Resolving Conflicts By Grace - The For GIVEN Life of Jesus Christ

Conflict Resolution by Jesus is not just a theoretical concept; it's a profound reality that HAS transformed billions of lives and relationships, and He has just begun.

“Then they *came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple area and began to drive out those who were selling and buying on the temple grounds, and He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves;” Mark 11:15

Imagine hiring Jesus as your Conflict Resolution Coach, guiding you through every conflict until it's resolved. How would He approach it? What wisdom would Jesus impart?

"And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” Matthew 26:39

Firstly, let's consider the foundation of Jesus' teachings. He emphasized building our lives on the rock of His words, implying that following His teachings leads to stability and wisdom in navigating ALL conflicts.

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” 1 Corinthians 4:20

Throughout His life, Jesus exemplified humility and submission to the will of our Father, especially in the face of conflict. His approach was rooted in selflessness, self-giving love, radical generosity, and absolute obedience.

"bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you." Colossians 3:13

Jesus' teachings on conflict resolution are profound and practical. He taught us unconditional forgiveness in advance. He instructed us to address conflicts directly, yet with gentleness and humility, seeking reconciliation and restoration. There is no middle ground with Jesus, however. We are either ALL IN with Jesus or ALL OUT by default.

“I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” Luke 12:49-53

Crucially, Jesus emphasized forgiveness and Grace as ABSOLUTE components of resolving earthly conflicts. Jesus was extremely serious. He didn't just preach forgiveness; He lived it by God’s Grace, forgiving even those who crucified Him.

“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed." Matthew 18:15-16

The essence of Jesus' conflict resolution strategy is truly embracing His teachings of love, forgiveness, and Grace. By embodying these principles, we can transcend all conflicts, heal all relationships, and experience the full transformative power of His Grace.

We can’t do any of this alone or apart from Jesus. Fortunately, Jesus has already done it all–For GIVEN. BELIEVE IT AND RECEIVE IT, in Jesus' name!

"But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves." Luke 23:34

Conflict resolution by Jesus isn't just about resolving disputes; it's about embodying His love and reflecting His character in every interaction, especially conflicts.

"For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." Colossians 3:4

As followers of Jesus, let us LIVE His teachings and allow His perfect Grace to guide us in resolving conflicts with His humility, love, and forgiveness.

"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20

Conflict Resolution by Jesus

How would He do it if you hired Jesus to be your “Conflict Resolution Coach,” to coach you through a conflict until it is resolved?

"For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:3

Seriously, how would Jesus resolve your conflict? From what we know of Him, how would He approach your conflict? How did Jesus resolve all conflicts?

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Matthew 7:24

Did Jesus have conflicts? If so, did He resolve conflicts? Do we have evidence that Jesus taught us how to resolve conflicts? If we do, should we follow Jesus' example? Is He the most qualified person to coach us through our conflict? Is He the smartest and most powerful man to ever walk the earth?

The Way of Jesus

How did Jesus handle conflict? The Bible declares that Jesus is our only RABBI and our only LEADER. So, let Jesus teach us how to resolve conflict in the Way of Jesus. Okay, sounds good… Who was Jesus, and what is HIS WAY?

"But seek first His KINGDOM and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

Jesus was born with a will. He chose to humble himself and align his will with the perfect will of God, His Father. Jesus had a will but surrendered it fully to serve His Father's will.

Jesus has a will, a personality, and desires. None of those things mattered because Jesus, the Son of God, declared, “Not my will, but your will be done!” Or, stated differently, “Not my way, but your way be done!” That is our model, and He has given us His Grace to fulfill it.

"may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us," Ephesians 3:18-20

Jesus, fully human and fully God, may have had typical desires of the humanity He created. This means that Jesus had His own desires, preferences, opinions, and judgments. None of that mattered because He willingly gave them up, surrendering them all, and instead followed His Father.

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Galatians 2:20

Jesus did everything the Father commanded, whether or not He liked it. Jesus showed us THE WAY and empowered us by Grace to fulfill it. His Grace is the Good News of the Gospel.

“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector." Matthew 18:15-17

Sin is always expecting to get my way. Sin is constantly demanding my way, OR ELSE! Sin is HAVING A WAY apart from Christ.

The New Humanity, led by our Lord, Master, King, Savior, and Shepherd, Jesus, has given us total Salvation and absolute freedom IN CHRIST. He gave us the Grace to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Jesus into His suffering, death, burial, and RESURRECTION.

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me." Matthew 16:24

Jesus was all about doing everything THE FATHER’S WAY. He was given the Grace to fulfill the Father’s will.

Jesus taught us that we will receive troubles, trials, and tribulations in this FALLEN disgraceful world. The world hates Jesus and His followers. The Bible teaches us that trouble will come to followers of Jesus Christ, and we should not find it strange.

Jesus taught us to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him. He also gave us the Grace to do it, so we only need to ask.

"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give." Matthew 10:8

Under the most extraordinary pressure imaginable, while sweating blood, Jesus said to His Father, “Not my will but yours be done!” The Father gave Jesus the Grace to endure to the end.

The Bible states that Jesus was and is our slain sacrificial lamb, the one who took away all the sins of the world before the foundation of the world. Before the world or any of us were created, Jesus, our Savior, and His Salvation were For GIVEN.

"and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near
to you.’ " Luke 10:9

Before we ever did anything good or bad, we were For GIVEN everything we would need IN CHRIST. We received HIS FULL SALVATION.

Jesus, a full member of the Godhead, emptied Himself of His divinity and became fully man. He was and is the most intelligent, powerful, and remarkable man who ever lived. Jesus came to earth as a man to give us a way back to the Father, to show us the way Home. Jesus said, “Follow Me!” I am not the smartest man in the world, and instead of being remarkable, I am weak and sin. Therefore, I WILL FOLLOW JESUS!

“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth. ” Genesis 1:27-28

By taking on the world's sins, as a man, Jesus went through everything a person could ever think or do. Jesus understood what it was like to be weak, fragile, blind, and limited. Jesus surrendered His will and was obedient to His Father on our behalf. Jesus atoned for our sins, For GIVING us before the world was created. We serve a very good God.

"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

Jesus came to earth to teach us how to live in His NEW HUMANITY by Grace. Jesus came in Grace to establish TRUTH in us and through us. Jesus has For GIVEN us His full life.

"For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ." John 1:16-17

By Grace, through Jesus’ obedience, we all have been given peace with God and fully reconciled with Him. Jesus was prepared to save us before He created us. We call it the For GIVEN Life: Christ IN US, and we IN CHRIST.

Jesus came as the For GIVEN Savior because we could never save ourselves. Having already forgiven us of all our sins, Jesus gives us every opportunity to humble ourselves, confess our sins and weaknesses, and present ourselves as being alive from the dead. He also gives us every opportunity to deny His free gift of Grace and “do it our way!”

"And He summoned the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me." Mark 8:34

The For GIVEN Life

The Bible claims we have received everything we need by Grace, which was provided before the foundation of the world. Jesus claimed that everything we need is IN HIM. The Apostle Paul taught that before any human was created, God had provided everything we need and then sat down, resting from His works.

"The glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and You loved them, just as You loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world." John 17:22-24

The Bible, Jesus, and the Apostle Paul teach that EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IS SAVED BY GOD’S GRACE. To receive Grace and consequently FULL SALVATION IN CHRIST, we only need to BELIEVE.

The Bible teaches that through Grace (God’s unlimited loving kindness), sinners are quickened by the Holy Spirit and supernaturally empowered to turn from sin (serving self) to serve Jesus, the living God, and His Kingdom.

Grace means God’s power to fulfill God’s will in us because we can’t–it is impossible. God’s Grace represents His absolute goodness. God is absolutely good and kind, and He is love, faithful, and our SAVIOR. We are saved by God’s Grace alone.

"Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:25-26

Jesus came in GRACE and TRUTH in all the fullness of God. The resurrected Jesus has given us His whole life. We have been given the same measure of Grace that Jesus had–HIS FULL MEASURE. And we got this Grace before a single person was born. God established His Throne of Grace IN CHRIST before the foundation of the world was laid.

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “ALL AUTHORITY has been given to Me IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-21

It was once said, “Iron sharpens iron.” What is “iron?” Strength? Replace the word “iron” with the word “love,” and then re-read the statement: Love sharpens Love.

"and the prayer of faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him." James 5:15

What if “iron” was LOVE? Replace the word “iron” with “love,” then re-read the statement. Love sharpens Love. Now, it makes sense. Our iron, or our strength, is LOVE.