1 - Introduction - Living like a real Christian Idolatry - The Sin Beneath The Sin | Seite 11

• James 5 v 16 is the only place where we are told to confess our sins to others. Some
have concluded, because of the context, that this is only for people who are seeking
healing from physical illness. Hebrews 3 v 13, however, tells us to “encourage one
another daily,” lest we be “hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (i.e., hiddenness). Such a
practice certainly entails having a fairly intimate knowledge of one another’s flaws.
• Romans 15 v 14 uses a word, noutheo, which means “to admonish,” to lovingly
confront someone.
Practice 8— Serving One Another Through Forgiveness and Reconciliation
• Ephesians 4 v 2 – “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another
in love”
• Colossians 3 v 13 – “Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another”
• Galatians 5 v 26 – Don’t provoke or envy one another
• James 4 v 11 – “Do not slander one another”
• Matthew 5 v 23– 24; 18 v 15 – Re-establish broken relationships with one another.
Christians in community are never to give up on one another. We must never tire of
forgiving (and/or repenting) and seeking to repair our relationships. Matthew 5 v 23–24
tells us we should go to someone if we know the person has something against us.
Matthew 18 v 15 says we should approach others if we know that we have something
against them. In short, it is always your move to repair relationships in the community.
God always holds you responsible to reach out to repair a broken relationship. A Christian
is responsible to begin the process of reconciliation, regardless of how the distance or the
alienation began.
Notes on the texts:
• Ephesians 4 v 2 is a general directive, telling us to “bear with” one another. This
means being patient and forbearing over small irritations.
• Galatians 5 v 26 uses two words that have the opposite meaning. To “provoke”
means basically to despise someone, to look down and disdain someone because the
person has less …………………………. (intelligence, appropriate views, proper behaviour,
looks, status) than you. To “envy” means to feel inferior to, to resent because
someone has more …………………………………… (intelligence, education, looks, status,
power) than you. Both kinds of attitudes breed conflicts and unreconciled
relationships.
• James 4 v 11 forbids the kind of condemning, judgmental, harsh language and
attitudes that break ??????????((0