David Miller wrote: >> ... I don't think you perceive Jesus to be a >> sinning Jesus, but you do seem to see him as >> someone who communed closely with sinners, >> being buddies with them.
John wrote: > If you want to use an emotional charged word > (buddies) go ahead. That is not the word > I would use. Well, we have a semantic difference between us then, because the word "fellowship" to me is a very important word. It implies intimacy. It means being buddies. The Scriptures warn us not to have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. It warns us not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. In contrast, the Scriptures speak very highly about our fellowship with the Father, with Christ, and with one another. I consider such fellowship to be a pearl of great price for which I would sell all that I have to obtain. 1 John 1:3 (3) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. John wrote: > You move from the inclusion of sinners to > the compromising tolerance of sinners. > Do you think this is what I have been talking > about -- a compromising tolerance of sinners??!! I don't know. That is why I asked you the questions about excommunication of unrepentant sinners. It seems to me that we are not to fellowship with any brother who continues to be a sinner. 1 Corinthians 5:11-13 (11) But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. (12) For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? (13) But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. David Miller wrote: >> In what way are we to walk in Christ's example >> who separated himself from sinners? John wrote: > I do not believe that he did this -- > if you mean that they were not a part > of His everyday ministry and company. I do not see sinners as being part of Jesus's everyday ministry and company. In other words, I do not see sinners traveling with Jesus as part of his group. Do you? I do see that he ministered unto sinners, calling them to repentance and upbraiding them when they did not repent. This attitude of Christ's made him very unpopular and so after several attempts to kill him, the sinners were finally successful. David Miller wrote: >> Hebrews 7:26 For such an high priest became us, >> who is holy, harmless, undefiled, SEPARATE FROM >> SINNERS, and made higher than the heavens; John wrote: > Do you think I teach against this ??!! Yes. When I asked you to explain in what way we are to walk in Christ's example who separated himself from sinners, you responded that you do not believe that he did this. You wrote this in the paragraph just above this one. Maybe you can revisit my question. In what way are we to walk in Christ's example as being someone who separated himself from sinners? My answer is that we go into the highways and hedges and preach repentance and the forgiveness of sins. We compel people to forsake their sins and come to the house of the Lord. In this way, we minister to sinners, but we do not fellowship with sinners. We should also minister to the needs that they have, feeding, clothing, and housing them, but we should keep ourselves unspotted from the world and demand they also turn from sin and serve the living God. Is this pretty much how you see it? Peace be with you. David Miller. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
