Post by setfree on Jul 27, 2006 20:00:42 GMT -5
James 5: 16
Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
The Lord instructs us to help each other and support each other in our weaknesses. In the church today, unfortunately, that seldom happens because there has been so much judgement and rejection of imperfect people. All of us, however, are imperfect and will remain so (in our flesh) until the day of redemption, so there is to be no judgement and rejection here. We can reject sin without rejecting those caught up in sin (whether believers or unbelievers). Please keep that in mind when you respond to others posts. We are not instructed to reject those who have sinful strongholds in their lives, but to help them out of those strongholds through guidence, support and prayer. We are instructed to: But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4: 15- 16
We are not to reject those involved in sin, but we are not to coddle sinful behavior either. Jesus instructed us to flee from sin and so we can. It may take time to change our behavior for good in a certain sin but we can and should do that by changing our belief system through the Word of God. We bahave how we believe, so we must renew our minds to the truth of God's Word to change our behavior.
Ephesians 4: 23
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Setfree
Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
The Lord instructs us to help each other and support each other in our weaknesses. In the church today, unfortunately, that seldom happens because there has been so much judgement and rejection of imperfect people. All of us, however, are imperfect and will remain so (in our flesh) until the day of redemption, so there is to be no judgement and rejection here. We can reject sin without rejecting those caught up in sin (whether believers or unbelievers). Please keep that in mind when you respond to others posts. We are not instructed to reject those who have sinful strongholds in their lives, but to help them out of those strongholds through guidence, support and prayer. We are instructed to: But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4: 15- 16
We are not to reject those involved in sin, but we are not to coddle sinful behavior either. Jesus instructed us to flee from sin and so we can. It may take time to change our behavior for good in a certain sin but we can and should do that by changing our belief system through the Word of God. We bahave how we believe, so we must renew our minds to the truth of God's Word to change our behavior.
Ephesians 4: 23
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Setfree