FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER One Another – Part 8 3/3/2024 Overview Its not about YOU It is about YOU (Y’all) One Another - ἀλλήλους (allelon) one another, each other, mutually reciprocally Over 100 uses Key Truths from Scripture: 1) Its not all about you - Its about giving God glory 2) You belong to a “we, us, one-another”, that will not change Forgive One Another Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:25–32 ESV Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Colosians 3:12-14 ESV Kind - χρηστός (chréstos) Serviceable, manageable, benevolent, gracious, good Tenderhearted - εὔσπλαγχνος (eusplagchnos) Tender-hearted, merciful, compassionate Forgiving - χαρίζομαι (charizomai) To show favor, give freely, pardon Bear - ἀνέχομαι (anechó) To hold up, Endure, have patience, to persist Complaint -μομφή (momphé) fault, blame, quarrel Word order matters - “now to one another be kind tenderhearted forgiving” “Put on hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience” Process of Offense Expectation unmet Hurt - sadness/pain Frustrated - injustice/shouldn’t be this way Fear - this feeling wont go away Inaction on “their” part - they don’t care Anger - get even, let them hurt too God commands forgiveness “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; Luke 6:37 ESV Forgiveness is about obedience not your feelings If you love me you will keep my commandment.” John 14:15 ESV Forgiveness is surrendering right to merit out justice Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:19–21 ESV God then heals the hurt and can restore the relationship He heals the brokenhearted and he binds up their wounds. Ps. 147:3 ESV Practical Steps in Forgiveness: Recognize its not optional and delay harms you Consider whats been done for you Remember we are family Stop carrying the weight Allow healing to begin Important Truths to Remember What we choose to be offended at matters Learn to extend grace so that the small stuff is forgiven in the moment Stop looking for offense The attitude that we approach forgiveness matters Kind, compassionate, humble, meek, patience, and tenderhearted forgivers The speed that we practice forgiveness matters Delays kill - they kill the relationship, they poison the soul Don’t let the sun go down - work it out with the Holy Spirit as soon as possible. Being angry is NOT a right, it leads to bitterness and bitterness leads to DEATH We love because Christ first loved us, we forgive because we have been forgiven