Your Foundation in Christ (Victory Series Book #3): Live By the Power of the Spirit by Neil T. Anderson

would seek to corrupt us. Therefore, “Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other” (Mark 9:50). Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). Any mortal can divide a fellowship, but it takes the grace of God to bring reconciliation to Himself and establish unity among His people.
    Paul says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). However, it may not always be possible. If another person refuses to be reconciled, there is little we can humanly do other than to petition God. Regardless of how others respond, we must assume our responsibility to be peacemakers and continue carrying on the ministry of reconciliation. Our responsibility is to be a witness; God’s responsibility is to save them. We cannot assume responsibility for the lives of others, but we must assume responsibility for our own attitudes and actions. We cannot make others what we want them to be, and they cannot keep us from being the people God created us to be.
    For reconciliation to occur, the enmity that exists between two people must be removed. Our reconciliation with God is now possible because the enmity that existed between Him and us was removed when Christ sacrificed His life for our sins. “The death he died, he died to sin once for all” (Romans 6:10). It can be argued that God has forgiven the sins of all people who have ever lived, but not all are reconciled to Him. That is why the Church has been given the ministry of reconciliation.
    To establish and maintain a peaceful coexistence with each other, we have to repent, seek the forgiveness of those whom we have offended, andforgive those who have offended us. What we have freely received from God, we freely extend to others.
    As children of God, how do we serve as the salt and light of the world?
        
    How do we glorify God in our bodies?
        
    Reconciliation with others is not always possible. What do we do in instances where the other person refuses to restore the relationship?
      
    If you want to be like Jesus, why should you be the one to take the initiative to seek reconciliation instead of waiting for the other person?
      
    What enmities currently exist between you and another person?
        

    The apostle [Paul] here gives a very balanced command because he knows perfectly well that peace depends on both parties, and the other party may well be hostile and block peace. What he asks is that our mind should always be ready for peace and that the blame for any discord should lie with the other side and not with us. Of course, there are times when this command cannot be applied; for example, we cannot have peace and fellowship with evil. It is one thing to love people but quite another to love crimes. . . . Therefore, those who are perfect will love the sinner but hate his sin.
    Origen (AD 184–253)

3 Seeking the Forgiveness of Others
    Luke 7:36–50
    Key Point
    Our purpose in seeking forgiveness from others is not to get them to own up to their offense but to assume responsibility for our sin.
    Key Verse
    Settle matters quickly with your adversary.
    Matthew 5:25
    T he poignant story of the sinful woman’s devotion to Christ in Luke 7 reveals the gratitude we should feel when we realize that we are forgiven. Nobody had ever treated her like Jesus did, because nobody ever forgave her like Jesus did. She could hardly contain her love for Jesus, because she, who had been forgiven much, loved much. “Whoever has been forgiven little loves little” (Luke 7:47).
    Apparently, the degree to which we have been forgiven has some effect on our capacity to love others. Maybe it is the degree to which we understand how much we have been forgiven that affects our capacity to love, since we have all sinned greatly and have been forgiven much. The self-righteous Pharisee had no capacity to love because he had no sense of his need for forgiveness.
    We