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TO  LOVE  THE  LORD  THY  GOD  -  Spiritually,  Part  25  quotes

1)     How Are We to Handle and Deal With Sin Problems Among Us?

     Many believe that you show more love for one another by remaining silent when sins are apparent in them, than you would by pointing out their wrongs.  But this position is not correct according to God’s word.

     “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” Mark 10:21.


     “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” Proverbs 3:11-12.


     “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:19.


     “For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears (Paul was reproving church members for their sins and calling them to repentance and reformation); not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.” 2 Corinthians 2:4.





2)    “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.   See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15.


     “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Galatians 6:1.


     “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.  And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” Jude 1:20-23.


     “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority.  Let no man despise thee.” Titus 2:12-15.


     “...rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.” Proverbs 9:8.


     “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17.





3)   Reproving and correcting our brothers and sisters for their wrongs and sins is all to be done out of love for their souls; not out of love for ourselves.  It is to be done to help build them up in the Lord, not to build up ourselves in self-exaltation over them.  It is to be done out of tender concern for them, not out of tender concern for our pride!

     “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:31-32.

     “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.  And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” Luke 17:3-4.





4)   No Partiality in Warning and Even Rebuking Sin


     “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.  For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?....If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.” James 2:1-4, 8-9.


     “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1.


     “I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.” 1 Timothy 5:21.



     No partiality is to be shown towards those who sin - regardless of how they may act once reproved.

     “And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words...nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.  And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.” Ezekiel 2:6-7.





5)   How Are We to Respond If We Are Being Reproved and Rebuked for Our Actual Sins?

     None of us are born with the precise knowledge of how to lovingly and correctly reprove one another.  This means that sometimes we are not going to reprove and correct one another in the best possible way - even though our intentions are the best.  But irregardless of how we are reproved and corrected, how should all of us respond to our brothers and sisters in Christ who are seeking to correct and reprove us of our sins?

     “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalms 51:17.


     “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels...but fools despise wisdom and instruction.  My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.” Proverbs 1:5, 7-9.


     “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” Proverbs 15:1.


     “...be more ready to hear...Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing...Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin”. Ecclesiastes 5:1-2, 6.


     “A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent....The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.  He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.  The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” Proverbs 15:5, 31-33.


     “A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.” Proverbs 13:1.





6)   If we discover that our reprovers are correct about us, then we will honestly, sincerely and fully repent for our sin, and with grateful and appreciative hearts thank those for loving us so much that they took the time to point out our sins so that we could be saved and not lost.

     “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life”. Proverbs 6:23.


     “He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction”. Proverbs 10:17.


     “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.” Hebrews 12:11-13.





7)   What makes correction and reproving grievous to us?

     “Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way”. Proverbs 15:10.


     “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” John 3:20.


     Our fallen sinful nature makes being reproved grievous.  Pride eagerly comes to the rescue and defends self in several different ways:

               1) - Denial and even outright lying in order to prevent our sins from being exposed.

               2) - Anger at being reproved.

               3) - Totally ignoring the correction and then attacking the one who reproved us.

               4) - Become hurt and offended at being rebuked or corrected by another.





8)   If we take offense and become hurt when we are reproved, then our hurt feelings will cause our Godly love for our reprovers to quickly die away.

     “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” Matthew 24:10-12.



     If our love waxes cold for any of our brothers or sisters in Christ, then self and pride will take complete control over our lives.  Then whatever love we had for our reprovers will quickly turn into hate.

     “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” Galatians 4:16.


     “Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.” Proverbs 10:12.



     This hatred for one another is catastrophic to our spiritual life!

     “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” Matthew 5:22.



     What is the end result of all this selfish hatred being indulged in and cherished, instead of cast out and replaced with Godly love?

     “But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him”. Daniel 5:20.


     “...he that hateth reproof shall die.” Proverbs 15:10.


     “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” Proverbs 29:1.


     “...thou (wilt) mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!” Proverbs 5:11-13.





9)   How can we keep our love for one another strong, and not allow it to wax cold and turn to hatred?  How can we keep selfishness and pride dead, and instead allow Christlike love to be the ruling principle in our hearts?

     "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20.


     “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled”. Hebrews 12:14-15.


     “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13.  


     “Recompense to no man evil for evil.  Provide things honest in the sight of all men.  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.  Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:17-21.


     “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.” Ephesians 4:26-27.


     “Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.  Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.  Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.” Leviticus 19:16-18.