My brother or sister has sinned. Now what?
Bible Passage:
Colossians 3:12-17
Pastor:
Pastor Glen
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Sermon Date:
2010-09-25
I would like to share an important historical event that took place in 1974. For those individuals who were born after 1970 I would like to go share with you that 1974 was a critical time in the history of the United States In 1974 the country was torn apart by the activities of President Richard Nixon and people who worked under him. After his resignation the next President did something not everyone agreed with at the time. On September 8, 1974 President Gerald Ford the 38th President of the United States read these words.
As a result of certain acts or omissions occurring before his resignation from the Office of President, Richard Nixon has become liable to possible indictment and trial for offenses against the United States. Whether or not he shall be so prosecuted depends on findings of the appropriate grand jury and on the discretion of the authorized prosecutor. Should an indictment ensue, the accused shall then be entitled to a fair trial by an impartial jury, as guaranteed to every individual by the Constitution. It is believed that a trial of Richard Nixon, if it became necessary, could not fairly begin until a year or more has elapsed. In the meantime, the tranquility to which this nation has been restored by the events of recent weeks could be irreparably lost by the prospects of bringing to trial a former President of the United States. The prospects of such trial will cause prolonged and divisive debate over the propriety of exposing to further punishment and degradation a man who has already paid the unprecedented penalty of relinquishing the highest elective office of the United States. Now, THEREFORE, I, GERALD R. FORD, President of the United States, pursuant to the pardon power conferred upon me by Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, have granted and by these present do grant a full, free, and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 20, 1969 through August 9, 1974.
Former President Nixon received a total and complete pardon. Fair or unfair? A pardon is a complete favor. It is not deserved or earned. Remember that picture of a pardon and its undeserved nature today we ask the question concerning our attitude and treatment of those in our Christian community. ”My brother or sister has sinned.Now what?”
Who is my brother or sister who has sinned? Today we are speaking of our fellow believers in Jesus Christ. My brother or sister in Jesus may be a relative perhaps he is not. My brother or sister in Christ may be a member of my congregation perhaps they are not.
You might honestly ask a very serious question at this point when you hear the question: “My brother or sister has sinned, now what? The question might go something like this: Pastor what do you mean by a sin? Everybody sins. That is just the way we are why would I ever think of doing anything. Maybe that is how we would respond but is that the way our Lord God who has called us to follow him would have us respond?
My brother or sister sinned. Now what? The Scriptures define what sin is as missing the mark of what God would have us do according to his will. Words like transgression are used to describe out and out rebellion against God. Another word describes the result of our sin as iniquity or sin. The Scriptures speak of sin as those things God has commanded us not to do or those things he has commanded us to do. God commands us to only worship him as God. We are not to misuse his name. We are not despise preaching or his Word. On the other hand we are to love God and our neighbor perfectly. But Pastor we all sin why would I ever care whether my brother or sister sinned?
In the Gospel lesson Jesus reminds us that we have been called to follow him and to be concerned about our brother or sister who sins. Jesus says: 15 “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.” But in order to carry out that work we have to remember who we are.
Please turn to God’s Word from Colossians 3:12-17 either in your Bible or in the bulletin. 12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved. My dear friends remember at all times who you are. God has chosen you from eternity to know him as the Father who sent his son to grant us a total and free pardon from all our sins. It is undeserved. This gracious pardon from God wipes away all sin, rebellion and guilt that we have incurred in our lives. The Father has sent his Son to suffer our punishment that his blood might remove all stains received from our open rebellion. The Son has willingly sacrificed himself in our place so that we might never experience any penalty or our rebellious acts. That is who are. We have been called to follow Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit in baptism in which we were given new clothing that enables us to willing and gladly serve our gracious God who pardoned us first. 12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. The clothing described by the Apostle is the clothing we wear as children of God washed at the font of Baptism. We have been empowered not only to live for ourselves but to live for God and to do his will in our lives.
So now back to the big question as we live together in Christian community: My brother or sister has sinned. Now what? The word in the original saying that we are to forgive our brother or sister is very interesting. The word forgive has the idea to bestow a favor or a pardon or to cancel a debt. The idea of forgiveness is not based on being deserved or even repented. This is a challenging concept. Our Heavenly Father calls us to cancel the debt of those who sin against us. The power to forgive is the reminder that we have been forgiven our sin debt so forgive those who sin against. Let me share what the Apostle Paul says again: 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. My brother or sister in Christ sinned. Now what? I cannot point out the sin of my brother or sister unless I forgive him or her first. That enables me to drip with love as I in love come alongside my brother or sister who has sinned and admonish him or her. Often the sin I will point out is the sin that may have been against me. The goal for pointing out that sin is repentance. My Lord never ever wants us to be casual about sin because it is rebellion against God.
Did you notice the lesson from James for today?”My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins (James 5:19-20).” Admonition for a sin not repented is not just something pastors do or elders of the church but we are called into the community of the Christian church to admonish each other when there is sin that is ongoing and the person is not repentant. In the Old Testament a man by the name of King David committed adultery and covered his rebellion against God with murder. God sent his messenger, a prophet, Nathan. Nathan in love pointed out the sin and when David repented of his sin Nathan announced that his sin was cancelled.
The Apostle Paul reminds us of our call to action and our source of power to carry out that work: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom.” Love compels us to drip with love and to point out the sin that has not been repented of by our brother or sister in Christ. We live in a tolerant society that encourages us to let everyone do their own thing but that is not love in God’s eyes.
Don’t forget that your brother or sister in Christ may come to you when you have sinned. How will you receive him or her? Will you understand why he or she is coming in love to point out your sin against the God who sent his Son to love you? The sender of anyone is the Lord God. The Lord God is the one who uses people like you and me to keep one another in the Christian community called the Holy Christian Church. This is God’s truth.
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