Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 32

Paul Demands of these Colossian Believers to always show Love to One Another Part 2

Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. KJV

Therefore, if each and every redeemed saint of God washed in the Blood of the Lamb of God Jesus Christ our Lord would literally and actually see others as more than ourselves then that would lead us to doing the following also with one another, "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." (Colossians 3:13) (KJV). The English word 'forbearing' is translated by the Greek word anechomai meaning (figuratively) put up with: - bear with endure, forbear, or suffer with. In other words, we are required to put up with the faults, the flaws, and the fractures that are visibly and invisibly in each of us, but this should not be a mere requirement, but it should be the response to such love rendered to each of us by the Grace of God as the Proverb declares with these words, "By long forbearance {and} calmness of spirit a judge {or} ruler is persuaded, and soft speech breaks down the most bonelike resistance." (Proverbs 25:15) (Amplified Bible). These Colossian believers then and we believers today are constantly and certainly always having to forbear or put up with men and women in the world in order that we might live peaceably among them, so how much more should we be motivated to put up with the faults of our brethren (being always mindful of our own faults) who like us are a part of the Body of Christ (His Church) and remembering these other words written by this same Apostle Paul to the Corinthian Church when he said, "And if one member suffers, all the parts [share] the suffering; if one member is honored, all the members [share in] the enjoyment of it." (1 Corinthians 12:26) (Amplified Bible).

This is true because as the parts of the physical body are connected together and are incapacitated or deprived of strength or power when the smallest part like a finger or toe is hurt, so are the parts of the spiritual Body of Jesus Christ in the same manner hurt when our brothers or sisters are hurt anywhere in the world as Paul said this in Hebrews, "Remember those who are in prison as if you were their fellow prisoner, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves are in the body also." (Hebrews 13:3) (Amplified Bible). When my earthly brother was in prison, I felt (not literally, but figuratively) anguish of heart and soul often, just as my Mother did likewise, because of where he was placed he had only my Mom and I to visit him. She did not want him to live with me because of what he had done to Dad, but I never felt concerned when I was in his presence, only grief and sadness as I suffered emotionally and spiritually with his circumstance. This came naturally to me concerning my brother in the flesh and in Christ Jesus and so should be our disposition or attitude of mind concerning every brother or sister in Christ who is suffering currently at the hands of the Muslim Brotherhood, Boko Haram, The Taliban, Al-Qaida, or ISIS who are killing Christians in brutal horrific fashion as they are fueled by the devil himself.

The Apostle Paul declares to these Colossian believers and we believers today that we are to be forgiving to one another and the English word 'forgiving' is translated by the Greek word charizomai meaning to grant as a favor, that is, gratuitously, in kindness, pardon or rescue. It is our responsibility to forgive every sinful offence perpetrated against us by our brothers or sisters when they come to us asking for forgiveness just as our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ said to the Apostle Peter when Peter asked, "Then Peter came up to Him and said, Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I forgive him {and} let it go? [As many as] up to seven times? Jesus answered him, I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven! Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a human king who wished to settle accounts with his attendants. When he began the accounting, one was brought to him who owed him 10,000 talents [probably about $10,000,000], And because he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and his children and everything that he possessed, and payment to be made. So, the attendant fell on his knees, begging him, Have patience with me and I will pay you everything. And his master's heart was moved with compassion, and he released him and forgave him [cancelling] the debt. But that same attendant, as he went out, found one of his fellow attendants who owed him a hundred denarii [about twenty dollars]; and he caught him by the throat and said, Pay what you owe! So his fellow attendant fell down and begged him earnestly, Give me time, and I will pay you {all}! But he was unwilling, and he went out and had him put in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow attendants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and told everything that had taken place to their master. Then his master called him and said to him, You contemptible {and} wicked attendant! I forgave {and} cancelled all that [great] debt of yours because you begged me to. And should you not have had pity {and} mercy on your fellow attendant, as I had pity {and} mercy on you? And in wrath his master turned him over to the torturers (the jailers), till he should pay all that he owed. So also My heavenly Father will deal with every one of you if you do not freely forgive your brother from your heart {his offenses.}" (Matthew 18:21-35) (Amplified Bible).

The English word 'quarrel' Paul uses depicting the type of dispute is translated by the Greek word momphe (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning blame, that is, (by implication) a fault: - quarrel or disagreement over something or an angry dispute. In other words, as we declared earlier, just as earthly families fight and sometimes marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions, so does this occur in the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, but unlike unbelievers we should (for our love for Christ) be always ready to forgive one another and squash such quarrels if it be possible between both disputing parties just as our Lord Jesus explained to us how it must be done with these words, "If your brother wrongs you, go and show him his fault, between you and him privately. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two others, so that every word may be confirmed {and} upheld by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he pays no attention to them [refusing to listen and obey], tell it to the Church; and if he refuses to listen even to the Church, let him be to you as a pagan and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid {and} declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit {and} declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven." (Matthew 18:15-18) (Amplified Bible).

"The idea is, that if another one has given us just occasion of complaint, we are to forgive him; that is, we are: (1) to harbor no malice against him; (2) we are to be ready to do him good as if he had not given us occasion of complaint; (3) we are to be willing to declare that we forgive him when he asks it; and, (4) we are always afterward to treat him as kindly as if he had not injured us - as God treats us when he forgives us." Albert Barnes

"Who required no satisfaction, and sought for nothing in you but the broken, contrite heart, and freely forgave you as soon as you returned to Him. No man should for a moment harbor ill will in his heart to any; but the offended party is not called actually to forgive, till the offender, with sorrow, acknowledges his fault. He should be ready to forgive, and while he is so, he can neither feel hatred nor malice towards the offender; but, as Christ does not forgive us till with penitent hearts we return unto Him, acknowledging our offenses, so those who have trespassed against their neighbor are not to expect any act of forgiveness from the person they have injured, till they acknowledge the offense. Forgive, says the Apostle, even as Christ forgave you - show the same disposition and the same readiness to forgive your offending brethren, as Christ showed towards you." Adam Clarke

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…