Church Discipline
425
Remission of Sins
“Whosesoever sins ye remit,” said Christ, “they are remitted; ...and
whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.” [
John 20:23
.] Christ
here gives no liberty for any man to pass judgment upon others. In the
sermon on the mount He forbade this. It is the prerogative of God. But
on the church in its organized capacity He places a responsibility for
the individual members. Toward those who fall into sin, the church
has a duty, to warn, to instruct, and if possible to restore. “Reprove,
rebuke, exhort,” the Lord says, “with all long-suffering and doctrine.”
[
2 Timothy 4:2
.]
Deal faithfully with wrong-doing. Warn every soul that is in danger.
Leave none to deceive themselves. Call sin by its right name. Declare
what God has said in regard to lying, Sabbath-breaking, stealing,
idolatry, and every other evil. “They which do such things shall not
inherit the kingdom of God.” [
Galatians 5:21
.] If they persist in sin,
the judgment you have declared from God’s word is pronounced upon
them in heaven. In choosing to sin, they disown Christ; the church must
[503]
show that she does not sanction their deeds, or she herself dishonors
her Lord. She must say about sin what God says about it. She must
deal with it as God directs, and her action is ratified in heaven. He who
despises the authority of the church, despises the authority of Christ
Himself.
But there is a brighter side to the picture. “Whosesoever sins ye
remit, they are remitted.” Let this thought be kept uppermost. In labor
for the erring, let every eye be directed to Christ. Let the shepherds
have a tender care for the flock of the Lord’s pasture. Let them speak
to the erring of the forgiving mercy of the Saviour. Let them encourage
the sinner to repent, and believe in Him who can pardon. Let them
declare, on the authority of God’s word, “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
.] All who repent have the assurance,
“He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and
Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” [
Micah 7:19
.]
Let the repentance of the sinner be accepted by the church with
grateful hearts. Let the repenting one be led out from the darkness of
unbelief into the light of faith and righteousness. Let his trembling