Restoring the fallen Believer

Written by Pastor Ray Stark


Continued from page 1

Jesus,repparttar only person present who was without sin chose to extend forgiveness and restoration torepparttar 126888 woman rather than judgment and condemnation. There is no better example in allrepparttar 126889 universe of a "spiritual" person thanrepparttar 126890 Lord Jesus Christ Himself. We need to follow His example when dealing with moral failure inrepparttar 126891 church and followrepparttar 126892 apostle Paul’s injunction to watch our own hearts lest we fall into temptation.

Paul gets into more detail concerning a specific case in 2 Corinthians when he encourages them to reaffirm their love torepparttar 126893 brother he had proclaimed judgment on for blatant sexual sin in 1 Corinthians 5.

2 Cor 2: 1 ¶ But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. 2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, butrepparttar 126894 same which is made sorry by me? 3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy isrepparttar 126895 joy of you all. 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might knowrepparttar 126896 love which I have more abundantly unto you. 5 ¶ But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. 6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. 7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. 9 For to this end also did I write, that I might knowrepparttar 126897 proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it inrepparttar 126898 person of Christ; 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

In this portion of scripture we seerepparttar 126899 apostle urging inrepparttar 126900 strongest possible terms thatrepparttar 126901 church would restorerepparttar 126902 erring brother and he warns them against a judgmental, unforgiving attitude just as he does in Galatians 6. He even goes so far as to assert that an unspiritual, unforgiving attitude can openrepparttar 126903 door for Satan to wreak havoc againstrepparttar 126904 whole church. According to Paul unforgiveness is in itself one of Satan’s devices.

Sin inrepparttar 126905 church needs to be dealt with. The way it needs to be dealt with is inrepparttar 126906 spirit of meekness,repparttar 126907 goal being restoration ofrepparttar 126908 person(s) involved, and with a conscious knowledge that none of us is above temptation orrepparttar 126909 possibility of transgression.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.celebratingjesus.org

copyright 2003 Ray and Sharon Stark



Pastor of Celebration Christian Church http://www.celebratingjesus.org

22 years of pastoral and missionary ministry.


One Day at A Time

Written by Joyce C. Lock


Continued from page 1

The life of a true servant can only be lived “One Day at A Time”.

© by Joyce C. Lock http://my.homewithgod.com/blessingsandlessons/ This writing may be used in its entirety, with credits in tact, for non-profit ministering purposes.

In addition to being a published author and poet, Joyce C. Lock created the religion column, "Christianity Made Simple" for Peru Daily Tribune, continues to write inspirational articles for area newspapers, and shares further in online and e-mail ministries.


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