Illustration:
"A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing."
Martin Luther
1. Our Identity in Christ (12a)
a. Chosen by God
Ephesians 1:4
2 Timothy 1:9
b. Changed by God
Ephesians 1:4
c. Cherished by God
Ephesians 1:4
2. Our Mind in Christ (12b)
a. Develop Compassion (lack of indifference)
Splanchnon (oiktirmos)
"gut level compassion (mercy)"
b. Distribute Kindness
"mellowing the harshness" through grace that spreads through the body
Matthew 11:30, "easy = not harsh to bear"
c. Desire Humility
d. Deliver Gentleness
"...willingness to suffer injury instead of inflicting it..."
Dr. John MacArthur
e. Demonstrate Patience
2 Peter 3:15
patience like God’s patience
3. Our Response in Christ (13-14)
a. Forgiveness (13)
i. Understand their faults
2 Thessalonians 1:4
(endure = anexomai, also in verse 13)
ii. Overlook their failure
literally: "to be gracious" / extending grace
iii. Remember God’s faithfulness
Ephesians 4:32
even when their is failure on our part
b. Love (14)
i. Love’s Prominence
Romans 13:10 (none of this is possible without love)
"...to practice these virtues without love is legalism..."
Dr. John MacArthur
ii. Love’s Power
1 Corinthians 13:-3
Nothing is acceptable to God unless it’s motivated by love.
