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Part 3 - An Introduction into the ethics of the apostle (Ephesians 4:1 – 6:20)
Forgive just as God forgives! (Ephesians 4:30-32)
Ephesians 4:30-32
4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evilspeaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you (Eph. 4:30-32).
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father and of the Son. He harmonizes with both in one complete unity. He glorifies the Lamb of God, the Lord of the worlds. He rejoices over every believer who puts on Jesus, the new man, and who goes on to live according to His teaching. The fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22) are the life-form of His new culture. Whoever lives in opposition to these principles, grieves the Holy Spirit. He warns the followers of Christ of every mistake and error. Whoever gives heed to His soft voice and is led by Him, rests in the peace of God.
However, whoever becomes cross over every misunderstanding and peeved and embittered by an unjust treatment has yet to understand the Spirit of the love of God. He applies the brakes to our rage and fights against every curse in us trying to rise from our subconscious. He has sealed us by marking us with the invisible brand of the family of the Father in heaven. Every blaspheming of the holy Trinity and every contact with evil is for Him foreign and hostile. He sharpens our conscience and cautions us against unclean spirits. He helps us to pray, praise and thank. He strengthens our faith, hope and love.
The “exalted song of love” is a symbol of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 13:1-13). He teaches and leads us to implement and practice these attributes in the church. Above all He helps us to forgive one another and to forget. Just as the Lord Jesus commanded us in the Lord´s Prayer, we are to forgive, just as God has forgiven us (Matt. 6:12, 14, 15). That means we are to gladly, totally and immediately forgive friends and foes alike all of the unrighteousness they have practiced against us. To be sure some forgive their adversaries, yet cannot, however, forget what they have had done to them, letting the corresponding bitterness further rage in their hearts. By this do you want to say that God has forgiven your sin yet has never forgotten it? Maybe it is necessary for most believers to live or work with a tiresome pest day and night who really gets on our nerves. This person becomes the most important person the Father in heaven can send to you, so that even toward your enemy you may learn patience, forgiveness and love. By so doing you will be overcome and filled by the Spirit of the Father and the Son.
Prayer: Father in heaven, we shamefully bow before You, for we very deficiently fulfill the ABC´s of Your love and truth. Forgive us our sin in Jesus´ name and fill us with Your Holy Spirit, so that we might love You and Your Son with an ardent love, and that we might learn to have Your love daily realized in us. Help us so that all lies, anger and arrogance can disappear from our churches by the power of Your Spirit. Help each one to forgive every other, just as You forgive us every day. We thank You for Your patience with us. Amen.
Questions:
- What grieves the Holy Spirit? What is the Holy Spirit doing in you?
- Why are we to always forgive and forget what every other person has done to us?