God's Glory Church

“And when your brother sins against you, go and tell him between you and him; if he listens to you, you have bought your brother.” — Matthew 18:15

In 2010, a tsunami hit the Indonesian island of Sumatra, killing more than 400 people. The loss of life could have been prevented or minimized if the warning system had worked properly. However, the buoys that signaled the approach of giant waves broke away and floated into the ocean.

Christ has given us the responsibility to warn one another about things that can cause spiritual harm. According to His command, a believer against whom another has sinned must humbly and prayerfully point out his sin to the wrongdoer alone (Matt. 18:15). If he repents, then the conflict will be considered exhausted, and the relationship will be restored. But if he does not want to admit guilt, then you must take “one or two more” with you (v. 16). When the one who has sinned, even in this case, does not repent, the question should be put before the church (v. 17), and if he does not listen to the church, then such a person should be excommunicated from the community of Christians. However, at the same time, of course, one must continue to pray for him and show him the love of Christ.

We will ask God for wisdom to lovingly warn each other about the danger of unrepentant sin, as well as talk about the joy of restoring relations with the Heavenly Father and other believers. In this case, the words of the Lord will be fulfilled: “where two or three are gathered in My Name, there I am in their midst” (v. 20).

How can you humbly and lovingly expose someone in sin? How dangerous is unrepentant sin?

God, help me to love others enough to lovingly warn them if I see them falling into sin.

Author: Marvin Williams