Modelling Christ-like Forgiveness

Bible Passage: Ephesians 1:3-10, 4:30-32

1. Background

(a) Paul is writing to the church at Ephesus, a city he visited on two occasions (Acts 18:19-21; Acts 19:1-20:1, 31)
(b) The theme of the letter centralizes on everything being brought into unity under Christ (1:10 b, 22)

2. A Code of Conduct

(a) The believer and hence the church is called to identify and act with the character and purpose of an identity gained (1:3-10)
(a1) The believer is blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ (1:3)
(a2) The purpose being a chosen one of God is to be holy and blameless, in contrast to being unholy and guilty (1:4; 2:1-5)
(a3) In God’s love we are adopted into God’s family as his children solely by God’s Grace (1:6, 2:8-10)
(a4) The adoption happens through Jesus Christ, whose shed blood brings redemption (1:7-9)
(b) Christ-like forgiveness embodies the character of grace (4:30-32)
(b1) Being kind, compassionate forgiving is consistent with sanctification (4:30-31)
(b2) There is a qualitative and quantitative aspect of forgiveness, it is to be from the heart and it is required in much abundance (Mt 18:22, 35)
(b3) In Christ and the Cross of Christ we see the embodiment of both the qualitative and quantitative. (1 Peter 2:22-24)
(b4) In exercising forgiveness we:
– Model Christ because we are recipients of God’s grace who are called to extend it (4:32)
– We fulfil the purpose of redemption and church (2:7; 3:11)

Take Away

Characterize your forgiveness with God’s grace