Restoration of our Relationships

I Receive Back More of What I Give — But Grace is Needed, it’s a Learning Process

Ian Johnson February 18, 2025 1 Comment

My human nature, people around me and even the world’s “experts” tell me that I should insist on my “rights,” hold grudges forever, cut people off, deny all mercy and all forgiveness, particularly when I have been hurt badly. But God’s wisdom tells me to show his grace, mercy and forgiveness, and to set people free. Jesus promised—and warned—that I will receive back even more of what I give, good or bad. But becoming like Jesus is a learning process I am still far from completing.

choosing not to forgive, Discipline or Correction, Divisions in the Church, Forgive as we forgive, Forgiveness and Unforgiveness, God's purpose for us, Love each other, Repentance, Repentance in community, Restoration of God's Image, Restoration of our Relationships, Salvation, To live in unity, What is sin?

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To Find Mercy, Show Mercy; To Find Freedom, Set Others Free

Ian Johnson February 8, 2025 0 Comments

In just the same way that showing love toward those who hate me is acting like my Heavenly Father does, being supernatural. so being kind toward evil people and merciful toward all who need mercy is also showing God in my life. I cannot be free while judging other people worthy of bondage for their offenses against me. I will only find freedom by setting others free.

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The Golden Rule: I love my enemies because I want them to do the same to me

Ian Johnson January 25, 2025 1 Comment

I will now begin to apply an extended passage from Jesus’ “Sermon on the Plain,” recorded in Luke 6:27-40. Jesus’ message in this passage can be summarized as: The passage starts: Luke 6:27-30 (WEB) Here we are given a list of commands about how to treat those who hate, oppose or use us. But, by Jesus own words. these commands…
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A God who Speaks, Forgive as we forgive, God Speaks to Us, God was never our enemy, God's purpose for us, Love each other, Reconciliation, Restoration of God's Image, Restoration of our Relationships, Show us the Way of Truth

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Paul also approved of mediation of disputes between Christians by other believers

Ian Johnson January 18, 2025 1 Comment

The theme verse of this installment is Philippians 4:2-3, in which Paul first exhorts Euodia and Syntyche to put their differences aside and agree with each other, then encourages one of the other leaders in Philippi, who he calls his “true partner” to help the two women come into agreement: Philippians 4:2-3 (WEB). This appears to be a request by…
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A God who Speaks, Divisions in the Church, Forgive as we forgive, Forgiveness and Unforgiveness, God Speaks to Us, Injustice and Lawsuits, Love each other, Quarrels, Reconciliation, Restoration of God's Image, Restoration of our Relationships, Salvation, Through the church

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

Ian Johnson January 15, 2025 0 Comments

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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Pray for all people, for everyone who is important in my world

Ian Johnson January 8, 2025 0 Comments

Paul told Timothy to pray for “all people.” He said to pray for them–not against them–so that we may live in peace. He emphasized that he meant to pray for everybody by including “kings,” by implication including the Roman Emperor, who at that time was the despicable Nero. If I am thinking about you, I should be praying for you.

For everyone, God's purpose for us, Love each other, Prayer for others, Restoration of our Relationships, The Kingdom of the Heavens, To be his ambassadors

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Parts of doing good: love, affection, honor, prayer, hospitality, caring for each other’s needs, preferring each other

Ian Johnson January 6, 2025 2 Comments

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good. In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another; not lagging in diligence; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer; contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality.

Emotions, God's purpose for us, Human Rationality, In the Church, Love each other, Meaning of Unity, Restoration of God's Image, Restoration of our Relationships, The Kingdom is all around us, The Kingdom of the Heavens, To be in his image, To live in unity

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What Should I Do when Other Christians Tell me Not to Pray for Them?

Ian Johnson January 5, 2025 1 Comment

When other believers reject me so completely that they order me not to pray for them, this doesn’t change what God tells me to do for them. I should continue doing good to them, as the opportunity presents itself. Galatians 6:7-10. This includes praying for them.

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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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I Receive Back More of What I Give — But Grace is Needed, it’s a Learning Process

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To Find Mercy, Show Mercy; To Find Freedom, Set Others Free

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The Golden Rule: I love my enemies because I want them to do the same to me

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Paul also approved of mediation of disputes between Christians by other believers

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

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Pray for all people, for everyone who is important in my world

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Parts of doing good: love, affection, honor, prayer, hospitality, caring for each other’s needs, preferring each other

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What Should I Do when Other Christians Tell me Not to Pray for Them?

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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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Restoration of our Relationships

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