Ephesians 4:32
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Application:

Just as God also forgave you in Christ, so you must forgive. 

One way we manifest the characteristics of the new self is by forgiving one another. Some believers harbor unforgiveness, resulting in perpetual anger and bitterness. Why? Because, for them, offenses committed against them linger like unpaid bills that demand payment. However, they forget that our vertical relationship with God is linked to our horizontal relationships with one another.

Forgiveness does not equate to approving a sin or excusing evil. Instead, forgiveness entails releasing people from the obligations incurred by their wrongs against you. This can occur as unilateral forgiveness—that is, forgiving someone who has not sought forgiveness. Alternatively, it may take the form of transactional forgiveness, which involves the offender’s confession, repentance, and reconciliation.

What makes forgiveness possible is recognizing that the Lord has forgiven you. There is an inseparable link between forgiving and recognizing that you’ve been forgiven. To refuse to forgive, in fact, is to burn a bridge over which you must cross (see Matt 6:14-15). If you refuse to forgive, you block God’s operation in your life (see Matt 18:21-35). However, when you forgive, you no longer “grieve” the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30), and you imitate the one who has forgiven you.

Reference: Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019), 1175.

To God be the glory!

Our Lord Jesus Christ created everything! By Him, For Him!

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

Disclaimer

When God inspires me, I write or post articles that glorify God. I invite you to view this post as a Bible study. Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, I encourage you to search the Scriptures to determine whether what I have posted is true. Always consult your church ministers regarding biblical matters. I am not a professional writer, so there may be grammatical or spelling errors. I strive to write as clearly and efficiently as possible. Your brother in Christ, Ricardo.

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