Daring to Judge Renews The Spirit of God in The Church!
Rev. John R. Greene
When the true church operates in the Biblical directives for living, it prospers and grows numerically and spiritually. Accurate, loving, Biblical discipline renews reverence and affection for Jesus in the church, and it cements people relationships together.
In Jude 22-23, it is written, "And some have compassion, making a difference; and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." Compassion, that makes a distinction, is the compassion that Jesus had when He was compelled to heal, to cast out demons, and to feed the hungry. We need this, today!
If we think that we love someone by not telling them the truth, by letting them sail along in life deceived that they are going to heaven, when God's Word says otherwise, we lie to ourselves and them; this is not love! Love is chancing a temporary break in relationship, knowing the power of God's Word, and telling them the truth. If you look at the homosexual who attends church and let him think he's going to heaven, and say nothing, then you have not loved him.
Lu 15:4-7 says, "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until He find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, 'Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.' I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." Have compassion, and speak the truth!
It takes courage to live for God trusting His Word and boldly declaring His truth. It takes compassion to risk offending someone, but I'd rather you offend me that I might repent of my sin than to die and spend eternity in a devil's hell!
Paul wrote in 1Cor 2:15, "But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man." If I'm not walking in sin, but I'm walking in Jesus' Spirit, then I don't need a judge. A righteous person may sin, but the Spirit convicts him of that sin, and he repents. I don't need a judge because Jesus Christ's Spirit convicts me of sin, I mourn because Jesus had to die for that sin, then I repent and sin no more! As a righteous man, Jesus is my Advocate with the Father!
The sinner or lukewarm "Christian" needs a messenger to bring the truth to him. As we obey God's Word, judging righteously with compassion, we will begin to understand why James wrote in his Epistle in 5:19, 20, saying, "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." This is God's love in action and God's intent at confronting a brother.
Going back to last week's text in Lu 17:3, "...REBUKE him; and if he repent, forgive him." I thank God that someone years ago saw me in my sins and loved me enough to tell me about Jesus! I also thank Jesus for so many loving brothers and sisters over the years who risked their lives (I will be open with you, I had an attitude!) to correct me with God's Word. Thank you, thank you, thank you! When your brother repents, forgive him! Repentance means a change of heart about your sin and going and sinning no more.
Next week we will discuss the proper way to rebuke and correct brothers and sisters in the church. Praise the Lord Jesus! Have a good week.
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