Bible Thoughts

February 15, 2004

The Bible clearly teaches that when one is aware of any sin, that sin is to be confessed to God. Some sins that are committed are between the person and God for only God knows about them. There is no reason for such sins to be made public. Sins known only to the one committing or just a few should be confessed only to those who know of the sin(s).

If one refuses to repent who is committing sin, it is to be told to the brethren. When he repents and confesses to his error, brethren will forgive him and take such a one back into fellowship. The body would have to know of the sins in order to call the guilty to repentance; the same body should know if the person repents.

Most of the time when one "comes forward" in the assembly and asks forgiveness for one's sin(s), the preacher(or another member) will state the problem and then ask someone to pray for that person. The local body is now aware of the repentance of that person and will forgive the penitent one. In essence, that one has, through this procedure, made the body aware of one's change. In some manner the church needs to know the erring child has repented and is worthy of full fellowship of the church. This permits the brethren to know that one has renounced what he/she was doing.(In many, if not most instances, the specific sins are not revealed to the whole body. In other cases, where there is an awareness by most, if not all, the specific sin may be identified.)

When one sins, those who are aware of the sin should be informed of the repentance of that person. Prayer would be appropriate in such circumstances.

Sins that are public, that is, those generally known, should be acknowledged publicly to assure those who are aware of such that the person has repented(changed). This also allows others to help the confessor overcome his/her problem(s) and receive strengthening from the faithful.

The following passages are appropriate for studying in this matter:

Matthew 18:1-20. If a brother sins against another, it is to be corrected by the two of them. If the erring one refuses to repent, witnesses are to be called and if needful, the entire local body is informed and action is taken. When one confesses his error and returns to fellowship, it needs to be known publicly.

Acts 8:17-24: When Simon the Sorcerer attempted to purchase the "power of God" in order to lay hands on others, Peter rebuked him for his sins and called for repentance and prayer. Simon asked Peter to pray for him. In the same manner those who feel the need have this example of having the brethren pray for them.

I Corinthians 5:1-13: This man was guilty of fornication. The apostle called for him to repent or the brethren would withdraw from him. Such was publicly known and publicly handled. When the brethren carried out the instructions of Paul, the man repented and was accepted back into the fellowship. The brethren knew of the sin; they also knew of his repentance (confession and acknowledgment of his sin). They readily accepted him back into fellowship on the basis of his change(II Corinthians 2:5-11).

I John 1:9: There are sins that are to be confessed to only one--the one who is sinned against. There are sins that are known to a few--the few are to be informed of one's repentance. At other times, the entire body is aware of such and the entire body needs to know of one's change. There have been times when a letter was read or a statement was made. The one in the wrong did not go forward in the assembly. The procedure would be chosen by the person who was in the wrong and there should no objections to the manner in which it is accomplished. If the body knows about the sin(s), the body needs to know that one has repented.

Galatians 6:1-2: The restoration of one in sin is done in a spirit of gentleness in order to lead the person back to the Lord. The spiritual(the body of Christ), in the proper spirit, will work to bring the erring back to the Lord. The word "brethren" would infer that it was the whole body who would put forth the effort to bring one back. When the person repents, then the whole body would accept him/her back into fellowship.

James 5:16: This scripture would give weight to a "public" confession as practiced by congregations. The care of "one for another" would place the forgiver(s) in the position to help strengthen the confessor(s). It has been said by some that the confession should be as public as the sin, that is, private sin, private confession; public sin, public confession.(One can conclude from this passage that it covers any "confession" that is necessary to restore one to the full fellowship and approval of the fold.)

There are certain conditions that contribute to the growth of God's kingdom in the present day. These have existed from the very beginning. As one studies the growth of the church in the days of the apostles, he can understand what will contribute to the expansion of the body of Christ at present.

The primary condition that caused an advancement is the preaching of the Word. When the apostles went forth, they preached the truth(Acts 6:4). At the instigation of persecution against the disciples, they spread the word wherever they went(Acts 8:4). The growth of the church is exactly parallel to the amount of truth preached.

Another item to the advancement of the kingdom is the kind of lives displayed by the disciples. People can be lead by the life of truth. Impressions were made upon the Jews at Jerusalem by the devotion of the members of Christ(Acts 2:47). As the "light of the world," each disciple can help to guide men to the truth. Their obedience will cause the church to grow.

The church will grow not only from a numerical standpoint as a result of these conditions, every person who hears and accepts the truth grows, even after becoming a Christian(II Peter 3:18). As one conforms his life to the word of God, he is strengthened. Growth spiritually is the result of these actions.

It can safely be said the church will grow when the word is preached and people are living the kind of lives they should. The growth may not always be numerical, but growth will follow because it can be measured in spiritual values.