Did that, went and said no. Said stop that! I did, and then on to another higher. Needed to.
Why do so few Christians in so many churches follow the principles outlined in the Bible? Why do so few Christians in churches actually believe the Bible? I mean all of what is written.
Why do some speak way out of line, twist things to cover it, and or walk by their feelings instead?
I’ve got a very important passage about the church for us. I just want to mention it to you so that you can be ready for whatever comes your way. Strange and surprising things including words sometimes come our way and they can totally catch us off guard. They can hurt and damage. It’s happened to me.
Stay with the living Word and His church anyways.
Matthew 18:15 is for all of us to wisely take heed to. Jesus said, “If your brother sins, go and reprove him in private.”
No excuses. That speaks of gentleness, love and showing respect. We want to help not hinder people. We never want to become a stumbling block for anyone.. anywhere! We want to avoid all appearance of evil as well. We each want to prayerfully become part of the Solution in the light, not a part of the problem out in the darkness.
That verse is pretty simple, isn’t it? People sometimes say to me, “What do I do if I see or clearly hear a Christian sinning?” (I mean not just misjudging things by taking part of it out of the whole context of the situation).
What do I do? Go to him with the right motives and proper tone and simply tell him he’s sinning. He needs to deal with his sin and walk in fellowship with the Lord. We want no one getting out or staying out of fellowship with the Lord. Repentance (hanging a U-turn back to God) is good and helpful. The Lord will forgive and restore and mature and guide again.
How should Christians handle disputes (Matthew 18:15-17)?
You don’t have to accept what you hear when it is clearly wrong, especially when it was serious.
When others weren't there and say "you assumed!" Guess what.. we really don't assume anything or need to when we and another witness heard it said, or saw it done.
You go. That’s very clear. Just go to him in private and say, “You’re sinning.”
But some say, “Really?”
Yeah, that’s right and if he opts to be humble and open enough to listen to you, then you’ve won your brother. I mean it. You really will win your brother if you lovingly go to him in private and confront his sin. No need for some quickie insincere "Sorry" (so I can get on with my own agenda) no, no!
You’ll win your brother. That’s the aim. We want ALL walking in unhindered fellowship with the Lord. And there with another was an apology for wrong done. (Why an apology if I assumed much?)
Repentance (means change, u-turn away from sin back to God), so time will tell. I believe, I choose to trust!
"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Corinthians 13:7 esv
We win people to Christ (there's regeneration), then we re-win them to Him, and then we re-win them, and with winsome gentleness we re-win em until they walk tight with Jesus as Lord (as well as believe all the essentials and what the Bible teaches.
Re-win? Yeah, I mean they are saved once by Jesus, but we keep wooing people in, and keep wooing them towards Christ, closer and closer, and on into His church.. close to Jesus the Head of the Church. We want as many as possible enjoying fellowship upwards, inward and outwards in a healthy Bible teaching local church. That's God's will. Walk in God's will (God's Word is His will)!
We want as many as possible in God's eternal Kingdom as well! Jesus is the only way in!
"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens and pays attention to you, you have won back your brother. But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two others, so that every word may be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses." (Matthew 18:15-20 amp. see whole context)
Did that, I did, been there, even had an ear-witness. Am blessed.
Stick with Jesus and the facts. Then communicate clearly. It’s important that those in authority believe what’s really true. Who is the best communicator? Jesus is so ask Him to help you with that part.
When you do this, then the rest is not your responsibility with the person sinning. You might be believed. Just leave it in God's hands. He is ultimately responsible to change and to sanctify each of his children. All of us until we are home in Heaven with Him.
"Lies will get any man into trouble, but honesty is its own defense." Proverbs 12:13
Do you know the Lord in a really personal sort of way? You can, right now.
What does it mean to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16)?
You know peace with God was very costly (at Calvary). Yes, with the God of peace, and now we can enjoy the peace of God!
We Have Been Reconciled To The Father By The Son!
We can be peacemakers everyday. Reconciliation is changing for the better a relationship between two or more persons. It can happen when there is humble repentance.
Theologically reconciliation refers to the change of relationship between God and man. We are naturally children of wrath (Eph. 2:3), and are at enmity with God (Eph. 2:11-15); but, “..we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son..” (Rom. 5:10).
Because of the death of Jesus, the Christian’s relationship with God is changed for the better. He's a God of new beginnings. We are now able to have fellowship with Him (1 John 1:3) whereas before we could not. So, we are completely reconciled to Him first (Rom. 5:10-11).
The problem of sin that separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2) has been addressed and removed in the cross. It was accomplished by God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:18).
"The Civil War was carnage! Then Jefferson Davis of the Confederacy died. And Ulysses Grant of the Union died. Their widows, Varina Davis and Julia Grant, settled near each other. They became closest of friends." ~ Source unknown
