Main Idea: We tolerate differences in what doesn’t matter without compromising in what does. We model Jesus’ example of being full

of grace and truth.

Recap:

• Taking various words in our culture apart
• Today we take on a big one, the last of our “Lost in Translation” series – Tolerance

Tolerance is “the ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with.” – Oxford Dictionary

Is Tolerance a Biblical Concept?

The word “tolerance” itself does not appear in most traditional English translations of the Bible. However, the concept of tolerance—such as bearing with others, showing patience, and forbearance—is expressed in various ways throughout Scripture.

• Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.”
• Romans 14:1 “Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.”

In our world today, tolerance has drifted from:

1. Individual moral freedom
2. You must agree with me
3. You must celebrate my beliefs….and if you don’t agree and celebrate…cancelled

“Tolerance isn’t about not having beliefs. It’s about how your beliefs lead you to treat people who disagree with you.” – Timothy Keller

How do we determine where we are tolerant and where we stand?

• Truth – It starts with a clear understanding of right and wrong biblically
• Grace – we live as people “saved” never forgetting what that meant for us personally
• We learn to live out Jesus’ example of being full of grace and truth

John 1:11-14 ESV “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

• Full of Grace
  • Jesus came to save people “His own” – every person is created in the image of God and had value.
  • Through Jesus we are given the right to become children of God Jesus didn’t come and eat with sinners to show them he affirms and tolerates their behavior. He came to seek and save that was lost

John 18:37-38 NASB2020

“Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this purpose I have been born, and for this I have come into the world: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”

• Full of Truth
  • In arguably the darkest day in history, Jesus shared why he came: to testify to the truth
  • While he was full of Grace, that didn’t mean He was empty of truth. Jesus modeled full truth and full grace in his ministry:
    • John 8:3-11 / The Woman Caught in Adultery

RLM PF – Christ Short          Lost in Translation: Week 6      Truth Sept 12/15

• Matthew 19: 16-21 / The Rich Young Ruler

• Truth does not change despite what you feel about it. And without absolute truth, we wouldn’t need grace.
• We must understand the difference between subjective and objective truth.
  • Learning to tolerate differences in style and preference
  • Standing firm on the immovable anchors of truth…but where and how:

What part do I play in living out Grace and Truth?

• If it’s for my family – lead the way
• If it’s in my church – encourage and exhort
• If it’s for a place I work – set an example
• In a everything – humble, gentle, patient

Ephesians 4:2 “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

Reflection: In my own life where have I been tolerant where I should be intolerant? And, where have I been intolerant where I should have tolerance?

Matthew 7:1-5 NLT “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”