Forbearing and Forgiving One Another

1. Read: Colossians 3:13

2. About the Text:

1) What does the new man in Christ look like?

2) We find the answer to that question in Colossians 3:10-17.

3) Among the many qualities that new man possesses, we have the ideas of forbearing and forgiving.

4) God, in His love for man, forbears and forgives.

5) As His children and as new creations in Christ, we need to practice forbearance and forgiveness toward one another as well.

3. What does forbear and forgive mean?

1) The word “forbear” means to put up with someone or something.

2) We might use the word tolerate in today’s world.

3) The word “forgive” as used in this verse means to graciously pardon or remit the faults of another.

4) Forgiveness is a step beyond forbearance.

5) The new man in Christ does both.

4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. It is a lot easier to be forbearing and forgiving when we know more about the other person’s situation.

1) When my wife is in the grocery store and people try to get around her . . . .

2) 1 Peter 3:7 “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge . . .”

3) Prov.15:4 “The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge….”

2. This means that we need to spend time together getting to know one another.

1) There is no substitute for spending time with someone to get to know them.

2) Acts 2:46 “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart…”

3) Phil.2:2 “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

1. Have you ever noticed how easy it is to get upset with someone driving another vehicle?

2. If we will approach our relationships with a sense of inclusion, this will serve us well.

1) Rom.15:7 “Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”

2) 3 John 1:8 “We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.”

3. We also need to be honest and talk to one another.

1) We need to approach our relationships with the attitude that others are seeking to tell the truth, but through their own experiences and knowledge, which may not be the same as ours.

2) Love “believes all things, hopes all things” (1 Cor.13:7).

3) 2 Corinthians 8:21 “Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.”

4) Being honest will facilitate others accepting us.

4. Acceptance and inclusion is a two-way relationship.

1. We should be thankful to God for our brothers and sisters in Christ – Phil.4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

2. It doesn’t matter how small a matter is, we are exhorted to give thanks in everything – 1 Thess.5:18 “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

3. We need to express our thanks to one another not only verbally, but in writing. Paul did this frequently: 1 Thess.1:2, Col.1:3, Phil.1:3, 1 Cor.1:4, Rom.1:8.

4. We have thank you cards available in our card display in the fellowship hall.

5. Think of something that you can be thankful for this week, and send someone a card about it.

1. To make it easy for us to forbear and forgive one another, we must . . .

1) Seek to understand and learn from one another.

2) Seek to accept and include one another.

3) Be thankful for one another.

2. Invitation