Forgive as we forgive

The Apostle Paul approved of arbitration of disputes between Christians by other believers

Ian Johnson January 15, 2025 1 Comment

The theme of this installment is a question Paul asked the church in Corinth: 1 Corinthians 6:5 (WEB) While the process Jesus described in Matthew 18:15-20 (see previous series of installments) is the ideal procedure, the one most likely to produce reconciliation–which is the goal of all such procedures–the New Testament is not rigidly inflexible in demanding that only this…
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choosing not to forgive, Divisions in the Church, Forgive as we forgive, Forgiveness and Unforgiveness, God was never our enemy, Love each other, Must Trust God to Enter, Quarrels, Reconciliation, Refusing to hear, Restoration of God's Image, Restoration of our Relationships, The Kingdom of the Heavens, Trusting sight over God's words, What is sin?

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A Visit with the Second Servant in Debtors’ Prison

Ian Johnson January 2, 2025 2 Comments

Links: This post read as a YouTube video. Full playlist for this series. Remember the other servant? The one the Unforgiving Servant threw in prison instead of showing him mercy? I thought so. Most people don’t. I know nearly everyone thinks this story is only about the relationship between the Lord and the Unforgiving Servant. That’s why it is usually…
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Forgive as we forgive, forgiveness and mercy, Forgiveness and Unforgiveness, God is Love, God's rationality, Parables, Restoration of our Relationships, The Kingdom of the Heavens, The Problem of Evil, Through Jesus

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A Visit with the Unforgiving Servant on the Rack. What did he Still Owe?

Ian Johnson January 1, 2025 1 Comment

Links: This post read as a You Tube video. Full playlist for this series. We now continue with the story of the first servant—the one whose Lord forgave him an astronomically large debt, but who then wouldn’t forgive his fellow servant a debt of three months’ wages. While the two servants were the only parties to the debt, they were…
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choosing not to forgive, Forgive as we forgive, forgiveness and mercy, God is Love, God's rationality, Love each other, Restoration of God's Image, Restoration of our Relationships, The Kingdom of the Heavens, The Problem of Evil, Uncategorized, What is sin?

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“If two of you shall agree on earth” refers to the reconciliation procedure

Ian Johnson December 29, 2024 1 Comment

Jesus’ promise to answer prayers made by any two believers who are in agreement is a part of his discussion on reconciliation of offenses. Strictly, it applies to prayers made as a result of reconciliation. This underscores the importance of reconciliation between believers to Jesus.

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Moron Mutual Imprisonment: Binding and Loosing and Church Discipline are Parts of the Same Context, Matthew 18:15-20

Ian Johnson December 24, 2024 3 Comments

Links: This post read as a YouTube video. Full playlist for this series. The point to be made by this post is really quite simple: Jesus’ statement that the things we bind on earth will be bound in heaven and the things we set loose on earth will be loosed in heaven was made in a very specific context, namely,…
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My Next Fool’s Errand: Justifying continued prayer for other believers who have told me I must “forget” them because of an offense

Ian Johnson December 23, 2024 0 Comments

Preliminary outline of two series dealing with mutual imprisonment by unforgiveness, God’s goal of reconciliation, and praying for those who don’t want my prayers using constructive, New Testament prayers.

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Does an Unresolved Offense Disqualify from Worship, Service or Giving?

Ian Johnson December 10, 2024 1 Comment

The reasons I believe Scripture now bars me from nearly all church activities, service and giving until offenses two other believers hold against me are fully resolved–if that ever happens–and what I plan to do now.

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Both of the Debtors in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant Ended up in Debtors’ Prison

Ian Johnson December 9, 2024 0 Comments

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18 shows that an unresolved offense keeps both parties imprisoned, bound from service, though only the unforgiving one is tortured by their unforgiveness.

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Offenses, leprosy–and members cutting each other off

Ian Johnson December 9, 2024 2 Comments

The analogy between classical leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) and the effect of unresolved bitterness between members of the Body of Christ. Both cause members of the body to lose sensation and be vulnerable to infection and death. “Cutting off” members only accelerates this.

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Didn’t Jesus tell us how to handle offenses between believers?

Ian Johnson December 9, 2024 0 Comments

Jesus and Paul both give details of procedures for handling offenses within the church. Those procedures look toward reconciliation and removal of barriers, rather than creation of barriers, except where excommunication is necessary.

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The Apostle Paul approved of arbitration of disputes between Christians by other believers

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A Visit with the Second Servant in Debtors’ Prison

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A Visit with the Unforgiving Servant on the Rack. What did he Still Owe?

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“If two of you shall agree on earth” refers to the reconciliation procedure

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Moron Mutual Imprisonment: Binding and Loosing and Church Discipline are Parts of the Same Context, Matthew 18:15-20

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My Next Fool’s Errand: Justifying continued prayer for other believers who have told me I must “forget” them because of an offense

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Does an Unresolved Offense Disqualify from Worship, Service or Giving?

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Both of the Debtors in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant Ended up in Debtors’ Prison

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Offenses, leprosy–and members cutting each other off

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Didn’t Jesus tell us how to handle offenses between believers?

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Forgive as we forgive

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