Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you ~ Ephesians 4:32


How amazing it is to know we are not forgiven by God due to our effort, or for our sake, but it is by God’s perfect grace through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection! We do not deserve the forgiveness of our sins, yet, we receive total and complete reconciliation in Him! This is why it is so disheartening when we hear of church members who live in the condition of offence with a brother or sister in Christ. We who have received the fullness of love and forgiveness ought to first and foremost be the ones ready to forgive, to receive the differences in God’s people and to live in a way that makes the world look to us as an example. His love is, or should be, our model of love to others. Our lives are to be free from violence and revenge, we are to live free of anger unless it is the anger of unjustness. I am thankful that I have seen little in my time as a pastor of a church which is set against itself. I have heard more of this type of disfunction in a church than what I have lived, though I have experienced it. It is a painful experience to go through for the whole church body. The offences of others are to be pardoned by us fully, without holding a grudge, and we are to do so freely, not seven times, but seventy times seven! And once they are forgiven, they are not to again be brought back to that place of quarrel. If Christ could forgive so much in us, are we not then prompted to forgive by His generous example to absolve our fellow believer?

Pastor Julia

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