Hi all,
Acts 18 describes the founding of the body of Christ in Corinth, initially starting in the home of a Roman named Justus (18: 1-11). Some 5 years after its founding, the body of Christ has grown to many other homes in the city and beyond. It is then Paul writes his first letter to the Corinthians.
We don’t judge the heart, we are to judge the fruit of their lives – but with balance
In chapter 5 Paul writes to the church about a man having an immoral relationship with his step mother. That sin was known by all in the church. They met in homes, so the man’s sin was known by all, but no one confronted him. At the end of chapter 5, in v12-13, Paul makes this statement:
“What have I to do with judging those outside the body of Christ? God will judge those. Are you not to judge those on the inside (of the body of Christ)? Expel that wicked person from your midst.” Fortunately, the church and the man repented, which Paul mentions in II Corinthians 7. Judging his immoral action which affected the whole church, brought the man to repentance. Paul didn’t preach ‘seeker friendly’. He expected seekers to grow in Christ, giving their lives to Him, not just adding Jesus to their schedule to the extent He blesses them.
From witnessing the fruit of their lives we make judgements. These judgements establish boundaries by which we protect ourselves. We set boundaries but also doors that we may open to a person worthy of our trust. This is true in friendships, even how close we allow blood relatives, or even coworkers to get to us. Sometimes we close a door to a person, loving them at a distance.
“Don’t judge by appearance. Judge with righteous judgement.” John 7:24
Jesus had just made the point to look at the spirit of the law, not the letter of the law. He had given an example that they will circumcise a baby on the Sabbath day, breaking one law to keep another. Yet they were angry with Him for healing a man on the Sabbath, for they considered healing the man ‘work’.
Proverbs 6:30 says this: “Don’t despise a thief if he is stealing because he is hungry.” It then lays out punishment if that thief is caught and what he will have to repay. Both these show us to make judgement, but do so by considering the spirit of the law – the intent behind it, and the motives of the person.
Years ago in one of the house churches there was a pregnant 19 year old who was living with her unsaved boyfriend and father of the child. They came to house church regularly. The young woman knew the Lord, had fallen away, and returned to Him – now pregnant and growing in size weekly for all to see, unmarried in house church.
Some wanted to kick them out. My counsel was to cooperate with God and what He was doing in their lives, measured by: “Is there progress in their walk with Lord?” If yes, we knew God was at work and we didn’t want to work against Him. If not, kick them out as they weren’t serious about Christ.
Is there progress? The answer was a resounding ‘yes’. So the couple was allowed to stay and their growth in the Lord, and Him doing things to bless them were evident – all of this discussion taking place without them knowing about it. Within a few weeks the young man was born again, and they were shortly married after that. The last I heard they were still married and had 3 or 4 children together. Mercy won. (Mt 9:13; 12:7)
Church culture misunderstands having a backbone for righteousness
And as I write this, Christians and the world alike think Jesus not only loves everyone (yes), but accepts everyone (yes) without expectation of any change (no). That’s the issue. We are to make disciples. A disciple by the meaning of that name, is a ‘learner’. If you aren’t learning and growing in Him, you may be a believer, but you aren’t a disciple.
Came to bring a sword
In one place, Matthew 10: 33-35, Jesus stated “…I have not come to bring peace to the earth, but a sword…” He came to bring a sword in which even family members will be put against one another. That comment was sandwiched between statements that being a disciple of His is all or nothing, in or out, not a wishy-washy faith. it seems accepted that today a person can believe in Jesus without being a disciple (learner). In the NT, that isn’t the case. If you believe, you ARE a disciple. There is no getting born again and then stopping all growth. Change is the norm for a Christian – constant, life-long, unrelenting requirement to become more Christ-like.
Of course Jesus’s statement about bringing a sword to the family was not talking literally. He was making the point the gospel would divide families. We understand therefore how this fits with Hebrews 4: 12-13: “The Word of God (the person of Jesus is the Word of God) is a two-edge sword and divides between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and critiques the thoughts and motives of the heart. And all things are open and naked before the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Seeing then we have a high priest, Jesus…”
Jesus is that sword coming into families because He is that sword that sees motives and thoughts, and causes people to judge themselves, to change their lives for righteousness. In relationships, if someone comes to the Lord, He beings to critique their thoughts and motives, and that can take a person in a different direction in their lives.
The Greek word for ‘critique’ is in fact ‘kritikos’ and means a ‘decisive critique’. This is the sword Jesus brings into the earth. People must decide for righteousness, or not. For Him, or not.
Does being redeemed mean all consequences from past sin are wipe away?
Consider: Who will render to every man according to his deeds.” Romans 2: 6 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7
“…God is not mocked….” The word “mocked” is the Greek word mukteridzo, and it means to turn up one’s nose at someone, as if mocking or laughing at the person. Paul equates thinking we have no consequences for our actions as mocking God – turning up our noses at Him in arrogance – by thinking He has redeemed everything so we don’t have to face the consequences of poor decisions. Paul says what we sow, we reap. He is faithful to make sure we do. It is the only way on this earth for us to learn about free-will, about truth and error, life and death, action and consequences. We are disciples – learners – so we are expected by God to learn.
Spiritually we are redeemed. Paul wrote in Romans 8: 23 however, we are waiting for the redemption of our bodies. This means things of this earth like poor decisions sown, are not wiped out by the blood of Jesus. We await that day when righteousness will be over all the earth, but for now we are redeemed spiritually, but await the redemption of our bodies.
That means what happens in earth stays in the earth. This ties into next week’s subject. The subject of his series is ‘Issues the church (body of Christ) misunderstands’.
Next week the gospel of ‘God always wants us happy and blessed.’
Until then, blessings,
John Fenn
