Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?” (Galatians 2:11-14) Note: Paul was not afraid to warn Peter and his colleagues in front of others. We should also not afraid to warn the servants who are considered to be a "pillar" in the church. It is our duty to warn. Remember, even Barnabas was carried by the sin of Peter. So, it is obviously if we don’t warn the servants once they fall into sin, we can cause many Christians astray therefore it is sin if we don’t warn one another! However, there are procedures to use to warn people. Let us see them. HOW TO ADMONISH ONE ANOTHER “Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. AV 1Ti 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. AV 1Ti 5:21 I charge [thee] before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. AV 1Ti 5:22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. (1 Timothy 5:19-22)
lump AV 1C 5:7 . Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: ………… AV 1C 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an AV 1C 5:12 extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? AV 1C 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (1 Corinthians 5:5 -7; 11-13) Note: To warn someone about his fault is not the responsibility of the church only. Christians are also responsible warn one another. Moreover, we should not be afraid to warn our church servants whenever they go wrong. But as we warn one another we should not forget to follow Jesus plan in (Matthew 18:15-17) otherwise many people may lose their souls! Therefore brethren, lets keep on admonish one another and by doing that, will not only save the heart of some who fell into sin, but will also save our hearts by doing our responsibility as per Lord’s commandment.
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. AV Ga 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2) Note: If we don’t warn the sinners, then we will be sharing their sins. Jesus taught us on how we should warn one another: “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. AV Mt 18:16 But if he will not hear [thee, then] take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. AV Mt 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell [it] unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.” (Matthew 18:15-17) Apostle Paul instructed, if a person does not want to repent, to deliver him/her unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh: We read: “To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. AV 1C 5:6 Your glorying [is] not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole
Church of Christ Magomeni Mwembe Chai P. O. Box 67632, Dar es salaam, Tanzania Phone: +255 22 2171532 Email:
[email protected] Web: www.magomeni-coc.or.tz Evangelist: +255 763 287479
D o You h av e Blood on Your Hands?
Church of Christ Magomeni Mwembe Chai
DO YOU HAVE BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS? It is Christian responsibility to guard ourselves from sinning. However, because of our weakness, it is very hard to live without making any sin. John said: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. AV 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. AV 1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. “ (1 John 1:8-10) WHAT SHOULD CHRISTIAN DO WHEN SAW HIS FELLOW CHRISTIAN FALL INTO SIN? Most of people are confused by the word of Jesus when he said: “Judge not, that ye be not judged. AV Mt 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. AV Mt 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? AV Mt 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam [is] in thine own eye? AV Mt 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." (Matthew 7:1-5) With misunderstanding of these words, most of people refuse to warn their fellows when involved in sin. They failed to understand that to warn someone about his sin is not judging. WE HAVE BEEN COMMANDED TO WARN ONE ANOTHER We read: "AV Ezk 3:17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. AV Ezk 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked [man] shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. AV Ezk 3:19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. AV Ezk 3:20 Again, When a righteous [man] doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done
shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. AV Ezk 3:21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous [man], that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul." (Ezekiel 3:17:21) Jesus said: “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. AV Lk 17:4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” (Luke 17:3) Paul said: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. AV Ga 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2) King David was a good man who pleased God. But, David was tempted by Satan and he committed adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah. Later, David wants to hide his sin by killed Uriah. God gave David time to repent. However, David did not repent until the prophet Nathan tells him about his sin; We read: “And Nathan said to David, Thou [art] the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; AV 2Sa 12:8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if [that had been] too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. AV 2Sa 12:9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife [to be] thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. AV 2Sa 12:10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. AV 2Sa 12:11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give [them] unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. AV 2Sa 12:12 For thou didst [it] secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.” (2 Samuel 12:7-12) We see after being warned about his sin by the Prophet Nathan, King David repainted although he had still faced the results of his sin; We read: “And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. AV 2Sa 12:14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also [that is]
born unto thee shall surely die. AV 2Sa 12:15 . And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.” (2 Samuel 12:13-15) In most cases we need to be warned with our brethren in order to recognize and repaint our sins; We read: “He that saith unto the wicked, Thou [art] righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: AV Pr 24:25 But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.” (Proverbs 24:24-25) “Open rebuke [is] better than secret love.” (Proverbs 27:5) “A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.” (Proverbs 17:10) Paul said: “But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. AV 2Th 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. AV 2Th 3:15 Yet count [him] not as an enemy, but admonish [him] as a brother.” (2 Thessalonians 3:13-15) IF CHURCH SERVANT FALL INTO SIN? Most of the time, church servants like preachers, teachers, elders (ie, bishops), and Christian missionaries are expected to be a "pillar" in the church. But these people like any other human being can also sin. Let see the words of Paul to elders of the church: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. AV Ac 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Ac 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” (Acts 20:28-30) Apostle Peter (Cephas) was a pillar of the church, who had also fallen into sin. Paul said: “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. AV Ga 2:12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. AV Ga 2:13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. AV Ga 2:14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before [them] all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the -
