Friday, November 15, 2024
Context is Everything
It is vitally important that we read the entire context of any principle or concept in the Bible to get the entire understanding. Confession of sin and forgiveness are two sides to the same coin, both must be present for any relationship to be restored. Just as our relationship with Christ is not restored without repentance, the example for our human relationships too.
The idea that we need not confess our sins one to another, that we forgive for ourselves is foolishness. We confess and forgive for the sake of a relationship restoration, not merely so we feel better but that a relationship is restored. When this happens properly as God intended the relationship becomes stronger.
Because people are encouraged to overlook confessing and go straight to forgiveness has made weak and fragile relationships. It has also distorted the churches view of the need for confession of sin toward God so that our relationship with Him becomes stronger. In the case of non-believers, many think God forgives automatically without the need to ask His forgiveness to be cleansed of sin.
James 5:15-16 "…15 And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail."
Luke 17:3-4 "…3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Do not overlook the phrases in this passage; "Confess your sins to one another", and If returns to say 'I repent', you must forgive Him."
If someone has offended another person and refuses to confess it and does not desire the restoration of the relationship they are stubborn and self-willed, their attitudes and actions will not change leaving the relationship in a constant state of distrust.
We cannot trust those who think their offenses are justified, they will always re-offend without remorse.
This is not to say that we are justified in returning evil for evil, this would be to become just like the offender. The devil loves more than anything to cause a righteous person to sin against those who have harmed us. We must bless those who curse us when in their company but we are not obligated to remain friends with those who treat us contemptuously.
Christ endured the hatred of many but never sinned against those who sinned against Him.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
"4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. 5 It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, 6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 it [a]keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
We must show others the respect they didn't show us, this is what sets us apart from those who do not love Christ.
Matthew 5:44
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"
Remember there is a difference between treating others with respect and being in a relationship with them.
1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
We are to expose sin as led by the Holy Spirit and remove ourselves from those who will not repent.
"John 8:44
"You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
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