Repentance and Restoration -Matt. 18:10-20
Repentance and Restoration • Sermon • Submitted
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· 10 viewsChurch discipline must be practiced biblically, prayerfully, humbly, and lovingly with the goal of repentance and restoration.
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10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 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 be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Last week:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lRSoU4M8-2Pje8J1UvlNTUo2jsc38UQZSte8j-2rMMs/edit
We are Christ's representative, his ambassadors to this world
There is both a communal and missional aspect to church discipline
One to protect God’s children
One to protect Christ’s name among the nations
Church discipline is an inseparable part of discipleship
Ex: parenting or being parented, what did it involve both training & correcting, both building character and correcting bad character.
Family name
Did you notice the difference between the gradual nature of correction in .
Formative discipline helps form the disciple
Corrective discipline helps to correct the disciple
EX: Playdough machine molding playdough into a shape.
You ever came home after church and look in the mirror and something was there that shouldn’t be there and no one told you.
Paul in 1 Cor is correcting the church pride and the individuals sin.
Last week was gradual? No immediete
Main idea: Church discipline must be practiced biblically, prayerfully, humbly, and lovingly with the goal of repentance and restoration.
- Pride - Only childlike people inherit the kingdom
English Standard Version Chapter 18
tAt that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3
- humble - mourning over sin - hunger for righteousness - pure
How is Paul and Jesus instruction the church through discipline.
Question:
How do Believers grow in humble Christlikeness?
How do I increase in humility and decrease in pride?
Answer: The local church! For the disciples, for the corinthians and for us.
GG: what is the local church.
Missionally:
Church discipline, fundamentally, is about making sure that Jesus’ representatives on earth represent Jesus and not someone else.
Communally
Church discipline is part of discipleship
Ex: parenting or being parented, what did it involve both training & correcting, both building character and interfering in bad conduct.
Family name
Formative discipline helps form the disciple
Corrective discipline helps to correct the disciple
CD - practiced biblically:
to Display God’s Heart
With the Goal is repentance and restoration of those who wander
With the promise of Christ’s Authority and presence
Main idea: Church discipline must be practiced biblically, prayerfully, humbly, and lovingly with the goal of repentance and restoration.
Church Discipline Must be Practiced Biblically to Display God’s heart for His Children -
Church Discipline Must be Practiced Biblically to Display God’s heart for His Children -
Don’t Despise - V.10 (to look down)
little ones = children - those seemingly unimportant
12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?
1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” 3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? 6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
9 He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.
15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”
22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
43 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”
46 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Am I seeing the wanderer the way God sees the wanderer?
Has gone astray = to wander
to move around aimlessly w/o any destination
“go In search of” - V.12
Seek -desire - present active
Rejoicing - V.13
to feel happiness & joy
God’s revealed will -
14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Jesus instructs us on Church discipline with a child on his knee.
This is the very heart of God
This is the very heart of God
The Spirit of church discipline is humble, gentle restoration
As we practice CD we have Christ Authority and presence
Church Discipline Must Be Practiced Biblically with the Goal of Repentance and Restoration.
Church Discipline Must Be Practiced Biblically with the Goal of Repentance and Restoration.
The Spirit of church discipline is humble, gentle restoration
The principles of church discipline:
The principles of church discipline:
Initially, Keep the circle of trust small - dignity & respect
The length of time is determined by how long it take to determine a person willingness/unwillingness to repent.
Give the person the benefit of the doubt
Church leaders both lead and instruct the congregation in the process.
Church discipline is practiced only within the local church.
If your brother -
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?
The Spirit of church discipline is humble, gentle restoration
The principles
The Process of Church discipline
The Process of Church discipline
Church discipline is an informal part of everyday discipleship (Not mechanical)
If your brother -
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?
Church discipline is an informal part of everyday discipleship
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
Church discipline is often: Personal - Individual - Private - for every believer in daily life together.
Informal - GG’s in homes -Informal places are the best paces for formation and correction of each other.
Ex: A small group of guys meet for breakfast and one in the group starts to get less faithful, pulls away from serving, get more irregular in GG and comes sporadically.
Holman - Effective church discipline requires investment before the first step.
We must be vested in each others lives.
This simply means you express your concern for those you are already living life with.
No pastor required! You invest so if someone begin the slow fade you can say I love you and I’m concerned about you, let me help.
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
This is not quick, clean, easy or fast but this is discipleship!
James Closing (5:19–20)
If Christians spent even half the time taking their concerns about other people directly to them in gentleness and love (recall Gal 6:1) rather than complaining about them to others, we would all be far healthier, individually and collectively.
But what if they don’t listen/ don’t receive it, don’t respond after repeated conversation and
2. Church discipline will often involve your church leaders
16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
Matt. 18:16
Step 2 -
Elder involvement will be individually and progress to collectively
The Elder may recommend involves your GG in the conversation (or another small circle of trust)
Pastor “so and so” has offended me!
1st - It this a personal offense
1) Can you not cover this with grace & forgive?
8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
No or this is a person caught up in sin - addiction
v.16 - The goal is still privacy and establishing the facts
Tight circle + benefit of the doubt.
Remove any personal bias or personality conflict and deal with what the bible calls sin.
2) Did you speak to them in private? Yes, repeatedly
8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
2nd - Did you speak to them in private?
An elder or GG member goes with you and speaks to person and still they wont turn from their sin. then what
v.16 - The goal is still privacy and establishing the facts
Tight circle + benefit of the doubt.
An elder will seek to remove any personal bias or personality conflict and deal with what the bible calls sin.
AT BCC the whole elder body writes a letter and takes it personally to the person and pleads with them over their sin.
But they dont respond
But they don’t respond
3. Church discipline involves the whole Body (Formal -serious )
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.
“Even” -shocking they wouldn’t
Elders will decide when situation need to be brought congregation as a whole. (Generally w/o too much details)
“Even” -shocking they wouldn’t
Whole congregation now appeal to the person to repent and be restored - shorter timeframe
Has this happened? Sadly, Most people pull their membership, stay in non-repentance and go join the church down the street.
“Even” -shocking they wouldn’t
4. Church discipline involves excommunication
Congregation must vote to excommunicate
Elders will inform congregation how to interact with now-former member.
Step 4 -
What are we saying? We can no longer affirm your profession that one is a member of God’s family.
Notice this is a gradual process
Why difference between Jesus () & Paul ()?
The Characteristically/consistently repentant belong inside the church
The characteristically unrepentant belong outside the church because they will not inherit the kingdom of God. -
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
The man in was characteristically unrepentant.
is a process to determine if the person is repentant or unrepentant
-the whole church knows what’s happening.
almost the whole process is kept confidential with a tight circle of trust
- The mans sin was public and scandalous.
- many times is not
- The man’s action was a threat both to other members and the witness of Christ within the community. This made this situation urgent.
The man’s action was a threat both to other members and the witness of Christ within the community This made this situation urgent.
Ex: Paid staff/elders falls into sexual sin… termination - no delay - The elders must act to ensure the protection of the church and Christ name.
Repentance comes after dismissal
Does Church discipline actually work?
Church discipline Must be Practiced with the Promise of Christ Authority and Presence.
6 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.
What is restoration?
The Spirit - The principles - The process = All carried out in humble gentleness with a goal of repentance and restoration.
Simply declaring forgiveness toward the person and reaffirming his or her citizenship in God’s kingdom.
When should restoration occur?
When the sinner repent and the church is convinced the repentance is real because members see fruit in individuals life. “It would be nice to have a rule book for times like these: “When faced with this, do that.” But it seems the Lord intends for his churches to learn what it means to trust the wisdom that he promises to give even in the toughest dilemmas, once again reminding us of how dependent we are upon him.”
- Repentance and restoration should be sought after excommunication
Church discipline Must be Practiced Biblically with the Promise of Christ Authority and Presence.
Church discipline Must be Practiced Biblically with the Promise of Christ Authority and Presence.
18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Let’s say you are concerned for a brother or sister and are planning on taking them to lunch tomorrow. You know what is incredible important all of the sudden PRAYER! - Discipleship is fertilizer for our spiritual life! As we help each other follow Christ we grow in both Word and prayer.
Prayer- filled Promise of authority.
V.18
18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
“Jesus is not giving the church the right to make decisions that will then become binding on God. Such a thought is alien from anything in his teaching. He is saying that as the church is responsive to the guidance of God it will come to the decisions that have already been made in heaven.” (Morris, 469)
“ Never is the church more in harmony with heaven and operating in perfect accord with her Lord than when dealing with sin to maintain purity.” Macarthur,
Prayer- filled Promise of support.
V.19
19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
Prayer- filled promise of presence.
V.20
20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Back to the context: Disciple arguing about whose the greatest - be like this child - if this child wander will a good parent not go and find the child and bring them home? -
What a way to correct pride in the disciples - is in fact more than a teaching it Christ, discipling his own disciples.
So What?
So What?
Why should we pursue the wandering and the sinning brother or sister?
- Jesus Christ pursued you. As a matter of fact most of us were pursued by one of Christ representatives weren’t we.
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- God’s Word commands it!
God’s Word tells us we get to be part of the rescue mission to restore a wandering child of God.
19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!
The church’s integrity
6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
The Glory of God
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
How can be part of saving ones soul? Either the person was never saved and because we loved them enough to pursue they are saved or we save a believers from a 1 Cor 3 judgement.
- the bible keeps us in balance
So! How many times should I forgive someone who sins against me. (Notice the inward focused question)
Why should we pursue the wandering and the sinning brother or sister?
A servant was forgiven an astronomical debt, having received such extravagant mercy he leaves and throws someone in prison for a tiny amount.
English Standard Version Chapter 18
32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 iAnd should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’
We have been forgiven much so we forgive much!
3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
What’s at stake?Christ’s name1 Cor. 6:15
The church’s integrity
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Oh what an extravagant gospel! Though you be wandering or broken, or guilty of crimes no one dares speak of.
The Glory of God1 Cor. 6:19
25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Will we love each other the way Christ loves us?
And so the Lord Jesus ended his teaching on rescuing those caught up in sin with a glorious reminder of what we have been forgiven and so we forgive and so we rescue others.