32 Having put aside these malicious traits, Christians will instead display kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. "Be" is really "become," for Paul realizes that his readers have not yet attained "the full measure of perfection found in Christ" (v.13). To be "kind" is to show a sweet and generous disposition. "Compassionate" is a rare word, related to the intestines. The ancients located the seat of the emotions in the internal organs—liver, kidneys, and larger viscera.

Mutual forgiveness is a further mark of true Christian fellowship (Col 3:13); it requires a give and take. Paul sets forth the strongest possible motive: Christians must forgive one another because all of them have already been forgiven by God in Christ, when he became "the atoning sacrifice . . . for the sins of the whole world" (1Jn 2:2). "As" further implies that our forgiveness of others is to be like God's forgiveness of us. It must flow from ungrudging love (cf. Mt 18:23-35).

18:15–17 Jesus teaches His disciples about the process of restoring an erring believer. First, there should be a loving personal confrontation. The second step outlined in v. 16 is not as clear. The principle of witnesses is taken from Deut. 19:15, but what is it the witnesses attest? Evidently they witness that the offended brother is acting in good faith and the right spirit in attempting to work out a reconciliation. They also would be witnesses to any agreement. If this does not bring peace, the offended brother is to report it to the assembly. The church then is to do everything possible to convince the believer who has sinned to be reconciled or to right the wrong. If the erring one will not respond, that person is to be disciplined by being cut off from the fellowship. Such a loss would be extremely painful to the offender (1 Cor. 5:11; 2 Thess. 3:6, 14, 15).

1:20, 21 reconcile all things …now He has reconciled: This phrase shows the significance of Christ’s work on the Cross. It does not mean that all people will be saved, since many passages clearly say that unbelievers will suffer eternal separation from God (see Matt. 25:46). The work of Christ will overthrow the damage effected by the Fall and change all of creation from a position of enmity to a relationship of peace and friendship (see Rom. 8:20–23; 2 Cor. 5:18–20).