1. JACKSON STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST PLEASE TURN OFF CELL PHONES
WELCOME TO THE
JACKSON STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST
PLEASE TURN OFF CELL PHONES

2. 2 Corinthians 2:6-11  This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, 7  so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8  Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9  For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. 10  Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11  lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

3. WHEN A BROTHER COMES HOME!

4. BACKGROUND
1 Corinthians 5:1-13  It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles--that a man has his father's wife! 2  And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3  For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4  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, 5  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. 6  Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7  Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

5. INTRODUCTION
8  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 9  I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10  Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11  But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not even to eat with such a person. 12  For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13  But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."
The sinner repented so Paul instructions how to welcome him back home.

6. I. WE ARE TO CONFESS OUR SINS
1 John 1:8-10  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
James 5:16  Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Confession of sin should always go, at least, as far as the knowledge of the sin has gone.

7. II. WHY DO CHRISTIANS NOT CONFESS THEIR SIN?
Sometimes we don’t confess our sins because we haven’t admitted it to ourselves.
1 John 1:8, 10  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us…… 10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

8. II. WHY DO CHRISTIANS NOT CONFESS THEIR SIN?
Many times people are reluctant to publicly confess their sins because of fear of the response from fellow Christians.
Fear that we may give in to the same sin again. - Matthew 18:21-22  Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Fear they will be ostracized (shunned).
Fear they will be talked about rather than to.
Fear they will not be forgiven.

9. III. WHAT SHOULD WE DO WHEN A BROTHER OR SISTER REPENTS?
“FORGIVE him.”
True forgiveness does not hold the sin against them.
True forgiveness frees us from negative emotions.
True forgiveness is letting go of any desire for revenge or punishment.
True forgiveness bring our own forgiveness. - Matthew 6:12-15  And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13  And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 14  "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15  But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

10. III. WHAT SHOULD WE DO WHEN A BROTHER OR SISTER REPENTS?
“COMFORT him.”
Comfort him because he is suffering “godly sorrow”.
2 Corinthians 7:9-10  Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10  For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

11. III. WHAT SHOULD WE DO WHEN A BROTHER OR SISTER REPENTS?
“REAFFIRM your love to him.”
Reaffirm because you have gained your brother back.
James 5:19-20  Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20  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.

12. IV. ARE YOU WILLING TO DO THAT FOR A FELLOW CHRISTIAN WHO REPENTS?
Are there some sins you would have a problem forgiving.
Acts 9:11-14  So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12  And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight." 13  Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14  And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name."

13. IV. ARE YOU WILLING TO DO THAT FOR A FELLOW CHRISTIAN WHO REPENTS?
We should be willing to forgive a fellow Christian of any sin they repent of.
We tend to categorize sin as more serious and less serious. God doesn’t. - Galatians 5:19-21  Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20  idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21  envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

14. IV. ARE YOU WILLING TO DO THAT FOR A FELLOW CHRISTIAN WHO REPENTS?
We should be willing to forgive a fellow Christian of any sin they repent of.
We tend to categorize sin as more serious and less serious. God doesn’t. - Galatians 5:19-21 Some may be reluctant to Especially sins they may be embarrassed to admit and continue to struggle with.
Homosexuality
Pornography
Gambling
Alcohol/Drugs
This man was living with his father’s wife, they didn’t want to forgive him. Paul said forgive him.

15. YOU CAN BE FORGIVEN Forgiveness is a precious gift!
Confession is necessary for forgiveness.
God loves you and wants to forgive you.
Sometimes people are reluctant to confess sins for fear of what others may think.
We love you and want to forgive you.
When you repent you will receive forgiveness, comfort and confirmation of our love for you.

17. TONIGHT’S SERMON SEVEN THINGS HAPPY PEOPLE DO (2)