In last week’s article I said, “In Luke’s presentation of the Lord’s Prayer, [the fourth point of the spiritual laws] has to do with forgiving others as the Lord has forgiven us. By implication, it embraces all aspects of the kingdom ethos.” You might be wondering if that is accurate. The text doesn’t mention anything other than forgiveness – to forgive others as we have been forgiven. Is it therefore reasonable to say our communication of “all aspects of the kingdom ethos” are wrapped up in forgiving others as we have been forgiven? I think so – here’s why.
In Romans 4:7-8 Paul references Psalms 32:1-2 which reads, blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, 
whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom Yahweh doesn’t impute iniquity, 
in whose spirit there is no deceit. The Hebrew word commonly translated as “blessed” is eh-sher and essentially means “happy.” The specific blessing David is concerned with is the forgiveness of sins. According to Paul, David is describing the happiness of one who has been declared righteous – been forgiven – on the basis of faith not works. Only a forgiven person is in a position to enjoy the manifold blessings of relationship with Yahweh. Only the forgiven enjoy the covenant faithfulness of God.
This is the crux of Romans chapter 4. Paul asserts Abraham was “made right with God” (4:1) by faith, not works. Again, what was the essence of being made right with God? Forgiveness, enabling “right relationship.” Thus, for the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world (Greek = κόσμοs, or cosmos) was not fulfilled through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith (Romans 4:13). So the forgiven (in right relationship through faith) inherit the world. In other words, the evident blessings of kingdom ethos penetrating every corner of creation.
When we extend forgiveness to others we are mimicking the conditions we enjoy in right relationship with God.  It is part of our image bearing responsibility – to practically express the presence of God in his creation. All the rest of it is summed up in the command, in everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets (Matthew 7:12). Therefore we feed those in need as we have been fed and hope to be fed if in need ourselves. We provide superior service as business owners just as we desire from others. We create art reflecting the beauty of creation and share truth and beauty with others as a taste of the kingdom ethos. We participate in civil society, seeking justice for everyone regardless of who they are just as we expect for ourselves. In short, as the kingdom ethos embraces all of life, we also labor to bring the blessings of right relationship with God to bear on all aspects of human existence.
The Good News of forgiveness in Messiah Jesus saves souls – and everything else. For, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away – look, what is new has come! And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation. In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world (Greek = κόσμοs, or cosmos) to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!” God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). Amen and amen!