Confront in Love - Matthew 18:15-17; Galatians 5:13-26; 6:1-5 - May 20, 2007

Sunday School Lesson – Confront in Love – May 20, 2007

Our scripture is Matthew 18:15-17; Galatians 5:13-15, 16-26; Galatians 6:1-5.

Our last two (2) lessons have been building blocks to prepare a Christian to handle conflict and be a peacemaker. The key, in my opinion, is found in Galatians 6:1 - 1 Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you won’t be tempted also.. “You who are spiritual” is so important in being a peacemaker. So what makes a Christian spiritual? Having the mind of CHRIST!

When we began our study, we examined self-ambitions and how we need to have the mind of CHRIST in us. We need to see others through the eyes of CHRIST. HE saw others in all circumstances and walks of life. HE gave HIS life that all who believe in HIM will have eternal life.

I contend that we cannot muster up the where-with-all in our human strength to have the mind of CHRIST. We can only have the mind of CHRIST as we grow and mature in HIM through an intimate loving relationship. It is a process called sanctification. We will not go around like a monk or somber but we maintain our personality which will be transformed by the renewing of our minds by the HOLY SPIRIT. It is abiding in CHRIST and getting to know HIM through fellowship, prayer, studying the scripture, yielding our will to HIM and obedience. Our part is to tell JESUS that we want to have an intimate loving relationship with HIM and for HIM to show us how to have that relationship.

We as humans are made up of body, soul and spirit. Without CHRIST one or a combination of these natures will rule our lives. The very lowest level of rule is when the body or flesh rules our lives. The flesh or body seeks to please itself any way it can. If it means others are hurt, then so be it. The flesh wants to be pleased.
The rule of the soul is a notch up from the rule of the body. The rule of the soul has some restraints and wars with the body to a degree.

The highest form of rule from a human point-of-view is when the spirit rules our body. When the spirit rules it can display a very moral nature. But keep in mind this is not the born-again nature that only CHRIST can give us when we ask HIM to forgive our sins and come into our lives. It is a moral human nature that often those who have it will say, “I do not need CHRIST because I live a better life than the Christians I know”. From an outward point-of-view, this can be true. The sad part is they are without CHRIST and need salvation.

Isaiah 64:6 (a):

6 All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted[5] Lit menstrual garment;

The scripture is clear that the very best we as a human can do are like a filthy rag or a polluted garment when compared to what CHRIST can do through HIS cleansing blood in our lives. All humans have sinned and we need to be cleansed from our sin. JESUS washes away the sins of every believer and we are “whiter than snow.”

Romans 3:23:
23 For all have sinned and fall short of the[20] Or and lack the glory of God.

Because of sin in our lives every human has inherited the death penalty for that sin.

Romans 6:23:

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

CHRIST gave HIS life so all humans who ask HIM to forgive them of their sins, believe HE died on the cross for their sins, believe that HE arose from the dead and ask HIM to come into their lives will experience the miracle of rebirth in their spirit and receive the gift of eternal life. Each believer will receive the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT, Who will empower them and confirm that they are children of GOD.

The very ultimate rule in the human life is the rule of the born-again spirit. But even the rule of the born-again spirit is a process of yielding our will to the rule of GOD in our lives.

I spoke earlier that one of the three (3) natures rule our lives before we become a Christian. Depending upon which nature or combination of natures that have ruled our lives means that we bring the attributes of those natures with us when we become a Christian.

Often many of us spend much of our lives committing those natures to the rule and authority of CHRIST. This is why we must have the relationship with CHRIST to help us be all that CHRIST wants us to be in service and obedience to HIM. When we have the proper relationship with CHRIST, it helps us to maintain the proper balance between our relationship to the human nature and our spiritual nature.

Let’s read Galatians 5:16-26: (This gives a comparison between the rule of the flesh versus the rule of the HOLY SPIRIT in our lives.)

The Spirit versus the Flesh
16 I say then, • walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious:[2] Other mss add adultery [3] Lit obvious, which are: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envy,[4] Other mss add murders drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar, about which I tell you in advance—as I told you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,[5] Or faithfulness 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. 26 We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

This is why I say that it is a process to be a peacemaker. It is important that we know ourselves first. When we really know ourselves, we know that we are saved by grace. Except for the grace of GOD, our journey through life would be drastically different. We will also know that many of our brothers and sisters in CHRIST may have a lot of their old nature that they will have to contend with while they grow and mature in CHRIST.

Let’s read Matthew 18:15-17:

15 “If your brother sins against you,[9] Other mss omit against you go and rebuke him in private.[10] Lit him between you and him alone If he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 But if he won’t listen, take one or two more with you, so that by the testimony[11] Lit mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be established.[12] Dt 19:15 17 If he pays no attention to them, tell the church.[13] Or congregation But if he doesn’t pay attention even to the church, let him be like an unbeliever[14] Or like a Gentile and a tax collector to you.

This is JESUS speaking. First, the matter is identified as a sin. It is not some trivial matter. JESUS tells us to first go to a brother in private. The attempt is to resolve the matter in private. If it is resolved after the meeting with the person in private, that is good. But in this situation, after giving it time it is not resolved.

So the next step is to take one or two Christian brothers or sisters with you to resolve the matter. Again give it time for the matter to be resolved. If not then the next step is to take the matter before the “ecclesia” or “the called-out ones” or the church. The implication is not to drag the person before the entire church but to go to the leadership of the church. The leadership should be spiritually mature believers.

If the matter cannot be resolved, then the person is to be considered as a non-believer. Now this is not abandoning the person. Later in the scripture JESUS tells the parable about the lost sheep. The idea is to seek to restore the person as they would seek a spiritually lost person. JESUS sought salvation for unbelievers and tax collectors.

Let’s read Galatians 5:1 and 13-15:

1 Christ has liberated us into freedom. Therefore stand firm and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.

13 For you are called to freedom, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.[1] Lv 19:18 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

The Galatians had a mixed view of Christianity. Some thought that in order to be a Christian you had to follow the law and be circumcised. Paul made it clear that was wrong. Then there was another faction that thought since you are saved by grace then you were free to do any thing you wanted to do. Paul said that was not correct either. As a Christian you are free from the law and from having to follow all the rules and regulations of Judaism. Therefore, do not allow yourself to come under the bondage of the slavery of the law and all the rules and regulations.

By the same token, you are no longer under the law but do not take that freedom to do what ever you want to do. You need to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” You are still responsible for your actions. You represent CHRIST to all those you encounter each day. CHRIST loved you so much that HE died for you and HE also died for all people you will encounter. Seek to share with them the hope, joy and assurance that salvation gives you.

Let’s read Galatians 6:1-5:

1 Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you won’t be tempted also. 2 Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he is deceiving himself. 4 But each person should examine his own work, and then he will have a reason for boasting in himself alone, and not in respect to someone else. 5 For each person will have to carry his own load.

The idea in verse one (1) is that the person is caught off guard. This is not a person that is knowingly living in sin. Any of us are subject to being caught off guard. An old nature can raise its head in our lives. It is important that someone who has their feet on the solid rock of CHRIST come to the aid of the person caught in the wrongdoing. It implies that a young Christian should be careful about stepping into a situation before they have had time to know themselves and to grow and mature in CHRIST. It is easy for the one coming to the aid of another to become ensnared by the very thing they are attempting a brother or sister to overcome. This is true even of the spiritually mature.

I know sometimes when recovering addicts try to help others they can be enticed to have a relapse.

Paul tells us that we need to help one another carry the burdens we encounter along life’s journey. Burdens as used here are different from “load” used later. A burden is a weight that a person carries. We can help another person carry a burden. We may need to come along side a person and see them though a tough time in their lives.
Whereas “load” is like the cargo a ship carries or the backpack a person carries. This carries the idea there are some loads in life that we as individuals have to carry.

We are all accountable to GOD as individuals. We must not compare ourselves to others. We can become puffed up and think we are spiritually superior to other Christians when we think we are better than this person or that person. As we grow and mature in the LORD, we recognize how far we miss the mark and how much we depend upon the grace of the LORD. We must always compare ourselves to CHRIST.

Each Christian is to grow into the image of CHRIST.

2 Corinthians 3:18:

18 We all, with unveiled faces, are reflecting[5] Or are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory;[6] Progressive glorification or sanctification this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.[7] Or from the Spirit of the Lord, or from the Lord, the Spirit