Ezekiel 3: 18-19 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
“If wrongs are apparent among His people, and if the servants of God pass on indifferent to them, they virtually sustain and justify the sinner, and are alike guilty and will just as surely receive the displeasure of God; for they will be made responsible for the sins of the guilty.” Testimonies, Vol. 3, pp. 265, 266.
“If one neglects the duty Christ has enjoined, of trying to restore those who are in error and sin, he becomes a partaker in the sin. For evils that we might have checked, we are just as responsible as if we were guilty of the acts ourselves” (The Desire of Ages,p. 441).
Jesus said “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven” Matthew 6:10
The way sin is dealt with in the heavenly sanctuary is the way we deal with it here on earth …… That is confession and repentance followed by justification or forgiveness.
Jesus Way of Dealing With Sin in a Brother
Notice the IF
Luke 17:3, Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and IF he repent, forgive him.
Luke 17:4 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.
The forgiveness here is conditional on repentance. Verse 4 involves confession of the transgressor.
Notice the IF
Matthew 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: IF he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But IF he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And IF he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but IF he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Notice also the repentance in verse 15. ” IF he shall hear thee” demonstrates repentance
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“He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD” (Proverbs 17:150
God is a sin-hating God. And those who encourage the sinner, saying, It is well with thee, God will curse. 3T 272.1
GOD IS TRYING TO SAVE THE LIFE OF THE SINNER. DON’T GET IN HIS WAY
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The unconditional pardon of sin never has been, and never will be. Such pardon would show the abandonment of the principles of righteousness, which are the very foundation of the government of God. It would fill the unfallen universe with consternation. God has faithfully pointed out the results of sin, and if these warnings were not true, how could we be sure that His promises would be fulfilled? That so-called benevolence which would set aside justice, is not benevolence, but weakness. AG 73.2
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” If God abhors one sin above another, of which His people are guilty, it is doing nothing in case of an emergency. Indifference and neutrality in a religious crisis is regarded of God as a grievous crime and equal to the very worst type of hostility against God. 3 Testimonies, 280-281.
Dealing With Sin in Wicked Brother
But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler- not to even eat with such a one. (12) For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? (13) But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES. (1 Cor 5:11-13)(NASB)
“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.” 2 Thessalonians 3:6
“I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evildoers; and will not sit with the wicked.—Psalms 26:4-5.
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God’s Dealing With Sin
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
First, regarding God and His forgiveness, it is undisputed in orthodox Christian theology that God does not forgive everyone. The doctrine of Hell is a sufficient proof of the lack of universal forgiveness by God. Next, it is clear that God does not forgive without repentance. This doctrine is taught in a number of texts. For example, in 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Psalms 32:5 – I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
Ephesians 4:32King James Version (KJV)
“unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3 (Words of Jesus)
Forgiveness is conditioned upon repentance—and this is one of the same criteria that God requires before He forgives sin. If the person fails to repent, we are to shun him in all appropriate ways
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
“Even as” means in the same way
Ephesians 5:11
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
John the Baptist Dealing with Sin
To read how John the Baptist was dealing with sin CLICK HERE
Dealing With Sin in the Church
The Sin of Achan,
The Signs of the Times, April 21, 1881.
“The history of Achan teaches the solemn lesson, that for one man’s sin, the displeasure of God will rest upon a people or a nation till the transgression is searched out and punished. Sin is corrupting in its nature. One man infected with its deadly leprosy may communicate the taint to thousands. Those who occupy responsible positions as guardians of the people are false to their trust, if they do not faithfully search out and reprove sin.
Many dare not condemn iniquity, lest they shall thereby sacrifice position or popularity. And by some it is considered uncharitable to rebuke sin. The servant of God should never allow his own spirit to be mingled with the reproof which he is required to give; but he is under the most solemn obligation to present the word of God, without fear or favor. He must call sin by its right name. Those who by their carelessness or indifference permit God’s name to be dishonored by his professed people, are numbered with the transgressor, — registered in the record of Heaven as partakers in their evil deeds.”
“There is need of earnest work to set things in order in the church of God, and it is fully as essential to do this work as it is to preach or to pray.”
“Do we not encourage sin, by failing to meet it with plain and pointed reproof? We may have the clearest understanding of God’s word, we may make a high profession of godliness, yet if injustice or iniquity is concealed among us, we need not wonder that our souls are dry and fruitless as a withered branch.”
“The spirit of hatred against reproof is steadily increasing. It is considered uncharitable to deal plainly and faithfully with the erring. Sin is glossed over, and thus blindness has come upon souls until it is impossible for them to discriminate between right and wrong, between sin and holiness. Many have closed their ears to reproof, and hardened their hearts against every influence which would set their sins before them.”
“We repeat, God holds the church responsible for the sins of its individual members.”
“Those who have the true love of God in their hearts will not teach that sin should be handled with gloved hands. The words of God to Joshua contain a solemn lesson for everyone who professes to be a follower of Christ, — ‘Neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed thing from among you.‘ ” The Signs of the Times, April 21, 1881.
Sins exist in the church that God hates, but they are scarcely touched for fear of making enemies. Opposition has risen in the church to the plain testimony. Some will not bear it. They wish smooth things spoken unto them. And if the wrongs of individuals are touched, they complain of severity, and sympathize with those in the wrong. As Ahab inquired of Elijah, “Art thou he that troubleth Israel?” they are ready to look with suspicion and doubt upon those who bear the plain testimony, and like Ahab overlook the wrong which made it necessary for reproof and rebuke. When the church depart from God they despise the plain testimony, and complain of severity and harshness. It is a sad evidence of the lukewarm state of the church. 2SG 283.3
While these evils remain untouched everything passes along smoothly, but when the straight testimony comes and reproof and rebuke are given, there is a rising up against the straight testimony. It does not agree with the carnal mind, their carnal security is disturbed, they resist the work of God, and some will fall off. Ms 4, 1860, par. 12
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(Titus 3:10-11) A man that is a heretick after the first and second admonition, reject; (11) knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.