Jesus said judge not lest ye be judged , as we judge so we will be judged (Matt 7:1-5). Luke 6:37 expands this teaching of Jesus with "Forgive and you will be forgiven" both passages warn us about judgement that condemns, is usually something we don't like in ourselves (the log in our eye Luke 6:41). Jesus illustrates this with the towns people who would stone the woman caught in the act of adultery. Jesus said, "whoever is without sin among you, let him be the first to cast a stone at her (John 8:7)". Jesus tells us remove the log in our eye, then we'll see clearly to remove the speck from our brother's eye (Matt 7:5)". The world passes judgement to condemn but the church passes judgement from within to restore.
AIM: Sin in our lives, in our church needs to be confronted and removed so the little ones can be restored
First remove the sin from within yourself
Regarding Matthew 7:1, I found biblehub.com shows the Matthew Henry Commentary, "We must judge ourselves, and judge of our own acts, but not make our word a law to everybody. We must not judge rashly, nor pass judgment upon our brother without any ground. " I've often heard people say, "the prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective." however this is only the second half of James 5:16 which says, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." This is a clear teaching of how and why the church meets together in small groups, so that we can share our convictions as illuminated by the Holy Spirit in context of the Bible and our own lives. We also hear other believers sharing in the same way so we can pray for each other so that healing can occur.
Matthew Henry Commentary says, "To acknowledge our faults to each other, will tend greatly to peace and brotherly love. And when a righteous person, a true believer, justified in Christ, and by his grace walking before God in holy obedience, presents an effectual fervent prayer, wrought in his heart by the power of the Holy Spirit, raising holy affections and believing expectations and so leading earnestly to plead the promises of God at his mercy-seat, it avails much. " On a side note when ever you see a "Therefore" in scripture you should always back up and see what it's there for James 5:12-18 gives context.
Confession of personal sins
Righteous people having powerful and effective prayer
Sin within the Church like cancer (hurting the little ones)
From the article To Judge or Not to Judge? on Grace to You says, "A church that does not discipline a sinning member is like a person who has good reason to believe he has cancer but who refuses to go to a doctor—because he either does not want to face the problem or does not want to face the treatment. If he waits too long his whole body will be permeated with the disease and it will be too late for treatment to do any good. No church is healthy enough to resist contamination from persistent sin in its midst, any more than the healthiest and most nutritious bushel of apples can withstand contamination from even a single bad one. The only solution in both cases is separation."
Matthew 18 starts with disciples asking "who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" and Jesus answered unless you turn from your sins and become like little children you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven, so anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 18:1-4). Jesus then says, if any causes one of these little ones who trust in me to fall into sin they would be better off drowned in the depths of the sea (Matthew 18:5-6). Sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting (Matthew 18:7).
The church is the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 12:4-5; Colossians 1:18) and there is cause for separation from within the body. Regarding those who do the tempting that causes a little one who trust in Jesus to sin, it's better to cut them out even if they are as precious as a hand or an eye (Matthew 18:8-9).
Now Jesus goes into the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:12-14) explaining that it is not God's will that even one of these little ones should perish. Jesus said, "Temptations are inevitable" (Matthew 18:7), a sheep will wonder off and yet God pursues that little one like the good Shepard he is (Psalm 23:1-6). He is the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and he that began the work is faithful to complete it (Philippians 1:6).
Jesus teaches how to correct another believer who sins
Go privately and point out the offense. If the person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. If that doesn't work, take one or two others with you and go back again so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If they refuse to listen take your case to the church and if he or she won't accept the church's decision, treat that person as an unbeliever/heathen/pagan/Gentile/tax collector (Matthew 18:15-17). Forbid and permit on earth as it is in heaven, in unity and agreement as followers of Jesus (Matthew 6:10; 18:18-19). This is exactly what James 5:16 is talking about.
As we judge ourselves and others in the church, we must forgive according to the faith
Jesus continues the discussion with his disciples about "who will be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven" with the parable of the Unforgiving Debtor (Matthew 18:21-35). Forgive 70 times more than you think is the most gracious you can show forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-22).
The parable shows a man forgiven of a debt that couldn't be paid who doesn't forgive a small offence from a person begging for mercy. Jesus concludes parable, "When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.
“That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.” - Matthew 18:31-35
Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed
When Jesus Prays for Your Faith
Body Of Christ, The Church
What does it mean that Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)?
AIM: Sin in our lives, in our church needs to be confronted and removed so the little ones can be restored
Regarding Matthew 7:1, I found biblehub.com shows the Matthew Henry Commentary, "We must judge ourselves, and judge of our own acts, but not make our word a law to everybody. We must not judge rashly, nor pass judgment upon our brother without any ground. " I've often heard people say, "the prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective." however this is only the second half of James 5:16 which says, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." This is a clear teaching of how and why the church meets together in small groups, so that we can share our convictions as illuminated by the Holy Spirit in context of the Bible and our own lives. We also hear other believers sharing in the same way so we can pray for each other so that healing can occur.
Matthew Henry Commentary says, "To acknowledge our faults to each other, will tend greatly to peace and brotherly love. And when a righteous person, a true believer, justified in Christ, and by his grace walking before God in holy obedience, presents an effectual fervent prayer, wrought in his heart by the power of the Holy Spirit, raising holy affections and believing expectations and so leading earnestly to plead the promises of God at his mercy-seat, it avails much. " On a side note when ever you see a "Therefore" in scripture you should always back up and see what it's there for James 5:12-18 gives context.
Confession of personal sins
- Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. (Matthew 3:6)
- Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. (Mark 1:5)
- Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. (Acts 19:18)
Righteous people having powerful and effective prayer
- We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will. (John 9:31)
- Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, so that they bore children. (Genesis 20:17), Abraham's faith is explained as obedient to God's call on his life and legacy, confidently looking forward to "a city with eternal foundations, designed and built by God" (Hebrews 11:8-10). Abraham is the father of our faith (as well as Judaism and Islam Genesis 17:3-6).
- So the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people. (2 Chronicles 30:20), Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel (2 Kings 18:5), the Lord was with him and he was successful in everything he did (2 Kings 18:7). Hezekiah is in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:9-10)
- My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him so that I may not do with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has (Job 42:8). This is beautiful truth for our church and people we love. Looking back at my life I can see how I was spared because of another intercession on my behalf. When I was not walking with God but against him; God heard the prayers of others and I was saved. This truth is also found in Luke 22:31-32, Jesus prayed for Peter. Peter's folly was to think his faith was fine Luke 22:33, but Jesus then explained it wasn't (Luke 22:34). Luke 22 shows us both Judas and Peter betrayed Jesus but Jesus prayed for Peter and while Judas killed himself (Matthew 27:1-5), Peter repented saying "Lord, I love you" and accepted the call to "feed my sheep" (John 21:1-19) - but we notice the repetition of Jesus asking Peter "do you love me" three times (John 21:17) - this hurt Peter as I'm sure he was remembering his own sin of deny Jesus three times earlier (Luke 22:54-62).
- Jesus has prayed for all Believers (John 17:20-26), who believe through the message of the apostles for perfect unity so that the world will know that Jesus is from God who loves the world as revealed in Jesus through the Holy Spirit and his word (John 3 and 14-16).
Sin within the Church like cancer (hurting the little ones)
From the article To Judge or Not to Judge? on Grace to You says, "A church that does not discipline a sinning member is like a person who has good reason to believe he has cancer but who refuses to go to a doctor—because he either does not want to face the problem or does not want to face the treatment. If he waits too long his whole body will be permeated with the disease and it will be too late for treatment to do any good. No church is healthy enough to resist contamination from persistent sin in its midst, any more than the healthiest and most nutritious bushel of apples can withstand contamination from even a single bad one. The only solution in both cases is separation."
Matthew 18 starts with disciples asking "who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" and Jesus answered unless you turn from your sins and become like little children you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven, so anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 18:1-4). Jesus then says, if any causes one of these little ones who trust in me to fall into sin they would be better off drowned in the depths of the sea (Matthew 18:5-6). Sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting (Matthew 18:7).
The church is the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 12:4-5; Colossians 1:18) and there is cause for separation from within the body. Regarding those who do the tempting that causes a little one who trust in Jesus to sin, it's better to cut them out even if they are as precious as a hand or an eye (Matthew 18:8-9).
Now Jesus goes into the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:12-14) explaining that it is not God's will that even one of these little ones should perish. Jesus said, "Temptations are inevitable" (Matthew 18:7), a sheep will wonder off and yet God pursues that little one like the good Shepard he is (Psalm 23:1-6). He is the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and he that began the work is faithful to complete it (Philippians 1:6).
Jesus teaches how to correct another believer who sins
Go privately and point out the offense. If the person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. If that doesn't work, take one or two others with you and go back again so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If they refuse to listen take your case to the church and if he or she won't accept the church's decision, treat that person as an unbeliever/heathen/pagan/Gentile/tax collector (Matthew 18:15-17). Forbid and permit on earth as it is in heaven, in unity and agreement as followers of Jesus (Matthew 6:10; 18:18-19). This is exactly what James 5:16 is talking about.
As we judge ourselves and others in the church, we must forgive according to the faith
Jesus continues the discussion with his disciples about "who will be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven" with the parable of the Unforgiving Debtor (Matthew 18:21-35). Forgive 70 times more than you think is the most gracious you can show forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-22).
The parable shows a man forgiven of a debt that couldn't be paid who doesn't forgive a small offence from a person begging for mercy. Jesus concludes parable, "When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.
“That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.” - Matthew 18:31-35
Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed
When Jesus Prays for Your Faith
Body Of Christ, The Church
What does it mean that Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)?
