The power of forgiveness in Ephesians 4:31-32

Ephesians 4: "31 Let all bitterness, animosity, wrath, clamor, slander, and all manner of wickedness disappear from among you. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you."

In Ephesians 4, Paul exhorts us to drop all bitterness and animosity, to be kind to one another and to forgive one another. This is no mean feat; it requires immense grace. But this grace is offered to us by our Savior Jesus Christ, who died for our sins so that we could be forgiven and live righteously. Let's explore the power of forgiveness found in these two verses from Ephesians 4.

Why is forgiveness important?
Forgiveness is a key element of any healthy relationship with God or with others. When we forgive, we free ourselves from the burden of anger and hatred that can weigh us down spiritually, mentally and emotionally. As the apostle Paul wrote in "Colossians 3:13 Bear with one another and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against anyone (NIV)." God desires us to show grace to one another, because He first showed grace to us when He sent His Son Jesus Christ to earth as a sacrifice for our sins.

How can we practice forgiveness?
When we are wronged by someone or feel anger towards them, it can be difficult to find the strength within ourselves to forgive them. In such situations, we need to remember that God calls us not only to forgive, but also to love those who have wronged us (Matthew 5:44). To do this, we need to ask God for help; prayer helps us draw closer to Him so He can give us strength when we need it most.

We should also ask God to help us understand why people act the way they do; often there are underlying issues that aren't immediately apparent, which can make forgiveness much easier. Ultimately, forgiveness is an act of faith, faith that God will give you the strength you need and faith that he will work things out for the good (Romans 8:28).

The power of forgiveness found in Ephesians 4 encourages believers and non-believers alike to put aside bitterness and animosity and replace them with kindness and love. It reminds us that we do not have it in ourselves to forgive; on the contrary, true forgiveness comes only through the grace freely given by Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Justifier.

So, as Christians today, let us follow Paul's exhortation in these verses by walking together as brothers and sisters under the banner of love, showing kindness instead of hatred, mercy instead of judgment, just as God did when he forgave us all through his Son Jesus Christ!

Amen!