All of us have caused harm to someone during our lives – even our new lives in Christ – either intentionally or unintentionally. Our sins can harm not only ourselves but often have widespread consequences for those around us – especially our loved ones. Likewise, the sins of others can have unforeseen impacts upon us. Every Christian needs to seek forgiveness for our sins not only from God, but also from those whom we harm through our sins. Even more importantly, we need to be committed to offer grace, mercy, and forgiveness to those whose sins hurt us. In this we model Jesus’ own love, grace, forgiveness, and mercy.

Childlike faith, Warnings against sin, The lost sheep, Church discipline, and Forgiveness

The full context of Philippians 4 tells us that Christ strengthens us not to accomplish our own goals, but to live out our Christian calling with joy even in the midst of difficult challenges. This is extremely important because the unsaved people in the world will observe how professed Christ followers deal with adversity to discern whether we truly can “do all things through Christ.”

Paul wants us to recognize how blessed we truly are as believers. Paul provides some foundational truths about our faith and works to help us understand how these truths can help us grow stronger as disciples of Jesus Christ. God has blessed us with our salvation through Jesus Christ. He has blessed us in our relationships. He has blessed us in our families, both at home and in our churches. He has blessed us with a new identity in Christ. He has blessed us with an eternal inheritance. Paul wants us to follow his lead and give praises to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, because He “has blesses us in Christ with every blessing in the heavenly places”.

All of us are wretched sinners – even King David who was called a “man after God’s own heart” yet was a wicked adulterer and murderer. Nevertheless, God is willing and able to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness as David himself wrote in Psalm 51 – his beautiful prayer of repentance.