Relationships Restored

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Child Dedication

Intro

Back to Matthew 18

Jesus is going to help us in the area of Relationships…..

This week we are going to study The Kingdom Principle of Restored Relationships.

Body

Matthew 18:15–20 CSB

15 “If your brother sins against you, go tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 But if he won’t listen, take one or two others with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established. 17 If he doesn’t pay attention to them, tell the church. If he doesn’t pay attention even to the church, let him be like a Gentile and a tax collector to you. 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.”

Step 1: One on One Restoration

The main goal here is restoration not confrontation.

Matthew 18:15 CSB

15 “If your brother sins against you, go tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother.

The Goal is Restored Relationship

Step 2: Bring an Elder

Matthew 18:16 CSB

16 But if he won’t listen, take one or two others with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established.

This is not a opportunity to put together a posse.

If the Goal is?

The Goal is Restored Relationship

We want to bring in some wisdom and maturity……

Deuteronomy 19:15 CSB

15 “One witness cannot establish any iniquity or sin against a person, whatever that person has done. A fact must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Step 3: Bring it to the Church Community.

Matthew 18:17 CSB

17If he doesn’t pay attention to them, tell the church.

The Goal is Restored Relationship

I have never experienced this nor do I ever want to see an issue like this.

But The Church looked much different then.

When we have exhausted all avenues of Jesus’ Path to Restoration, Then and only Then……..

Matthew 18:17 CSB

If he doesn’t pay attention even to the church, let him be like a Gentile and a tax collector to you.

Treat them as untouchable, excommunicated, banned from fellowship.

Here is the deal this is not a Salvation issue. No where in here does it say that they have lost their fellowship with Jesus.

By allowing them to be as if they were turned back over to Satan so that maybe just maybe in this state they will repent because

The Goal is Restored Relationship

1 John 5:16 CSB

16 If anyone sees a fellow believer committing a sin that doesn’t lead to death, he should ask, and God will give life to him—to those who commit sin that doesn’t lead to death. There is sin that leads to death. I am not saying he should pray about that.

Now let’s talk about the next part in context……

Matthew 18:18 CSB

18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.

This again in the Jewish content is talking about the Apostles and the Christ’s Church’s ability to make Judicial rulings for the body.

This is an authority for Discipline…….

Matthew 18:19–20 CSB

19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.”

This is a scripture that has caused so much disappointment.

Again in the Context this is talking about the authority of multiple witnesses……When involving discipline with in the Body……..

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