The Crucial Place of Forgiveness in Christian Fellowship and Friendship

Love…Righteousness…Forgiveness

1 Thess. 1:3 “a faith that works, a love that labors, a hope that endures…”

One of the hardest things that Christian love has to do is to forgive…

1. We are called to love others. (Matt.22:39; Jn.13:34-35)

2. Love includes doing right by the other person (it’s more than that, but not less).

· Rom. 12:9-10, 16-19ff.

· Rom. 13:8-10; 1 Cor. 13:4-5 (6-7).

· “Doing right by” the other person is another way of saying we promote shalom/peace (the way things ought to be according to God’s will) in the relationship. (“Blessed are the peacemakers…”); Eph.4:1ff.

3. This is interrupted when we sin/act wrongly towards another person (disturbing/diminishing or even vandalizing ‘shalom’). It’s a matter of acting in an unloving, disrespectful way towards the other person. (And our actions includes our words.)

· “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing [cp. shalom].” (Prov. 12:18; cp. Matt. 5:21-22; 12:36-37)

4. Because such shalom-disturbing wrongdoing is inevitable, we must be skilled and effective at forbearing and forgiving (and pursuing true reconciliation). Col.3:12-15

· “forbearing” for the ‘little’ stuff

· “forgiveness” for significant things

· If we won’t forgive [others], we won’t be forgiven [by God] (Matt. 6:12, 14-15; 18:21ff.; Lk.17:3-4; cp. the urgency of seeking reconciliation in Matt.5:23-24

· full fledged reconciliation requires the participation of both parties

o true reconciliation maintains the connection to ‘repenting’ and a shared commitment to shalom/righteousness as defined by God’s Word and will – cp. Matt.18:15f.; Lk.17:3

o but we are also called upon to ‘forgive’ unilaterally, standing ready to facilitate reconciliation, but recognizing, as we’ve said, full reconciliation requires cooperation and participation of both