A NEWSLETTER FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE GREENWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

VOLUME 1 NO. 44                                        DECEMBER 19, 2004

“DENYING SELF”

PART XII
BY STEVE NIEMEIER

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24).  This statement also applies to us today.  The question that we must answer is this, “Am I willing to deny myself and take up my cross and follow after Jesus?”  Last week we looked at the thought of us denying self as it pertains to my examination of my spiritual life. This week let us look at “denying ourselves” as it pertains to delivering one to Satan.  Paul stated in I Corinthians 5:4-5; “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”  He went further in verses 6-13 of that same chapter and warns of a little leaven leavening the whole lump and how that we are to put away evil ones from ourselves.

Paul again states in II Thessalonians 3:10; “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”  Also, in verse 14 he states; “And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.”  We should also remember the words of Paul in Romans 16:17-18 and take a stand against those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine of Christ.  Far too many of us have trouble fulfilling Paul's instructions in the verses above.  A congregation will sometimes put up with those causing disorder for some time and then finally start to take a stand to correct the situation and the ones causing disorder suddenly leave as if they know what is going to happen.  For some reason we feel that they are no longer with us and as they move on to another congregation we simply try to pick up and move forward.  Did we handle this according to Romans 16:17-18?  No!  We are still left with the result of their sin and the result of our negligence in not dealing timely with them.  We should NOTE them and warn the congregation where they may want to attend.  If we do not NOTE them and warn the other congregation then in essence we are bidding them “Godspeed” and putting our stamp of approval on their teaching or action that caused division and disorder and saying no sin was involved.  Paul states in I Timothy 5:22 “Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people's sins; keep yourself pure.”  If we do nothing then we are a participant in their sin!  The Lord hates evil and so should we!  Psalm 97:10 states; “You, who love the Lord, hate evil!”  Many congregations have overlooked or dealt lightly with “evil” within the congregation and become weaker because of this.  Have we not seen a child that does not have the proper discipline run wild and create a strong disturbance?  The church of the Lord today is experiencing many “attacks” from Satan.  One such attack is to fill us with guilt and concern of being “too harsh” with one who is living in sin.  It seems as though we find reasons to justify our failing to “deliver one to Satan” instead of heeding the warning of the scriptures concerning what our actions should be and what will happen if we do not take that action.

It is also apparent that when we do finally have the courage to “mark” the sinner that we automatically “forget” him also.  Paul states in II Thessalonians 3:15; “Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”  This instruction comes right after his exhortation to not keep company with one who is not in harmony with what Paul taught.  James 5:19-20 teaches us; “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”  The idea of admonishing is to warn our erring brother of his sin and how can we do that if we do not “remember” him?  My friend let us not be afraid but be cautious in “delivering” the sinner to Satan and then let us “admonish” him so that he will be reminded of the need to repent.  In so doing we will have adhered to the warnings of mixing evil with good as well as the instruction of trying to save a soul from death!