The gospel must be understood. By this statement, I am not referring to it being understood by those outside the faith, nor am I referring to it being understood by the members or partners of our Church or Organisation. I am in fact referring to Leaders: the Good News of God's Kingdom brought by Jesus Christ must be understood by Leaders.
Let us take a look at Romans Chapter 8, it is known by so many of us but understood by so few.
It starts off with this:
''Therefore, there is no longer any condemnation awaiting those who are in union with the Messiah Yeshua. Why? Because the Torah of the Spirit, which produces this life in union with Messiah Yeshua, has set me free from the “Torah” of sin and death.'' Romans8:1-2 CJB
Kindly note that this article is not concentrating on whether the 'Old Testament' is obsolete or not - that will be left to another day's discussion. The aim here is to draw our attention to what Christ accomplished, how he accomplished it, why it was required, and what that means for all, today, and for the future.
Apostle Paul is clear in the statement 'Therefore, there is no longer any condemnation' for the one in 'union' with the Messiah. The point here is 'union' with the Messiah. To be in union with the Messiah means to be a partaker of his 'Flesh and his blood', it means to trust in the provision of his sacrifice. It means to be in the vine. As Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.'' John 15:5
To remain in him does not mean trying to live right. While right-living should be expected from one who has been given a right spirit (righteousness), the presence or absence of condemnation is not attached to the rightness of the person's living but to their union with the Messiah. As the Easy-to-read version puts it, ''So now anyone who is in Christ Jesus is not judged guilty. That is because in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit that brings life made you free. It made you free from the law that brings sin and death.'' [Romans8:1-2]
Now before anyone judges me, I want to state that I am in no way saying that we can just do anything because we are no longer counted guilty as long as we remain in union with the Messiah, no; even Apostle Paul says: ''So then, brothers, we don’t owe a thing to our old nature that would require us to live according to our old nature. For if you live according to your old nature, you will certainly die; but if, by the Spirit, you keep putting to death the practices of the body, you will live.'' [Romans 8:12 -13}
Paul's point here, however, is that continually giving lust or any other fleshly passions the upper hand over our newly re-born (godly) Spirit will lead one back into destruction. Any resulting death however does not emanate from Christ, but from wrong choices being given the liberty to pull the individual away from righteousness and Eternal Life. However, neither YHWH nor Christ Jesus will be there condemning. Why?
The Complete Jewish Bible translation of Romans 8 verse 33-34 explains plainly:
'' So who will bring a charge against God’s chosen people? Certainly not God — he is the one who causes them to be considered righteous! Who punishes them? Certainly not the Messiah Yeshua, who died and — more than that — has been raised, is at the right hand of God and is actually pleading on our behalf!'
Even Jesus' address to the 7 Churches in Revelation, his aim was never to condemn but to alert to areas where correction was needed. They were warnings given in his zeal for their final victory! As he said ''Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. ''Revelation 3:19
Condemnation is the spirit of the ''Accuser'' in Revelation 12:10, which degrades, dismisses people, and attempts to thwart their destinies. It says 'You are no longer worth anything - your value is gone or diminished'.
What am I getting at? The devilish culture of condemnation (especially of Ministers by Ministers) must stop. God is not on that side no matter how justified or pious the reasons might be. How do I know? Because here is the Lord Jesus's ( and therefore YHWH's) instruction of actions to take if someone sins:
“If your brother or sister in God’s family does something wrong,
1. go and tell them what they did wrong. Do this when you are alone with them.
2. If they listen to you, then you have helped them to be your brother or sister again.
3. But if they refuse to listen, go to them again and take one or two people with you. Then there will be two or three people who will be able to tell all that happened.
4. If they refuse to listen to them, tell the church.
5. And if they refuse to listen to the church, treat them as you would treat someone who does not know God or who is a tax collector. Matthew 18: 15-17ERV
None of these steps include public condemnation. Condemnation or railing against our brother publicly is a system borrowed from the world not taken from the sculptures. This should not be, we must stop.
And it's only after going through steps 1-4 that we have the right to move away (as Paul taught, 'Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?'); this however, is not before going through steps 1-4.
Even when moving away from that one who will not heed our loving warnings, should they should genuinely turn around from their ways, and come back to their 'spiritual' senses, our heart should be as the Father's heart:
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.'' (Luke 15:22- 24),
In our Kingdom and to our King, Soldiers are first sons, and sons are always welcome home.
''For God is not so unfair as to forget your work and the love you showed for him in your past service to his people — and in your present service too.'' Hebrews 6:10 CJB
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