What God has made One, let no one rend asunder...

[Mr. M]

Matthew 5:

23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that

your brother has something against you, 

24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way.

First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Mending Rifts In Christ

Matthew 18:

15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you,

go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.

If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 

16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, t

hat ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 

17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.

But if he refuses even to hear the church,

let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,

and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Edited October 8, 2024 by Mr. M

[Mr. M]

On 9/30/2024 at 8:20 AM, Mr. M said:

First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

What God has made One, let no one rend asunder...

Ephesians 2:13-18 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

[AdHoc]

3 hours ago, Mr. M said:

What God has made One, let no one rend asunder...

Ephesians 2:13-18 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

One of the most crucial passages of the new Testament. It has been widely misunderstood.

To summarize the meaning of this passage needs attention to the grammar. It is taken TWO WAYS among Christians. The first, and incorrect way is that God HAS MADE Church by a fusion of Israel and the Nations. But it is not so. The grammar says "FROM THE TWAIN". That is, "A New Man" using SOME of the Nations and SOME of Israel. The phrase "FROM the Two" does not indicate  Israel or the Nations in their entirety. The New Man is a TOTALLY NEW ENTITY in which each member is a New Creature with NO PAST. Thus, the new Man has NO ETHNICITY (Gal.3:28, Col:3:10-12)

The Law being nailed to the cross is UNIQUE to the New Man. God made a Covenant of Law at Sinai. And this Covenant stands until Israel become ONE NATION again IN THEIR LAND (Jer.31:31-33). It is then replaced by a New Covenant. But the content of this New Covenant does not change. It is only that the Law is written INSIDE the Jew. The Law formed a a forbidding barrier between Jew and Gentile. But the New Man is ONE New man. He has an intrinsic unity (Eph.4:1-3). The law would thwart this and cause division as it did in Romans. So God not only creates a New Man with a New Birth but he REMOVES THE PAST including ETHNICITY.

A man cannot change what he is. If a Jew embraces Christ he is a "NEW CREATURE". He is commanded to be one with the Gentile convert. The term "Messianic Jew" - a human invention, thwarts this purpose of ONENESS. Although it is a name meaning NOTHING, for a Jew who embraces Christ loses his "Jew Status", it seems to create a club within a club - the very thing that the New Man is against. Jew by passport? Yes! The world has its administration. A Jew because his neighborhood is in Jerusalem? Let the neighbors call him that. But in the grand scheme of things he is a NEW CREATURE. Old things are passed away. And we are bound to keep this UNITY.

[Ray12614]

Matthew 18 cited above is Jesus' remedy for conflicts between Christians. MOST times in the churches I have been in it is ignored, and not practiced.

That is why we have people who leave churches still reeling from what 'somebody did to me' and not restored biblically. Offenders who make havoc in churches are allowed to go on unchecked, and the offended are unchurched and bleeding their hurt all over the places they go.

Wouldn't it just be better to follow Jesus' clear directions for interpersonal problem resolution?

[Mr. M]

6 minutes ago, Ray12614 said:

Wouldn't it just be better to follow Jesus' clear directions for interpersonal problem resolution?

Great point Ray. This especially arises when cliques naturally (carnally) form in a group. Someone may hesitate to express their feelings with regards to an offense fearing repercussions from his or her entire group. This should be openly discussed among the brethren. We all know that nothing will remain hidden, so let's address it now.

[AdHoc]

8 hours ago, Ray12614 said:

Matthew 18 cited above is Jesus' remedy for conflicts between Christians. MOST times in the churches I have been in it is ignored, and not practiced.

That is why we have people who leave churches still reeling from what 'somebody did to me' and not restored biblically. Offenders who make havoc in churches are allowed to go on unchecked, and the offended are unchurched and bleeding their hurt all over the places they go.

Wouldn't it just be better to follow Jesus' clear directions for interpersonal problem resolution?

 

7 hours ago, Mr. M said:

Great point Ray. This especially arises when cliques naturally (carnally) form in a group. Someone may hesitate to express their feelings with regards to an offense fearing repercussions from his or her entire group. This should be openly discussed among the brethren. We all know that nothing will remain hidden, so let's address it now.

The Lord's way in Matthew 18, with a real case in 1st Corinthians 5, is so superb.

1. Going to the offender alone has the best chance of the offender agreeing and settling the matter without it going public

2. Being forced to go with witnesses not only establishes if an offense really occurred, in private, but it protects the accused if he is innocent.

3. The making public of the offense in the Assembly with backup from the witnesses stops long incriminating and / or emotional discussion. Notice the accused is not asked to defend him/herself as that has been established by witnesses. The Assembly is bound to act on the Witnesses' report.

4. The last protection for the accused is that God is watching. We are not under Law, but under Moses a false witness was given the same retribution as the one who was accused was supposed to get (Deut.19:15-21). In this case it is ejection from the Kingdom when Christ returns - the loss of your soul-life (psuché - Lk.9:24 etc.).

5. The whole process is not to punish anybody. The excommunication of an offender is simply to protect the Church from crime and criminals. Judgment must be without long haggling and by the whole Assembly. The Elders are there to keep order. The Assembly is the jury. Under this regime you can make the weak and feeble to be judges (as 1st Corinthians 6 says). Usually the slow are the most motive-free jurors.

God is always right.

[Alive]

I think a thing neglected is understanding and functioning in reconciliation between brethren.

It’s important for the flow of Life in the Body. If a member is not interested in an effort by another to reconcile and thus mend fellowship, there is a problem. This can take many shapes, but the principle is…well…a principle.

[AdHoc]

20 minutes ago, Alive said:

I think a thing neglected is understanding and functioning in reconciliation between brethren.

It’s important for the flow of Life in the Body. If a member is not interested in an effort by another to reconcile and thus mend fellowship, there is a problem. This can take many shapes, but the principle is…well…a principle.

No doubt ... the main point. Reconciliation.

There is also the matter of Canaan. He is cursed because his father made public Noah's indiscretion. Let us not only seek reconciliation, but do it while preserving a brother's dignity.

[Alive]

45 minutes ago, AdHoc said:

No doubt ... the main point. Reconciliation.

There is also the matter of Canaan. He is cursed because his father made public Noah's indiscretion. Let us not only seek reconciliation, but do it while preserving a brother's dignity.

Way back a few decades, the Lord taught me the principle of being careful of uncovering a brother’s nakedness. It was in this context. Such a lesson, leaves a lasting impression on a son.

[AdHoc]

11 hours ago, Alive said:

Way back a few decades, the Lord taught me the principle of being careful of uncovering a brother’s nakedness. It was in this context. Such a lesson, leaves a lasting impression on a son.

Aren't the lessons of the Lord just perfect? The road is made bitter but we come out of it with profit for the character.