Bound Or Loose, continued

 Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18.

Here is the three-step procedure.

 Appear - The first step is for you to show up, to appear to him. You, the offended, are the one to make the first move or the first step of freeing and saving your brother. You are to make the first appearance, find him, make contact with him, go to him and show him what he has done wrong. You do not first go around the family, talking of the error of his ways, complaining and casting that one off as evil and bad. That is not the way of heaven, for it is not the way of the Lord. Just between you and that offending brother, explain and show him, what is wrong.

If that brother listens to you, says Jesus, then, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen to you, then you need to take the next step.

Approach - Your next step is to get one or two others to go with you, as you return to your brother. You do not give up after your first attempt at helping your brother. You are now approaching him with two or three others for one reason and one reason only. You are taking witnesses along this time, for this specific purpose. You are doing this says Jesus so that, by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. You are not taking this step to show up your brother or condemn him in any way. You are continuing your hope of saving and freeing him. Victoriously, if your offending brother listens to those witnesses whom you have brought, then they will have won over your brother. Sadly, if he still refuses to listen, then you must take the final step in your efforts to show him the error of his ways.  

Appeal- Your final step is to go to the church and bring the matter to them. Who is the church? What is the church? There are two points of understanding that are being highlighted about the church in this matter.

1. The church is the voice of the jurisdictional seat of punishment on the earth, for the Lord Himself is the Head, the Beginning of that Body.

2. The church is the voice of the jurisdictional seat of pardon on the earth. The Lord Himself is the Head, the Ending of that Body.

In other words, the church is the final appeal in your effort to offer your brother freedom and salvation. When Jesus tells the offended one to go to the church, He is saying that this matter has reached a critical stage. It has become a, now-or-never; do-or-die, situation.

Appealing to the church brings freedom to the offended and offers freedom to the offender.  

Appealing to the church brings peace to the offended and offers peace to the offender.

If the brother listens to the church, he will surely be loosed from the error of his ways. But if, in his stubbornness and ignorance, he even refuses to listen to the church, then says Jesus, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. There will be no recovery in this matter. To treat your brother as a pagan or tax collector is to live with him without being one with him. It is to love him, but not follow his ways. It is to denounce his example of non-repentance.

This is the way of the Lord, God in heaven. His rule is that we must always seek the path of repentance. We are to take the opportunities brought to us to repent and say how sorry we are for our wicked and evil deeds. Without our repenting ways, how can we receive the forgiveness that has already been offered to us?

And so says Jesus, our Risen Lord and Saviour, the Lord and Giver of all life,   Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 

Whatever the offense, if you are the offended, know that when you obey the path Jesus has mapped out for you, you will receive what He has promised. It is the path to help the one who has wronged you, then you will live the truth of God’s Kingdom life, right here on earth. In this Kingdom life, He promises a life of freedom of mind and peace of heart. It is the will of Almighty God for the offended.  

Whatever the offense, if you are the  offender, know that when you obey, when you listen to, and accept the path Jesus has clearly mapped out for you, it will free you. It is the path of accepting the forgiveness and good-will from the one whom you have wronged. Then and only then will you live the truth of God’s Kingdom life, right here on earth. 

In this Kingdom life, the Lord God Almighty promises a life of freedom. Freedom of mind and peace of heart will surely be given to the offender.  Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 

Whatever the offense, if you are the offended, know that when you accept the instructions given by Jesus, all that He has laid out for you, all that He has promised, must be fulfilled. It is the only way forward to help the one who has wronged you. In obeying Jesus’ way, you will witness to the truth of God’s Kingdom life, right here below. In this Kingdom life, our Lord promises a life of freedom, assurance, joy and deep, inner peace of heart, soul, mind and spirit. It is the will of Almighty God for the offended.

Whatever the offense, if you are the  offender, know that when you obey, when you listen to, and accept the path Jesus has clearly mapped out for you, it will free you.  It is the path of accepting the forgiveness and good will from the one whom you have wronged. Then and only then will you live the truth of God’s Kingdom life, right here on earth. 

In this Kingdom life, the Lord God Almighty promises a life of freedom. Freedom of mind and peace of heart will surely be given to the offender.