Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 4
Paul’s “therefore” links “forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” to “be imitators of God as dear children”; what does this teach about what God is like (kind, tenderhearted, forgiving), and what parts of God’s character are hardest for you to actually believe when you’re the one who has been wronged?
Another way to ask: What do these verses show about what God is like, and which part of His kindness and forgiveness is hardest for you to believe when someone has hurt you?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
The speaker teaches that the “therefore” shows God’s character is fundamentally kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving, and our imitation flows from receiving and believing that. He also suggests many people struggle to believe God is truly kind or loving when they’re hurt, which makes obedience feel like a chore.
- He highlights the linkage: “be kind… forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore… be imitators of God as dear children.”
- He explicitly names what God is like: “Do you believe that God is kind? Do you believe that God is tenderhearted? If you don’t, that’s an important thing to learn.”
- He explains “dear children” implies a real relationship: loved, cared for, with admiration and loyalty—children imitate because they “love” and “admire” their father.
- He says God’s forgiveness is the basis of our identity: “How were you made a child of God? Because you were forgiven.”
- He warns that without admiration/belief in God’s goodness, commandments become “just… a chore,” producing “a miserable life.”