journey into holiness – p.2 “the process of restoration” matthew 18:15-20
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Journey Into Holiness – p.2
“The Process of Restoration”Matthew 18:15-20
• Jesus Christ gave us some very specific
instructions for how to deal with failure. His
instructions are “not optional. These are
commands.
• We confuse “tolerance” with love.
Matthew 18:15-20 (NIV)
"If your brother sins against you, go and
show him his fault, just between the two of
you. If he listens to you, you have won your
brother over.
Matthew 18:15-20 (NIV)
But if he will not listen, take one or two
others along, so that 'every matter may be
established by the testimony of two or three
witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell
it to the church;
Matthew 18:15-20 (NIV)
and if he refuses to listen even to the church,
treat him as you would a pagan or a tax
collector.
"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on
earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever
you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Matthew 18:15-20 (NIV)
"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth
agree about anything you ask for, it will be
done for you by my Father in heaven. For
where two or three come together in my
name, there am I with them."
• Our ultimate goal must be restoration
whenever possible.
Myth #1: I am supposed to confront people in the church when they do something that offends me.
"If your brother sins against you, go and
show him his fault, just between the two of
you. If he listens to you, you have won your
brother over.
Myth #1:
• Personal preferences –desires that appeal to
me but are not mandated by the Holy Spirit
or Biblical commands.
• “Be completely humble and gentle; be
patient, bearing with one another in love” -
Ephesians 4:2
Myth #1:
• Personal convictions – something the Holy
Spirit impresses you to do or quit doing in
order to live a Jesus-centered life.
Myth #1:
Now then, why do you try to test God by
putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke
that neither we nor our fathers have been
able to bear? No! We believe it is through the
grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved,
just as they are." - Acts 1:10-11
Myth #1:
• Principles
• Local - standards or ideals that govern the
generally accepted behavior of a local
community of believers.
Myth #1:
• Universal - standards or ideals that apply
universally to the body of Christ.
Myth #1:
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious:
sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord,
jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition,
dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness,
orgies, and the like.
Myth #1:
I warn you, as I did before, that those who
live like this will not inherit the kingdom of
God. - Galatians 5:19-21
Myth #1:
• Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you
who are spiritual should restore him gently.
But watch yourself, or you also may be
tempted. - Galatians 6:1
Myth #1:
• Truth: Jesus commanded us to confront
someone if their action presents a spiritual
danger through sin.
Myth #2: If the person sinning does not quit sinning after they are confronted we should practice shunning. (vv.16-17)
But if he will not listen, take one or two
others along, so that 'every matter may be
established by the testimony of two or three
witnesses.'
Myth #2: If the person sinning does not quit sinning after they are confronted we should practice shunning. (vv.16-17)
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the
church; and if he refuses to listen even to the
church, treat him as you would a pagan or a
tax collector.
Myth #2:
• Jesus instructed us that the next step is to
take two or three witnesses along with us.
• And Jesus saw we must do this so that 'every
matter may be established by the testimony
of two or three witnesses.'
Myth #2:
“a matter must be established by the
testimony of two or three witnesses” (Lev.
19:15)
Myth #2:
• Jesus said the third step is to tell it to the
church.
• The church “is clearly more local, the
gathering of the brothers and sisters who are
accustomed to meet in that place”.
Myth #2:
• Jesus said the next step if the wandering
person does not listen is to treat them as a
“pagan or tax collector”.
Myth #2:
• Truth: If all attempts at restoring a “sinning”
brother fail, no one “should continue under
the delusion that this person is truly saved”
(Keener, 289).
Myth #3: The church can bind evil spirits and loose great things into the lives of people and if we agree in prayer about it God is obligated to answer.
"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on
earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever
you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Myth #3: The church can bind evil spirits and loose great things into the lives of people and if we agree in prayer about it God is obligated to answer.
"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth
agree about anything you ask for, it will be
done for you by my Father in heaven.
Myth #3:
• Repentance and forgiveness will be required
in restoring those in the church who sin.
• Truth: The church received authority from
Jesus Christ to grant or withhold forgiveness
based on their assessment of true
repentance.
Myth #4: It really doesn’t matter if only a few people show up for a prayer meeting, God is still there. (v.20)
For where two or three come together in my
name, there am I with them."
Myth #4
• Truth: Jesus is always present in matters of
judgment in the church and when two or
three people, under Jesus authority seek to
restore a sinner.
Bottom Line:
• Holy people are committed to preserving the
church as a community of holy people!
Application for anyone just starting the journey…
• If you have not declared yourself a believer
in Jesus Christ you are living as a pagan - far
below your potential.
• If you sin we will confront!
Application for anyone following hard after Christ…
• Let go…of fighting for your preferences.
• Lighten up…in regard to personal convictions.
• Take seriously the matter of spiritual
restoration through the local church!
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