Being His Expression in the earth – Loving and Forgiving

How about this for a vision of what the Church, the Body of Christ, should be like? 

 

Col 3:13 

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

 

If we as believers would live like this more people might run to the Church, instead of running from it.

 

Here is the rest of that section from Colossians chapter 3;

 

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:12-17 NLT

 

As I read this section, I saw how much I look at life, at circumstances, and other people from my own limited perspective (and if I am really honest I will add from my own selfish perspective). Yet, in Christ we are able to see from His perspective.

 

We start seeing that the important thing is who we are becoming in our new life with Jesus, and that who we were and what we came from is not really important at all.