Rest assured, all mortals who read this, that Christ “was in all points
tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). And so the apostle
tries to reassure us that Christians “have not an high priest which cannot be
touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” He has felt the most compelling
temptations that you have felt, but overcame them. But remember He
demonstrates the solution. At each temptation of Satan in the wilderness,
Jesus demonstrated that He relied on God for guidance (Matthew 4). He quoted
God’s word in answer to each of the Devil’s temptations.
If we want forgiveness God will forgive. The problem does not rest on God’s
inability to forgive, it’s our unwillingness to comply to his requirements.
In Isaiah 59:1,2 we see God’s people were told, “Behold, the LORD’S hand is
not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot
hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your
sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
Sometimes Christians who have been graciously forgiven by God for their sins
are the worst to not forgive others. These are condemned (See what Jesus said
of the elder brother in Luke 15). At this point, let us assure the sinner
that, no matter what the sin is that you have committed, God will forgive you
if you repent and ask Him. When you gain God’s forgiveness you sometimes are
not forgiven by other sinners which makes it even more difficult to think and
act right. Paul told the Christians in Corinth, that after the sinning
brother referred to in 1 Corinthians 5 had repented, they were to receive
him, “forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be
swallowed up with overmuch sorrow....confirm your love toward him” (2
Corinthians 2:7,8).
The reason for facing this brother with his sin, in the first place, was due
to their love for him so that he could repent and gain God’s forgiveness.
After he repented the members of the church were to “forgive him and confirm
their love toward him.” The love for the Lord and right and good, and the
salvation of the soul of this brother who was sinning, and to maintain the
righteousness of the church were the reasons for their action, and by their
conduct after his repentance their pure motives were to be proved.
Many of us remember a sermon which used to be preached here and there called,
“The Purging of the Sanctuary.” It had to do with the prophecies of the
Bible, but the preacher did a great deal of speculation. Jesus warned the
apostles that there be one who by killing “you will think that he doeth God
service” (John 16:2). It seems that in their zeal to confront evil and rid
the church of sin there are those who destroy brothers and sisters, families
and friends, yes, and even congregations. Does “the end justify the means”?
For years there have been those who would do the Lord’s job of weeding for
Him.
Listen to the Lord’s parable. Jesus pictured a man having a field of good
wheat, but “while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat,
and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit,
then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and
said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence
then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants
said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said,
Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will
say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in
bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn” (Matthew 13:25-30).
Once brother Chapman Grimes, of the Lowery, Alabama congregation, in his good
humored way, showed how foolish it was for some to want to take it upon
themselves to weed out the field of the Lord. He walked around the front of
the congregation pointing here and there saying, “You look like a tare, tare
on out of here! You look like a tare, tare on out of here!” Needless to say
the point was well made. You may think you know a spiritual tare when you see
one, but you may be simply observing a precious soul struggling with Satan’s
temptations. Instead of denouncement and writing off you need to seek the
salvation of that soul. The care of the souls around us is ours job. Let the
Lord and his holy angels do their work at judgment.
The good we do for each other while here on earth is looked upon by the Lord
as done unto Him. He said, “Ye have done unto me.” When we fail to do for
each other the Lord says, “Ye have done it not unto me” (Matthew 25). This
will have a determination on our eternity. We are to treat others as we would
have them to treat us (Luke 6:31). It seems to us that, if this were primary
consideration in our conduct and speech, every problem would vanish. If we
want forgiveness by God we must forgive others; if we don’t forgive others we
will not be forgiven by God. (See Matthew 6:12; Luke 11:4). “For he shall
have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth
against judgment” (James 2:13).
Dear brother or sister there may be individuals who will not forgive you.
However, any provocation brought on by an implacable brother or sister should
be recognized as another ploy by Satan to cause you to fail, but it is also an
opportunity to prove your Christian steadfastness.
In connection with helping an erring Christian correct his ways, Paul writes,
“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. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For
if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth
himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have
rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another” (Galatians 6:1-4).
If you desire to be flattered by others or you try to make a big impression.
You’ve got to change or you’ll never make it to Heaven. We all need to
crucify carnal ambitions, fleshly pride and desire for personal honor. To the
Lord goes all glory! Too bad our human flesh makes us want to infringe on the
Lord’s glory and honor at times. We just need to stop it! When you know you
are doing right in the sight of the Lord, as Paul writes, just rejoice in
yourself.
Ultimately, we must face our own decisions in life. We will stand in
judgement for the things we’ve said, done, and even thought while here on
earth. May the Lord help us to recognize our own faults and “eschew that
which is evil and cleave to that which is good.” May we have mercy and
compassion on all others, even as the Lord has had on us. If we show mercy on
all others the Lord promises to show us mercy in judgement... and that’s what
we all need!
