Exhortation and Repentance · Living in Holiness

What about those who have gone astray?

6 min read, approximately

“Brothers and sisters, if you see that someone has fallen into sin, you who are spiritual should help that person return to the right path. But do it gently, and let each of you be very careful, lest you too be put to the test. Help one another bear your burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2)

Believing in, accepting, and following Jesus Christ completely transforms our lives, leading us to understand that “we no longer live or rule ourselves… Christ does now” (Galatians 2:20). Furthermore,

“Whoever says he remains in him ought to walk as he walked.” (1 John 2:6)

So we end up becoming “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).

However,

something has been happening in churches lately. It is as if, instead of words of encouragement, we had a whole great “arsenal” ready to use against someone who has gone wrong and longs for restoration. We rise up in slander, criticism, and judgment against that person, without even considering how we are pushing that person into a worse state. If only we asked ourselves before acting: What would Jesus have done, or do, for this person? Here is the answer:

“When Jesus heard this, he said to them: The healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17)

Introducing them to the Advocate before the Father

What is happening, then?

“My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone has sinned, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.” (1 John 2:1-2)

What about serving, loving, and restoring the one who has sinned?

On one occasion, the apostle Paul was deeply upset because part of the community was being held back over the issue of circumcision (to explore the subject, click here). He said:

“You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?” (Galatians 5:7)

And he adds a great truth:

“If only those who trouble you would mutilate themselves! For you, brothers and sisters, were called to freedom; only do not use freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. For the entire law is fulfilled in this one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you do not consume one another.” (Galatians 5:12-15)

A scoffer is someone who mocks and speaks about others in a cruel and humiliating way. “But I am not a scoffer… though I do sit with them”.

Let us remember where we were brought out of

What has God called us to? What is our task? What have we been freed for? Is it not to spread the gospel in order to free and restore others? But wait! What were we before knowing Christ? Could it be that God had mercy on us and, seeing our condition, restored us?

“For we too were once foolish, rebellious, and led astray, serving various desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for humanity appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous works we had done, but according to his mercy, through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out abundantly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:3-7)

Let us remember our own journey

If we have walked this path, how is it possible that we still cast the first stone at someone who has sinned when we too have sinned?

Once we were astray and had lost all credibility. Yet Jesus Christ left the 99 to come looking for us. Do you remember?

How dirty we were did not keep him from bringing us back… And when a price was demanded for us, he gave his life in payment, then washed, healed, and restored us (1 John 4:10, Hebrews 7:25, Philippians 2:6-8, Romans 3:23-24, Romans 5:10, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Hebrews 9:15… and the list goes on)

So what should we do?

“Brothers and sisters, if anyone among you has wandered from the truth and someone brings that person back, let him know that whoever brings a sinner back from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20)

Our task is to be watchmen, not to take up the sword to kill the fallen:

“‘Mortal man, tell your people: “When I bring an army against a country, and the people of that country choose a watchman, and he sees the army coming and sounds the alarm to warn them, then anyone who hears the alarm but refuses to pay attention is responsible if he dies. He heard the alarm but would not listen; the blame is his. If he had heeded the warning, he would have saved his life. But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and does not sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their deaths. They will die as punishment for their wickedness, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their deaths.” 

‘So it is with you, mortal man. I have appointed you as watchman for the people of Israel; therefore listen to what I tell you and warn them on my behalf. If I say to the wicked: Wicked man, you will die! and you do not tell him what I said, so that he has no opportunity to repent, that wicked person will die as punishment for his wickedness, but I will hold you responsible for his death. But if you warn him so that he has an opportunity to repent and he does not, he will die as punishment for his wickedness, and you will not be responsible.” (Ezekiel 33:2-9)

What do we do with those who have gone astray? Sorry, what did God do with us when we were astray?

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May God continue to bless you, and may you keep having an excellent day in Christ Jesus!