Christ's Wisdom for the Church
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Matt 18
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
17 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.
18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
The Main Point
The church of Jesus Christ must seek out those who have been sidetracked by sin.
The church of Jesus Christ must seek out those who have been sidetracked by sin.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
I. Deal with sin discreetly. (15 -16)
I. Deal with sin discreetly. (15 -16)
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
Matt 18:15-16
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
a. Christians must seek to preserve relationships through biblical reconciliation.
a. Christians must seek to preserve relationships through biblical reconciliation.
We are sinners saved by the grace of God in Christ Jesus. But don’t miss the part that we are sinners. What do sinners do? Sinners sin - and the only way that sinners can maintain relationship is through forgiveness. So Jesus is teaching the importance of restoration.
Jesus provides two verbs that really dictate the meaning of this passage. “Go” and “Tell”. This is not a suggestion - this is a divine expectation.
We are under obligation to seek out those who have been side tracked through sin.
You need to get the connection between what Christ is commanding here and the story he just presented. Look at verse 12
12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?
Please make the connection - Jesus provides an illustration and then an explanation.
b. Christians must seek to protect relationships through intentional discretion.
b. Christians must seek to protect relationships through intentional discretion.
This means keeping the circle of knowledge regarding the sin as small as possible for as long as possible.
Facebook is not Christ’s appointed place to speak about the sin of our brother.
Jesus urges discretion when dealing with individual sin.
What’s the goal?
What’s the goal?
But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
Repentance and Restoration
Repentance and Restoration
II.Deal with sin collectively (17)
II.Deal with sin collectively (17)
17 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.
This is where the entire body of Christ is involved in seeking the restoration of one who is sidetracked because of sin.
The goal is always repentance. If the goal is not accomplished by desecrate encounters with individual or small groups of believers -then it must be taken to the church body.
The church has a responsibility to seek those who go astray. The church collectively says repent.
Listen the goal is never embarrassment. The goal is never public humiliation. The goal is personal repentance.
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
This is what the church is saying through her voice.
“We love you and want you to come back to Christ”
“We love you and want you to come back to Christ”
What is the goal?
What is the goal?
Repentance and Restoration.
Repentance and Restoration.
The goal is restoration. The body of Christ collectively seeks those who are wondering from God.
The church of Jesus Christ has no right to neglect any part of the scriptures. We don’t have a right to ignore or omit difficult text because we deem them too abrasive.
The church of Jesus Christ has no right to neglect any part of the scriptures. We don’t have a right to ignore or omit difficult text because we deem them too abrasive.
This text reminds us that the church has authority in the lives of her members. She must exercise the authority to bring about holiness.
III. Deal with sin decisively (17-20)
III. Deal with sin decisively (17-20)
17 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.
18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Gentile = Unbeliever
Gentile = Unbeliever
When Jesus says treat them like a gentile. He means that when a person refuses to repent of sin that his profession of faith can no long be considered valid. The church cannot no affirm that this person is going to heaven.
Tax Collector - Unbeliever
Tax Collector - Unbeliever
Church discipline is intended to help one see his spiritual sickness and his need for the great physician.
Church discipline is intended to help one see his spiritual sickness and his need for the great physician.
Jesus is saying removing someone from membership in the church stops them from thinking that they are ok!
What is the goal?
What is the goal?
Repentance and Restoration
Repentance and Restoration
a. Authority - The church acts under the rule of Christ.
a. Authority - The church acts under the rule of Christ.
23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
Mark Dever States,
“The difference between what people call “community” and what the Bible calls the “church” comes down to the question of authority. Jesus actually gave authority to the local assembly called a church. This assembly is not only a fellowship but an accountability fellowship. It’s not just a group of believers at the park; it preaches the gospel and possesses the keys of the kingdom for binding and loosing through the ordinances. It declares who does and does not belong to the kingdom. It exercises oversight. And exercising such affirmation and oversight meaningfully means gathering regularly and getting involved in one another’s lives.”
“The difference between what people call “community” and what the Bible calls the “church” comes down to the question of authority. Jesus actually gave authority to the local assembly called a church. This assembly is not only a fellowship but an accountability fellowship. It’s not just a group of believers at the park; it preaches the gospel and possesses the keys of the kingdom for binding and loosing through the ordinances. It declares who does and does not belong to the kingdom. It exercises oversight. And exercising such affirmation and oversight meaningfully means gathering regularly and getting involved in one another’s lives.”
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
b. Unity - The church experiences the presence of Christ.
b. Unity - The church experiences the presence of Christ.
23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
Jesus