Forgiveness is a great principle of the NT that must be submitted to (see Eph 4:31- 5:1) – because of what Christ did! – we are to forgive because of what Christ has done for us. This can only be done by understanding how much Christ has forgiven us and done for us – that is to be the standard. This has to be understood in connection with the previous chapter and the importance of Church Discipline! Purging out the old leaven… How can we do that and at the same time walk in love? forgive and forbear? “Do not confuse the exercise of forgiveness in the judicial-ecclesiastical context with forgiveness on the personal level.” So here in 6 Paul moves on to another problem of pride when Christians refuse to forgive and Paul will insist that this behavior is totally unbecoming a Christian, even a failure because it betrays a wrong ethic and etiquette – one that belongs to this world. But as Johnathan Edwards points out, “Paul knows nothing of a mere interim-ethic, an ethical norm that pertains only to the present life, for in fact the ethics of the kingdom yet to come determine the morals of the kingdom that now is.” for Christians, conflict presents an opportunity to demonstrate that we are of a different kingdom. What Paul is urging upon us is that because God has made peace with us, we must make peace with one another.
Pastor Drew is a graduate of Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He got his Masters of Divinity in 2010 and has been planting Omega OPC in Williamsport PA, since then. Check out some sermons by Pastor Drew Adcock [do_widget “Related Sermons” title=false]