A Compelling Testimony: Maintaining a Disciplined Walk, Christlike Character, and Godly Relationships as God's Servant

Ses s i on 6: Cu l t i vat i ng Our Commun i t y : The “Corporate” Di sc i p l i nes 247

C. The Corporate Dimensions: the discipline of confession affirms our position as priests for one another in the body, able to forgive and be forgiven.

1. We possess in Christ Jesus the authority to forgive one another, John 20.23.

a. We are to forgive because God has forgiven us, Col. 3.13 – . . . bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

b. We are to forgive as God has forgiven us, Eph. 4.32-5.1 – Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. [5.1] Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

2. We are the royal priesthood of God by faith in Jesus Christ.

a. We are priests of the most high God through Christ Jesus.

(1) 1 Pet. 2.5 – You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (2) 1 Pet. 2.9 – But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (3) Rev. 1.5-6 – And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood [6] and made us a