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!