Forgiveness in the Church May 10, 2003 Key Verse “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch

Forgiveness in the Church

May 10, 2003

Key VerseKey Verse

“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 NIV

Key VerseKey Verse

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Galatians 6:2 NIV

Carry BurdensCarry BurdensWe are not all at the same level of maturity,spirituality, healing, strength, and knowledge.

This is why weare called to offer our help

towardsthose who are not doing as

well as we are.

Show Patton Video

Help the WeakHelp the Weak“My friends, we beg you to warn anyone who isn't living right. Encourage anyone who feels left out, help all who are weak, and be patient with everyone.”

1 Thessalonians 5:14 CEV

Weak and StrongWeak and Strong“We who are strong in the faith ought to help the weak to carry their burdens. We should not please ourselves.”

Romans 15:1 GNB

DisfellowshipingDisfellowshiping

Stop destructive behavior

Protective the purity of the church

Provide for full restoration after repentance

The purpose of disfellowshiping:

Bring relief to the victim

Step 1Step 1

“But if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.”

Matthew 18:15 MKJV

Step 2Step 2“But if he will not hear you, take one or two more with you, so that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.”

Interventions for alcoholics are done this way.

Matthew 18:16 MKJV

Step 3Step 3

And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he neglects to hear the church, let him be to you as a heathen and a tax-collector.”

Matthew 18:17 MKJV

Paul’s ExamplePaul’s Example

Church knew about it and did nothing

Even Pagan are appalled at such behavior

This is an extreme case, indicating to me that disfellowshipingsomeone is to be a rare occurrence in the church

Man having sexual relations with his step-mother

1 Corinthians 5

Hand Over to SatanHand Over to Satan

1 Corinthians 5:5 CEV

“You must then hand that man over to Satan. His body will be destroyed, but his spirit will be saved when the Lord Jesus returns.”

1 Timothy 1:19,20

There were two other peoplethat Paul handed over to Satan.

Paul’s Response to the man

Hand Over to SatanHand Over to Satan

God puts severe limits on what satancan do to people

If satan had full reign, he would have tortured these men with the greatest of cruelties.

Paul was an Apostle;I don’t think we allhave the right to justdo this to one another. Riverside Vineyard Pastor

Dealing With SinDealing With Sin

Sermons

Sabbath School Lessons

Seminars

Small Group Fellowships

Informal Conversations

Be a Good Example

God has given the church several tools to deal with sin:

Intercessory Prayer

Dealing With SinDealing With Sin

Private Warnings

Public Warnings

Removed from Leadership

Disfellowshiped

Shunned

Excommunicated

God has given the church several tools to deal with sin:

Censured

The Whole Church DecidesThe Whole Church Decides

Before anyone can be disfellowshiped, The whole church must decide this. Matthew 18:17

This is a great protection for us all!

Degrees of SinDegrees of Sin

Not all sin is worthy of this punishment

We don’t disfellowship people for…

Eating Meat

Drinking Coffee

Going to Movies

Gossiping

Being Proud

Being a Pharisee

Jesus talked about disfellowshiping someonein the context of one person hurting another.

--Matthew 18

Degrees of SinDegrees of Sin

“All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not to death.”

Every time we drive our cars,we are sinning against God’s creation by our pollution.

1 John 5:17 MKJV

All sins are NOT equal even in God’s eyes, so we don’t disfellowshippeople for every sin.

Disfellowship & ShunDisfellowship & Shun

“But now I have written to you not to associate intimately, if any man called a brother and is either a…,

Fornicator

Covetous

IdolaterReviler

Drunkard

Extortioner

with such a one not to eat.”

1 Corinthians 5:11 MKJVThis verse is usedto justify shunning.

ExcommunicatingExcommunicating

“Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall occur, having been bound in Heaven; and whatever you shall loose on earth shall occur, having been loosed in Heaven.”

Matthew 18:18 MKJV

Some churches use this verse to prove they have theright to kick you out of church AND out of Heaven.

Blind Man Kicked OutBlind Man Kicked Out

John 9:34 GNB

The church is not always rightwhen it disfellowships orexcommunicates someone.

Justice Versus MercyJustice Versus Mercy

Sin has caused us allto be out of balance.

It is very difficult for us to measure outJustice and Mercyin the proper ratios.

This is why we want to proceed slowly, carefully and prayerfully before disfellowshiping anyone.

1 Timothy 5:22

SDA Church Manual -1SDA Church Manual -1

Here are the sins that our SDA Church Manual considers to be serious enough for disfellowshiping.

Denying the fundamental doctrines of Christianity

Denying thecardinaldoctrines ofthe church


Violating the Law of God, which includes:

Worshiping idols


StealingMurder




Sabbathbreaking Gambling Profanity




Willful and habitual falsehood

Sexual SinOf all kinds


A list of sexual sins that can get you disfellowshiped…

Fornication Promiscuity

Incest

Sexual perversions

Sexual abuse of children

Homosexual practice

Sexual abuse of vulnerable adults

Remarriage of a divorced personwho initiated the divorce




Physical Violence Business Fraud



Disorderly Conduct Belonging to Divisive Group



Violating the Laws of health, which includes:

Alcohol Tobacco Narcotics


Refusing to submit to church authority


SDA DisfellowshipingSDA Disfellowshiping

Even though the SDA church reserves the right to disfellowship members for all the reasons just mentioned, the church on the whole very seldom exercises that right.

Disfellowshiping has usually been done to those engaged in sexual sin, swindling, or spreading strife and discord in the church.

Jesus a Friend of SinnersJesus a Friend of Sinners

Let us also remember that… Luke 7:34

Woman at WellWoman at Well

Let us remember that Jesus didn’t even tell the woman at the well to stop her sexual sinning!

John 4

Woman Caught in AdulteryWoman Caught in Adultery

Let us remember that Jesusdidn’t call for the adulterouswoman to be kicked out of church. John 8

David’s Sexual SinDavid’s Sexual SinLet us remember thatwhen David sinned,God let him remain in leadership.

The severity of the punishment of his baby son dying kept his sin from spreadingthroughout the nation.

Compassion Brings HealingCompassion

Brings Healing

“And Jesus went out and saw a great crowd, and He was moved with compassion toward them. And He healed their sick.”

Matthew 14:14 MKJV

If we are trying to heal someone of sin,

let us start with compassion.

God’s KindnessGod’s Kindness

“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?”

Romans 2:4 NIV

Let us remember to use kindness firstto bring someone to repentance…

Mercy Takes PriorityMercy Takes Priority

“…but mercy triumphs over judgment.”

James 2:13 GNB

When deciding between Justice and Mercy,Mercy should always be given the greater weight.

ReconciliationReconciliation

“And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation;”

2 Corinthians 5:18 MKJV

Let us remember that we are called to a Ministry of Reconciliation when one person hurts another.

Do Unto OthersDo Unto Others

“Treat others just as you want to be treated.”

Luke 6:31 CEV

If we are going to confront someone for willful, persistent and serious sin In the church, let us treat them like we would want to be treated…

Confess Your SinsConfess Your Sins

We are encouraged to confess our sins to one another.

The only way people will confess their sins verballyis if it is safe to do so.

If confessing one’s sins leads to disfellowshiping,then people will clam up and keep their sins hidden.

James 5:16

Investigate ThoroughlyInvestigate Thoroughly

“then you must inquire, probe and investigate it thoroughly.”

Deuteronomy 13:14 NIV

Before sinful nations were punished in the OT,this is what God said Israel had to do…

Before we disfellowship anyone, we also shouldfirst conduct a very thorough investigation.

Two Sides to Every StoryTwo Sides to Every Story

“The first person to speak in court always seems right until his opponent begins to question him.”

Proverbs 18:17 GNB

Disfellowshiping should never be done on the basis of one person’s accusations…

Two or Three WitnessesTwo or Three Witnesses

“Do not receive an accusation against an elder except before two or three witnesses. Those who sin, rebuke before all, so that the rest also may fear.”

1Timothy 5:19,20 MKJV

Before disfellowshiping someone, there should be at least two witnesses.

Treat Them Like HeathensTreat Them Like Heathens

When we disfellowship someone, we are to “treat them like heathens and tax collectors.”

And how are we supposed to treat “heathens and tax collectors?”

We are supposed to pray for them, love them,and tenderly draw them back to Jesus.

By example, Jesus let Matthew the tax collectorbecome one of his disciples! Matthew 9:9

Matthew 5:44

Full RestorationFull Restoration

Galatians 6:1 NIV

“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.”

Documents

Forgiveness in the Church May 10, 2003 Key Verse “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch