Marks of a Believer!

Love For God

Love For His People

Obedience

Forgiveness

 The fourth mark of a disciple of Christ is forgiveness. In Matthew 18, Jesus told the parable of the ungrateful servant to help his disciples understand forgiveness. The parable’s point was to teach His disciples that the one who has been forgiven so much should be willing to forgive others who have wronged them.

When believers understand how much they have been forgiven and reflect on their vile state   before Christ, forgiving others is easier. However, too many believers forget they have been forgiven and refuse to forgive others. To be unforgiving is a sin. John Macarthur notes, “When a Christian allows remaining sin to control an attitude or action, he is being wicked, because sin is always sin, whether committed by a believer or unbeliever. The sin of unforgiveness is in some ways even more wicked  in a believer, because he has infinitely greater motivation and power to be forgiving than does a person who has never experienced God’s redeeming grace.”

A disciple of Christ should always be willing to forgive. Forgiveness means that a Christian  does not hold grudges against the one who has sought forgiveness. When a brother or sister seeks forgiveness, we are to comfort them as Paul instructed the church in Corinth, “so that on the contrary you should rather graciously forgive and comfort him, lest such a one be swallowed up by excessive sorrow (2 Cor. 2:7).”

To be a disciple of Christ, you must be forgiving. To graciously forgive is a blessing to all. Commenting on this passage, David Garland writes, “Paul also instructs them to comfort the offender. The verb “comfort” (parakaleō) includes many different kinds of activities. They should deal benevolently with him, support him, and encourage him (see Gal 6:1–5). In 1 Thess 2:11–12 Paul uses the verb to describe his  dealing with them as a father deals with his own children, “encouraging, comforting and urging you  to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.” “Comforting” is therefore not    unrelated to spurring others to live worthily of the Gospel. It does not mean making others feel comfortable about their past sin but leading them to godly sorrow where they find God’s forgiveness.”

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark