Correction – are you Qualified to Correct?

God has used many of His people to rebuke this fool (me)….yes as members of Christ’s body we have each other to help us be accountable to HIM and to grow in the grace of Christ – Psalms 141:5; 2 Peter 3:18. David prayed:

“Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.” Psalms 141:5

Sometimes we need wounding unto life. It produces needed healing, wholeness (Proverbs 27:5-6).

At some point, every man needs to be confronted by his Nathan (2 Samuel 11-12; Psalms 141:5). When God has to send a Nathan, it’s because He loves us (Revelation 3:19).

May the LORD bless abundantly all the Nathans! They care! (Proverbs 27:5-6) Nathans are true men of God as opposed to the many cowards who pose as such these days but don’t possess the corresponding fruit!

 “For the commandment (written Word) is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:” Proverbs 6:23

WHAT’s the Savior’s goal if one of His children go astray, fall? What’s God’s will for using you in that process?

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual (mature in Christ), restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. ²Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1-2

Jesus teaches that if we presently have any sin at all in our own lives, we are 100% disqualified from pointing out or condemning anyone else for any sin they have in their own life.

“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” John 8:7

Jesus teaches us that The sin that should concern us the most is our own.

Any questions?

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5

If one’s aim, goal isn’t restoration, such a person is not qualified to approach another concerning sin.

There is no excuse for sin and yet, Jesus didn’t deal harshly with those who fell, as long as they were honest and weren’t pretenders – pharisees (See Matt. 23). He never dealt more harshly than when He spoke to the religious actors (pharisees). Remember to always consider just who the LORD is talking to in His Word when you are studying. ….Jesus knows the hearts of all men and knows who is sincerely repentant and who isn’t (2 Cor. 7:9-10). He cannot be mocked (Gal. 6:7). Consider how the Son of God spoke to the women at the well whom He said had previously had 5 husbands and now was living with another man (John 4). What did Jesus teach concerning the two men who went to pray? (Lk. 18:9-17) The one who prayed only 7 words of sincere, honest, repentance was heard while the one who proudly touted his own self-righteousness and prayed 34 words, was rejected. Sin must be dealt with among God’s people and yet, it must be dealt with according the Jesus’ and His apostles clear instructions and never out of self-righteous pride (Rom. 16:17-18; 1 Cor. 5:11-12; Gal. 6:1-3; James 5:19-20). The novice must never undertake such but rather continue to get the logs from his own eyes so God can later use him to bring restoration – that’s the goal (Matt. 7:1-5; Gal. 6:1-2). “Ye which are spiritual” or seasoned in Christ’s grace, mature, are to “restore” the fallen to their relationship with Jesus (Gal. 6:1-2). Also, Jesus instructed us to not go public but rather to go straight to the one we believe is in sin – first (Matt. 18:15-18). To say we are led to correct while simultaneously contradicting/violating the very instructions of Scripture, reveals our own delusionment (1 Cor. 14:33). This bring offences contrary to God’s will as expressed in His Word (see Rom. 16:17-18).

Tip: If we are too eager to correct others, this identifies us as novices (1 Tim. 3:6). The LORD wants to do a work in our own hearts and lives and will use us to help restore others to Him later (1 Cor. 11:31-32; 2 Cor. 13:5).

If we are not truly meek, we are not yet “spiritual” or spiritually mature and not fit yet to bring correction. The mature disciple is not looking for someone to correct or nit-picking like a pharisee (Matt. 23:23-25). He does not evilly surmise or guess about others’ motives and actions (1 Tim. 6:5). He does not read into situations but rather believes to the best (1 Cor. 13:5-7; 1 Pet. 4:8).  When we become ready to help others, we will be moved upon by the Spirit of God to do so and won’t need to be looking to correct others. That would identify a pride-filled, self-righteous heart.

Who is God Leading You to Correct?

More Here – Discipline and Restoration

Also….

Matthew 18:15-17 ….This passage is often misapplied. DOES Matthew 18:15-17 apply to wolves? No. Notice how He begins – “Moreover if thy brother (not a lost soul or wolf) shall trespass against thee…” What Jesus was teaching us in Matthew 18:15-17 is for the members of His body exclusively. Wolves are Satan’s plants to deceive His body and not members His body but rather ministers of Satan (2 Corinthians 11:12-15).