Sin , Offense, and the Restoration of Relationship

1. Sin, Offense, and the Restoration of Relationship Matt 18 (15-18)  “If your brother sins, ** go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. 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 have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. NASB ** Later manuscripts add “against you.” I.E. 15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. ESV

2. Who's the sin against? Premise: When I'm in right relationship with Jesus, then I can be in right relationship with my brother. If not, the consequences of *sin will destroy my relationship with God and my brother. *hamartanō- to miss the mark- and so not share in the prize Words of Jesus Holy Spirit will come and convict the world of *sin because they don't believe in ME. John 16(8-9) " This is my Commandment. Love one another as I have loved you." John 15(12) Dealing with sin IS NOT about condemning. She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go, from now on *sin no more.” John 8(11) "For God did not send His So n into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.'' John 3(17) NKJV

3. Context of Matthew 18 • 1.The greatest in the Kingdom: One who has the faith and humility like a child. 18(1) • 2. Causing someone with childlike faith in Me (Jesus) to stumble is a capital crime! 18(6) • 3. Repentance of New Testament sin (rejection of Jesus) is better than Gehenna. 18(8-9) • 4. The Father’s will is not to lose even one of these little ones who believe in me. 18(11) *Jesus leaves the 99 to find the one. • 5. Restoration of your brother, the power of agreement, binding and loosing and its connection to answered prayer. 18 (15-19) • 6. Unforgivenessis not an option unless you like staying in prison and being tortured. 18 (21-35)

4. N.T. Offense was about "Faith in Jesus" • Galatians 6(1) Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Context: The conflict of Old covenant and the New covenant. • Gal 6(8 &12-13) For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.12 Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. • 2Tim 2(24-25)  The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, (that Jesus is Messiah.)

5. Dealing with N.T. offense was about obedience to the "Law of Christ." • 1 John 1(7) but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. • 1 John 2 (9-11) The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes. • 1 John 3(23) And this is His commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 1 John 3(16) We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. ( Jesus's only commandment) • John 13(35) "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

6. O.T. Context: The Focus is Protection and Justice • Matt 18(16)  But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. Deut 19(15) “A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed. Numbers 35(30) If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death at the evidence of witnesses, *but no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness. *The purpose was to protect the person not to condemn.

7. O. T. Context: Punishment is for the Wicked • Deut 19(16-21)If a malicious witness rises up against a man to accuse him of wrongdoing, 17 then both the men who have the dispute shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who will be in office in those days. 18 The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is a false witness and he has accused his brother falsely, 19 then you shall do to him just as he had intended to do to his brother. Thus you shall purge the evil from among you. 20 The rest will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such an evil thing among you. 21 Thus you shall not show pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. (Praise God for the New Covenant!)

8. Jesus's goal is always about healing (Sozo). • Matt 18(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. • Matt 9(10-13) Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinnerscame and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (To those who were missing the mark.)

9. The purpose of dealing with sin and offense: Matt:18(18)* Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. Matt 16(18-19)  I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. *At the heart of Jesus's teaching about dealing with the offenses of sin, was the binding the consequences of sin and the loosening of Biblical Salvation (Sozo). The goal is always restoration of relationship with God and the Believer, so that the values of Heaven could be released upon the earth. This is the answer of Kingdom focused prayer! (" Your Kingdom come, Your will be done.")

10. Practical Guidelines • Galatians 6(1a) Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, "restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness." *You are there to point out the gold in the person. *You are there to remind them of their true Identity. *You are there to help them mend their brokenness. *Youare there to create intimacy and trust. *You are there to convince them that they are safe with you. *You are there to be the answer, not the problem. • You’re not there to control the person. • You’re not there to bring Judgment. • You’re not there to punish. • You’re not there to meet your needs. • You’re not there to expose them.