bitterness – The Fool Who Would Be Holy

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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Other People Were Affected, Too—The Lord’s “Other Servants”

Ian Johnson January 14, 2025 0 Comments

But the damage didn’t stop with the Unforgiving Servant and the Unforgiven Servant. The Lord’s “other servants” were also affected. Matthew 18:23-24 (WEB) Recall how the matter started. The Lord was settling accounts with his “servants,” plural, when one servant with a huge debt was brought before him. That servant begged the Lord for mercy, and the Lord gave him…
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choosing not to forgive, Forgiveness and Unforgiveness, Quarrels, What is sin?

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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.

choosing not to forgive, Death of Members, Divisions in the Church, Forgive as we forgive, Forgiveness and Unforgiveness, God was never our enemy, Love each other, Quarrels, Reconciliation, refusal to repent, Refusing to hear, Restoration of our Relationships, Salvation, Sin, What is sin?

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There are Two Things God Can’t Do!!!

Ian Johnson December 9, 2024 3 Comments

The two things God cannot do are: 1) lie; and 2) force us to be reconciled to himself or to anyone else. Supporting scriptures are discussed briefly.

Divisions in the Church, Forgive as we forgive, Forgiveness and Unforgiveness, Love each other, Quarrels, Restoration of our Relationships

bitterness, commandments, commands, forgive, forgiveness, free will, reconcile, reconciliation, things God cannot do, unforgivenss

What is a root of bitterness?

Ian Johnson August 30, 2024 0 Comments

A root of bitterness is a grudge that spreads to uninvolved parties, planting contempt for the accused and hindering God’s grace. It leads to unforgiveness, rumor embellishment, and division among believers. To combat this, individuals should forgive offenses and avoid spreading resentment, while the church follows scripture-based conflict resolution without gossip.

Changed treatment of each other, Divisions in the Church, Forgive as we forgive, forgiveness and mercy, Forgiveness and Unforgiveness, God is Love, God's purpose for us, In the Church, Love each other, Meaning of Unity, On speaking terms again, Quarrels, Reconciliation, Repentance, Repentance in community, Restoration of God's Image, Restoration of our Relationships, To be his ambassadors, To live in unity

bitter, bitterness, Church, contempt, fear, forgive, forgiveness, gossip, Judgment, reconcile, reconciliation, root of bitterness, rumor

Anger

Ian Johnson October 12, 2022 0 Comments

I write this post to myself. I was once a very angry man. But I believed I now had anger under control. More recently, I’m not so sure. Manipulative people and manipulative institutions both deliberately goad the anger of those they want to control–anger is a great motivator. The media, celebrities, politicians, organizations and advertisers do the same thing. Other people, though, habitually but unconsciously manipulate by continually rehearsing their angry reveries for others to hear, wishing either to bring their hearers into their angry world or to intimidate by fear of what they might do in anger. And I am weak to all of these ploys. So I present the following study, which consists only of quotations from Scripture about human anger, its causes and antidote.

Changed treatment of each other, Conversation with others, Desire to have our own way, Divisions in the Church, Emotions, Forgive as we forgive, forgiveness and mercy, Forgiveness and Unforgiveness, Free will, God is Love, God's purpose for us, His Children, Human Rationality, Injustice and Lawsuits, Language and Speech, patience, Repentance, Restoration of God's Image, Restoration of our Relationships, Salvation, To be his ambassadors, To live in unity

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The Underlying Cause of Division

Ian Johnson July 9, 2020 2 Comments

The underlying cause of all of the divisions in the Church is “sin:” our determination to ignore God and the needs of others to have our own way. This leads to greed, anger, envy, jealousy, gossip, slander, strife, unforgiveness, bitterness and even war–all of which perpetuate division.

Desire to have our own way, Desire to have our own way, Divisions in the Church, Forgiveness and Unforgiveness, Greed, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Sin, Trusting sight over God's words, What is sin?

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Tag Archive: bitterness

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

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Other People Were Affected, Too—The Lord’s “Other Servants”

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Offenses, leprosy–and members cutting each other off

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There are Two Things God Can’t Do!!!

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What is a root of bitterness?

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Anger

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The Underlying Cause of Division

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Tag Archive: bitterness

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

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Other People Were Affected, Too—The Lord’s “Other Servants”

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Offenses, leprosy–and members cutting each other off

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There are Two Things God Can’t Do!!!

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What is a root of bitterness?

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Anger

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The Underlying Cause of Division

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