Grace and Peace Episode 42
Presbyterian Church of Easton
July 4, 2021
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:2
Heidelberg Catechism
85Q. How is the kingdom of heaven closed and opened by Christian discipline?
A. According to the command of Christ: Those who, though called Christians, profess unchristian teachings or live unchristian lives, and who after repeated personal and loving admonitions, refuse to abandon their errors and evil ways, and who after being reported to the church, that is, to those ordained by the church for that purpose, fail to respond also to the church’s admonitions— such persons the church excludes from the Christian community by withholding the sacraments from them, and God also excludes them from the kingdom of Christ.
Such persons, when promising and demonstrating genuine reform, are received again as members of Christ and of his church.
2 John 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.
Christian discipline requires obedience to Jesus’ teaching. This obedience is not a requirement for salvation because salvation comes from belief in Jesus Christ and not works. But obedience is required for those who would be part of a church. And the elders of the church have the responsibility of admonishing people to Christian living and excluding from the church those who refuse to repent.
This is at odds with much Christian teaching today. In many pulpits, pastors proclaim that Christ loves you regardless of your behavior. In some churches sin is celebrated.
We must never go down this path. We need to listen to sermons that call people to obedience. We need to study the Bible to make sure that we know what is required of us. We must confess any behavior which the Bible calls sin. We must truly desire for our lives to be free from sin. And we must ask the Holy Spirit for help in obeying biblical commands. Only by doing these things can we prepare ourselves to be a part of Christ’s kingdom. Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, send you Spirit upon us so that we may delight in your will and obey your commandments. Help us as your church to instruct the faithful in Christian living and discipline those who fall short. Amen.
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