MATTHEW: RESTORING RELATIONSHIPS

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RESTORING RELATIONSHIPS

MATTHEW 18:15-20 (ESV)  
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

JESUS EXPLAINS FOUR STEPS TO TAKE IN RESTORING RELATIONSHIPS:

STEP #1­—Go to the PERSON
Pray, then go have a conversation with the individual alone.

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.”  Matthew 18:15 (ESV)  

STEP #2­—Go to the person, with ANOTHER BELIEVER(S)
Pray, then go have a conversation with the individual and bring 1-2 other believers along with you.

“But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.”  Matthew 18:16 (ESV)  

STEP #3­—Go to the person, with CHURCH LEADERSHIP
Pray, then go submit to the leadership of the church to facilitate a conversation between you and the individual. 

“If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church.”  Matthew 18:17a (ESV) 

STEP #4­—Go to the person, with CHURCH DISCIPLINE
Pray, as the leadership of the church brings discipline to the individual for the purpose of restoring relationships.

“And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”  Matthew 18:17b (ESV)  

DOES THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CHURCH
HAVE AUTHORITY TO DO THIS?

“Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”  Matthew 18:18-20 (ESV) 

What’s the ultimate goal in restoring relationship?

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (ESV) 

The goal: RIGHTEOUSNESS in us and our relationships.