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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Spiritual Boot Camp Brings Emotional and Spiritual Maturity and Wisdom

1 Corinthians 15:33 "Be not deceived: “Evil associations corrupt good manners.”

When we are regularly around ungodly unsaved people as our main companions we begin to think how they act and the rude things they say are normal and everyone lives like this.

Unfortunately, when we are around cultural norms in which people think rudeness is fun or angst is normal we begin to think it is too. Whatever we are around regularly will eventually turn us into whatever is around us. We become like that which is corrupted.

While we are in the mess we are too confused and agitated to be able to see the attitudes for what they are, but when we are gone a while and come back it is blatant.

It's sort of like a smoker who smokes in their house or people with dogs who don't clean their house, and don't seem to notice the smell until they go on vacation, when they come back to the smell that was absent on vacation, they suddenly notice how bad it is. Sometimes it takes some time away from the mess to see there is a mess.

This is why I believe God said; 2 Corinthians 6:17

"17 Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you."

God told us to go into the world and preach the gospel. He never said go into the world and become like them and maybe they will like Jesus because they like us.

When we speak of Christ to people most will not want it and will even exact revenge toward us for daring to tell the truth. The biggest lie afoot in Christendom today is that if we do what unbelievers do and say what they say they will want to know about God.

Matthew 10:21-23 "…21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes."

Yes, family will despise you before you even step out into the world. Our first rejection of the gospel and the principles of God will be from family first.

Proverbs 29:27

"An unjust man is detestable to the righteous, and one whose way is upright is detestable to the wicked."

Isaiah 66:5

"You who tremble at His word, hear the word of the LORD: "Your brothers who hate you and exclude you because of My name have said, 'Let the LORD be glorified that we may see your joy!' But they will be put to shame."

In these last days, we can expect to be treated with contempt, disrespect, and disregard because we adhere to the principles of Christ in our own lives and speak them boldly to others.

Unbelieves will accuse us of past sins and make up lies about us in the present to justify their anger toward our stand to follow the Word of God.

In some cases all we have to do is live out our lives as we follow Christ, even if we don't speak of it we will be hated for our own decision to follow Him.

Now in these end times, we cannot help but speak boldly about the Lord to those who are perishing and to believers as we edify one another with the truth of God's Word. The Holy Spirit compels us to speak without regard to the consequences. If we ponder the consequences it will leave us Spiritually weak.

We are surrounded by angst and disrespect even among those who say they are Christians. They justify their disrespect of God and us with excuses only a small child would utter to be able to continue in ill-mannered and selfish behavior.

Deuteronomy 3:22 " 22Do not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God Himself will fight for you.”

Exodus 14:14

The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

Isaiah 43:1,2

"But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine…"

Born-again believers have been grafted into the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, He fights for us just as He does for Israel. We are not insignificant in God's eyes, He cares for all those who love Him.

1 Peter 5:7 "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."

Romans 11:24

"For if you were cut from a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into one that is cultivated, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!"

What a blessing to know this life is for our training and all that we go through will make us stronger because of Christ. We can remain strong even through the tears as joy is full in all things we encounter.

I Remember when I was a child and fell off my bike, feeling silly that I fell I cried and laughed at the same time. Sometimes I have this same feeling of weeping at the difficulties while smiling at the challenges. The wisdom that comes from living all aspects of this life is far greater than comfort which dilutes learning and minimizes spiritual maturity.

"Weeping may tarry for the night,

but joy comes with the morning."

Maturing in Christ requires a "boot camp" of sorts, to strengthen our spiritual muscles taking us to greater wisdom. It will all be worth it!!!!

The Secret of the Serpent in Genesis: What the Hebrew Text Reveals Will ...

Coming Out From Among Them

People act differently in groups, it is human nature to hold back truth to fit into the group-think. This is why God told us to meet with like-minded people who love the Lord so that the purpose is to edify one another in the Lord solidifying our motivation to remain faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ Who lives in us and to His principles.

When we attend groups of people who are not born-again we will be tempted to hold back truth and sometimes even modify the truth to make it more palatable to those in attendance.

The larger the group the worse the problem of capitulation to the collective mindset.

In secular unbelieving groups the purpose for gatherings is most often worldly ideas that promote self.

In the group of born-again believers the purpose for gathering is to build one another in holiness for growth leading to Spiritual maturity.

Mankind tends to emulate those they spend the most time with, the reason it is so important to choose our close friends wisely.

1 Corinthians 15:33 "

Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”

It is interesting that it is not the other way around, one strong believer in a group of unbelievers can have little to no effect because those who are the majority shrink from listening to the one person in the group who is a dissenter.

The majority really does rule in gatherings the very reason we need to protect our Spirituality by making our companions those who love the Lord as we do.

The only reason to ever be in a gathering of unbelievers is to speak the gospel boldly and leave when no one will listen.

Matthew 10:14 " 14And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town."

Nowhere in God's Word do we see Him telling us to be friends with unbelievers the way we should be close to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

2 Corinthians 6:17

"17 Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you."

Two Ways that Deny Jesus Christ

Denying Jesus Christ comes in many forms, two are adding to His Word and the other is taking away from His Word.

Denying Christ comes in Many Forms

Any doctrine against what God says in His word denies Jesus Christ because He is the Word.