Colossians
1:13-14
He
has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom
of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Jesus
is the one, the only one who can:
Deliver
us from the kingdom of darkness
Transfer
us into the kingdom of Jesus
Give
us redemption
Provide
forgiveness of our sins
Raise
the Roof and Remove the Walls is receiving the forgiveness of God through
surrendering our lives to Jesus as Savior and Lord.
What
does a person who has been delivered, transferred, redeemed, and forgiven look
like?
Ephesians
4:25
Therefore,
having put away falsehood, let each speak the truth with his neighbor, for we
are members one of another.
Forgiven
people put away falsehood and speaks the truth.
Jesus
said that if we abide in His word, we will know the truth and the truth will
make us free because Jesus is the truth. Forgiven people know the truth, Jesus,
and speak truth and thus experience freedom.
Raise
the Roof and Remove the Walls is knowing the truth, Jesus, and living Him
out every day.
Ephesians
4:26-27
Be
angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no
opportunity to the devil.
Forgiven
people are not controlled by their emotions and do not give the devil an opportunity
to use their emotions to lead them into unrighteous acts.
James
1:20 tells us that human anger does not produce the righteousness of God.
Raise
the Roof and Remove the Walls is letting the Holy Spirit, not our emotions,
control our lives.
Ephesians
4:28
Let
the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his
owns hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
Forgiven
people are honest and giving.
Peter
reminds us that Jesus had no deceit, He was completely honest and had complete
integrity. We as followers of Jesus who have been forgiven by Him are to also
show those characteristics. Jesus also came as a servant to serve and we as His
followers are to use what He has blessed us with to bless others.
Raise
the Roof and Remove the Walls is being people of integrity and people who
share with others.
Ephesians
4:29
Let
no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building
up, as it fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Forgiven
people are encouragers and speak grace into other’s lives.
Corrupt
talk is using words that condemn others and judge them as opposed to showing
them grace.
Jesus
confronted sin but encouraged people and showed grace to the outcast and
condemned.
Raise
the Roof and Remove the Walls is being gracious people who build others up.
Ephesians
4:30
And
do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of
redemption.
Forgiven
people do not grieve the Holy Spirit.
We
grieve the Holy Spirit when we disobey God. Jesus says that we are His friends
if we obey Him. It grieves Him when we disobey Jesus and dishonor His desire to
be our friend.
Ephesians
4:31
Let
all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you,
along with all malice.
Forgiven
people deal with life differently than the world does.
The
lives of us who are followers of Jesus need to reflect the person of Jesus, not
the attitudes of the world. The world should never look at Jesus’ followers and
see wrath, bitterness, anger, physical outcries out of anger and bitterness,
and saying hurtful things about others. Our lives are to show love, mercy, joy,
and peace.
Raise
the Roof and Remove the Walls is showing godly character, not worldly
character.
Ephesians
4:32
Be
kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ
forgave you.
Forgiven
people forgive others.
Jesus
forgave the women at the well, the woman taken in adultery, Zacchaeus, and
Peter. None of these deserved it but all needed it. We, like Jesus, need to
forgive those who hurt us.
Raise
the Roof and Remove the Walls is forgiving others as Jesus forgave us.
As
Forgiven People Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls,
Joe
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