THURSDAY January 4, 2018
The God of Second Chances
For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” - >1 Corinthians 5:12-13
Paul concluded Chapter 5 by defining church order, church government, and church theology.The Corinthians were not to judge the world, they were to judge themselves. Church leadership should have been able to judge problems within the Church of Corinth. Paul had the heart of a pastor. He knew God cared for the person in sin, but he also knew the Lord cared that this person repented. While this man stayed unrepentant, the believers in Corinth could no longer fellowship with him.
Paul had previously used the metaphor of leaven––as a type of sin, so the Corinthians could understand how sin affects the Church. A little leaven––sin, infects not only that person, but the whole church. The Church should not allow sin to become an infective product. The Holy Spirit would become grieved, and there would be no holiness in the camp.
Christians need to be honest and repentant. They should not live a double standard of life. Otherwise they really do not have a vision of God (Isaiah 6:1), or understand the holiness of God. But, what do people try to do? They isolate their sin and they do not own up to it. Yet, no sin can be considered an isolated event because it affects others.
If you have been disciplined by church leadership, know that God still loves you. He is the God of second, third and fourth chances. You just need to repent.The purpose for discipline it is not to destroy but to save.
Real repentance produces confession and forsaking of sin, reconciliation and restitution, separation from the world, submission to the lordship of Christ and filling of the Holy Spirit.
~Vance Havner~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!
