How can you bear with one another?

Suggested Resources
1. “Foolishness to the Greeks” by Lesslie Newbigin
2. “Gospel” by J.D. Greear
3. “King Jesus Gospel” by Scot McKnight