I Forgive, Eph 4

"Forgiveness is the greatest gift you can give yourself and to others."

The parents of four children killed by a drunk driver in Sydney's west want the anniversary of their deaths to be a day of forgiveness and celebration.

Key points: The cousins had been walking to the shop for an ice-cream when they were struckTheir parents have created i4give Day in their memory to be celebrated on February 1The driver, Samuel Davidson, has pleaded guilty to seven charges

Siblings Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, and Sienna Abdallah, 9, and their cousin Veronique Sakr, 11, were killed on February 1 last year when they were struck by an out-of-control ute that mounted a footpath where they were walking in Oatlands.

The children had been walking to the shop to buy ice-cream at the time of the crash.

The Abdallah and Sakr families have forgiven the driver, Samuel Davidson, as an important step in their grieving process.

At a ceremony in Sydney, the families on Sunday launched 'i4give Day', to be held each anniversary in memory of the children and to encourage people across the state to reflect on events and relationships in their own lives.

Forgiveness is hard but it is an important part of the Christian Life

It was a major theme in Jesus’ teaching one very prominent example is in Matthew 18

After Jesus gives teaching on how to deal with sin in the church Peter asks a question about forgiveness, where he says how many times should you forgive someone in Matt 18:21-22

Matthew 18:21–22 NIV

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

He goes on to tell a parable about a man who had been forgiven a great debt by his employer and then refused to forgive another man who had a smaller debt. On hearing about this the employer had the unforgiving servant thrown in jail for his origional debt.

In this parable Jesus shows that our eternal hope is at risk if we refuse to forgive. He says in Matt 18:32-35

Matthew 18:32–35 NIV

32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Paul picks up this theme in the Ephesians passage that we heard read tonight. He unpacks for us in more detail why the Christian forgives others.

The big idea is the same as the parable of Jesus that we have been forgiven much so we too should forgive others as an appropriate responce.

Forgiveness is part of living a Live a Life Worthy of the Calling You Have Recieved

In the first part of Ephesians ch 1-3 Paul unpacks what God has done to give us forgiveness.

Ephesians 1:6–7 NIV

6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

Easton’s Bible Dictionary Forgiveness of Sin

one of the constituent parts of justification. In pardoning sin, God absolves the sinner from the condemnation of the law, and that on account of the work of Christ, i.e., he removes the guilt of sin, or the sinner’s actual liability to eternal wrath on account of it. All sins are forgiven freely (Acts 5:31; 13:38; 1 John 1:6–9). The sinner is by this act of grace for ever freed from the guilt and penalty of his sins. This is the peculiar prerogative of God (Ps. 130:4; Mark 2:5). It is offered to all in the gospel.

Theology and ethics

1-3

4-6

Ephesians 4:1 NIV

1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

Eph 3:16 we have “glorious riches”but the cost in this life is high

what is God giving us, eternal life, adopted in the familiy

Ephesians 1:3 NIV

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

So live as a child of god:

Ephesians 4:1 NIV

1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

costly and presioucs

The next 2 verses describe a life that is worthy of the calling

verse 2 to live as a Christian be:

Completely humble and gentle:

patient:

bear with oneanother in love:

verse 3 Make every effort to be unified:

to keep the unity of the Spirit:

through the bond of peace:

Verse 4 shows us why,

Ephesians 4:4–5 NIV

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

Be Longer Infants

Verse 14: don’t be an infant

tossed back and forth by the waves

blown here and there by false teaching, cunningness and craftiness of people in their decietful scheming

Verse 15 speak truth in love to become mature

Verse 16 How the body grows and builds itself up in love

This is the outcome of living a life mature build others up

Ephesians 4:16 NIV

16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

we do this not in our own strength but by the grace given us

Ephesians 4:7 NIV

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

Forgiveness is part of this life

Includes forgiveness

Ephesians 4:32 NIV

32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

What Forgiveness isn’t

It isn’t turn a blind eye to sin

Sin is not to be tolerated

Paul has already delbt with this in

We are to stop walking in sin

We are to walk in the light

Ephesians 4:17 NIV

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.

In Eph 4 : 28-31

Ephesians 4:28–31 NIV

28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Ephesians 5:15–16 NIV

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

And Jesus says that people need to be called to account

Matthew 18:15–20 NIV

15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Again Paul expands on this in Romans 12:19-13:1

Romans 12:19–13:1 NIV

19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

You might think that forgiveness is about the following:

Condoning what the other person did.

Giving in.

Pretending that nothing happened or that it really wasn’t such a big deal.

Admitting that your anger isn’t justified or that you’re not entitled to it.

Forcing yourself to get along with someone who you feel may hurt you again.

If so, then you’re probably going to be very reluctant to forgive. And with good reason. Instead, try changing your definition of forgiveness to the following:

What is Forgiveness

Ephesians 4:32 NIV

32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Rethink Your Definition of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is about freeing up and putting to better use the energy that is being consumed by holding on to grudges, harboring resentments,

and nursing old wounds.

And here in eph 4 building up the body to set others free to serve

Forgiveness is about moving on.

Forgiveness is about choosing serenity and happiness over righteous anger.

Forgiveness is about refusing to replay past hurts in your mind over and over again, like a broken record.

Forgiveness is about realizing that anger and resentment don’t serve you well.

Forgiveness is about giving yourself and others a clean slate.

Righteous anger but do not sin

Ephesians 4:26 NIV

26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,

Angry at a person

Hurt by somone

journey of forgivenes

things we do when harbour unforgiveness

ignor

rude

gossip

stubborn