Ephesians 4:23

Oklahoma Howdy to All,

This is a little mini-study on Ephesians 4:32. This has always been one of my favorite portions of Scripture, and it yields blessings for me every time I study it.

Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
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"Kind" is one of the key words that yields many beautiful comparisons.

Psalms 112:4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

Luke 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

1 Corinthians 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

2 Corinthians 2:10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;

Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

2 Peter 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
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"Tenderhearted" is another key word with many beautiful comparisons.

Psalms 145:9 The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

Proverbs 12:10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

Luke 1:78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
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"Forgiving" is another key word with many beautiful comparisons.

Matthew 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Matthew 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

Luke 17:4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Romans 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

2 Corinthians 2:10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
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"even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." This is the most beautiful and precious portion of this Scripture for all Christians. We should be reminded of this night and day. We did not deserve or earn the Grace of God, nor could we ever repay the GIFT of Jesus Christ who died on the cross in our stead.

What were we like when we were lost and without Christ? Were we deserving of Christ's shed blood for the forgiveness of our sins? Were we a worthy vessel for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit? The obvious answer to all of these questions is "NO". As Christians, it is a reasonable service to treat others as Christ has already treated us. This should be done in joy, not grudgingly or because we are commanded to. The greatest joy of a Christian would be to have a heart like our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We will never measure up, but we can struggle and pray for softer hearts that would be more pleasing to HIM.

Love In Christ,
Tom