Volume 25, Issue 9
Page 28
WisconsinChristianNews.com
One With Christ
By Ron Webster February 2025
Until we choose to take on the mind of Christ, we will not have the mind to forgive as we are commanded: Being one with Christ and the Father as a total servant willing to sacrifice even our life; for our Father in heaven has chosen us for His purpose, that others will come to repen- tance and forgiveness, as Jesus describes the gospel in Luke 24:46-47. Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:9-18, He said this about forgiveness in verses 12, 14, and 15. “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” That is a serious consideration
The Apostle Paul made it very clear that the success of the body of Christ to fulfill God’s calling for us is the im- portance of one’s first love (26- ‘agape’ perfect love) and unwavering faith (Philemon 1:5-7) of which Paul praises Philemon and those assem-
bling in his house. “That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in thy (perfect) love, because the (inner man) of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.” Reading Philippians 2:5-8, being one with Christ, means to choose to humble oneself before our God as Jesus did before the Father, obedient, even unto “the death of the cross.” The biggest reason Christians are not one with Christ is our refusal to be like Christ, having the same mind, “which was also in Christ Jesus.” Paul gives us two statements con- cerning the mental attitude Jesus had as a man of His oneness with His Father. He gave up His right “to be equal with the God,” and “made Himself of no rep- utation, and took upon Him the form of (3444-totally) a servant.” The way most of us live today we have a hard time giving up any seemingly perceived right to be equal with God! Jesus said in John 10:14-15, 16; “I am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep (for I know their hearts), and am known of Mine. As My Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father (being one in truth and purpose): and I lay down my life for the sheep… And they shall hear My voice; and they shall be one fold, and one Shepherd.” Hebrews 2:17 also states, “Wherefore in all things it behooved Him (3784-compelled Him, a verb to increase advantage or profit, to be bound as a duty, logical necessity which expresses the need resulting from the fitness of things) to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” Paul also refers in II Corinthians 5:17-19 to our part in this reconciliation. “Therefore if any man be (one) in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new (as different in perspective). And all things (of our mind, now) are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Christ Jesus, and hath (also) given to us the ministry of rec- onciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing (3049-charging) their trespasses unto them (for they are justly for- given); and hath committed unto us the word of rec- onciliation.”
asked, “How can I forgive when I cannot forget their offense?” This question seems to pose a defense against forgiving, but as an oxymoron it is not! Let me explain. The fact is that we are commanded to forgive, no exceptions, as Christ with no exceptions chose to pay the price to justly forgive (I John 1:9), and take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). To forgive one it always costs, and that price has to be paid by someone in order to be just to forgive and cleanse. My father taught me this truth from Romans 8:28; “And we know (without a question) that all things (good or bad) work together for good to them that love God (Mark 12:29-30, with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.), to them who are the called according to His purpose.” God does use all things good and bad to accomplish His purpose! We find His purpose described in II Peter3:9, as “not willing that any should perish, but that all come to repentance.” And Ephesians 1:11; “That in the (administration) of the fullness of time He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him.” How do we to fit into this purpose? Jesus states His finished work in Luke 24:46-49, making His pur- pose possible for us. “That repentance and (forgive- ness) of sins should be preached in His name among all nations.” That is His purpose! How can anyone justify refusing to emulate His character, His “divine nature” being one with Christ and the Father? To for- give, and remember the offense no more, as if it never happened, is to restore them to a oneness within the body of Christ, but we cannot and must not ever for- get what we have learned from it. The what, and the why, I will address in chapters four and five.
when quoting these verses without thinking about what it is saying! “For if ye forgive men their tres- passes, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Read Matthew 18:21-31. After Jesus gives the example of the wicked servant who refuses to forgive another man’s debt, Jesus said, (verse 35) “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if from your heart forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” Jesus said in John 15:9-13, 16, “As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My (per- fect) love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My (perfect) love: even as I have kept My Fa- thers commandments, and abide in His (perfect) love… This is My commandment, that ye love one an- other, as I have loved you. Greater (perfect) love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (Verse 16) “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you (for a purpose), that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.” I John 3:16-17 also states, “Hereby we perceive the (perfect) love of God, because He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the (perfect) love of God in him?” The Apostle Paul makes this additional statement concerning the command to forgive in Ephesians 4:32. “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, for- giving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” This is the same way, and reason, He
expects us to forgive, “for Christ’s sake.” The question is o f t e n
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