Principles of Judging
Christian Behavior and Principles of Forgiveness Luke 17:3; 1 Timothy 5:20; 2 Timothy 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:14 1. We are always to first judge ourselves for any sin present in our lives that we know of (1 John 1:9). We are to examine ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:31). We are to repent of all sin habits. 2. If we have knowledgeably sinned against others, we are to refrain from worshiping God, and immediately go to our offended brother or sister for reconciliation (Matthew 5:23 & 24). And... 3. The same is true (#2) if we have sinned against unbelievers (Matthew 5:25). 4. If a Christian sins against you, first, make sure you have no known sin in your life that you could be rebuked for, before you go to your brother to correct him. Read Matthew 7:1-5 very carefully. 5. Then, only if you have no “beams” in your eye, can you apply Galatians 6:1. Watch your attitude. Go in gentleness. 6. Depending on his response, use Matthew 18:15-17 if he (your brother) has offended you.
7. We must judge our brother as to
whether he is in sin, and if he is willing to repent of it and separate
himself from it. We must make the judgment to separate ourselves from
fellowshipping with him, if he is unrepentant and refuses to ask for
forgiveness. (2
John 7-11; Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 5:11-13; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2
Thessalonians 3:6; Romans 16:17)
8. Can we judge (krino) a brother’s service, ministry or stewardship? NO! The only exception is if ALL the facts are known and sin is actually and openly involved. (1 Corinthians 4:1-5) 9. Again, be warned of Matthew 7:1-5. Better to ask “why” a person is doing something than to judge (krino) by appearance or haste. 10. If an unbeliever sins against you, you can forgive or use 1 Timothy 1:8-10.
Proverbs 27:5-6
- Open rebuke;
Nouthesis; Correction; Restoration
To Admonish: putting in
mind (verbally), (Greek - nouthesis) training by word (negate “do nots”
or encouragement) includes reproof, remonstrance, i.e. strong reasoning
against something. Warn.
To Exhort: call aside, entreat (verbal), (Greek - parakaleo, paraineo) urge, plead to come back to God’s way, advise, warn, beseech. To Rebuke: Put honor upon, then to adjudge, (Greek - etitimao) solemn warning of consequences of sin. (Greek - elencho), convict, refute, reprove with conviction, to put to shame. (Greek - epiplesso) to strike at, on (all verbal). (Greek - elenxis) rebuke. To Reproof: is to bring to light, privately, a fault in another person. (Greek - elegimos) to expose something, convict. (Verbal)
SAME
To Refute: to expose,
convict (elegimos) (verbal)
To Correct: (Greek -
diorthoma) reform, amendment, correction, a making straight, clarifying,
change. (Greek - epanorthosis) a restoration to an upright state. (Greek -
paideutes) a corrector/teacher/chastizer.
MANNER OF APPLICATION
...in longsuffering and doctrine, love,
meekness,
...in humility, patiently, responsibly, gently Judging a sin: 1 Corinthians 5:3, 12, 13, 11:29-32 To restore: Galatians 6:1 (Greek - kartatizo) mend, repair To Judge: Angels, the world (1 Corinthians 6:3) Brethren (1 Corinthians 5:3, 5, 12; 6:5) Ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:31)
Luke 17:3 & 4
- (Read) This verse reveals “conditional” forgiveness. IF he repents
FIRST, I will forgive him.
“if he repents”; (changes his attitude, apologizes, admits his sin, asks you to forgive him), you THEN are to forgive him, and forget what happened. The commitment here - to forgive - is to God, NOT to the offender. (There is no such thing as advance forgiveness.) Matthew 18:15-17 - NO forgiveness is granted to him or her until the offender repents. 2 Corinthians 2:6-7 - after church discipline has been done (Matthew 18:15-17) and IF repentance comes, THEN forgive him. Tell him you forgive him so he knows it for sure.
You MUST forgive all people who have
offended you so that God will hear your prayers (Mark
11:25)
If you don’t forgive them before God, you won’t be forgiven your transgressions either (Mark 11:26; Luke 11:4 Our Father’s Prayer); (Matthew 6:14-15; “if you have repented”.) WARNING: You cannot ask another Christian to repent if you haven’t repented of known sins or sin habits in your life (Matthew 7:1-5; Galatians 6:1). Forgiveness requires “forgetting” the past completely. To keep “digging up” old sins is sin. To be bitter and carry a grudge is sin. Forgiveness ALWAYS means “forgetting” the offense. We, at Good News Bible Church, encourage you to print any of these Bible studies on our website for your own personal Bible study, or to use in a group Bible study. But just as salvation is a FREE gift, offered to us through the work of Jesus Christ, these Bible studies are a FREE gift and are not to be sold for any reason. If you have questions or comments, or you would like any other information concerning this or any other Bible studies we have available, please contact us using the information below. www.gnbcbible.com |