Bound or Loosed?

Trinity XV --- September 4, 2005

Matthew 18:15-20

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

How many of you know the Gospel in a nutshell? That is what John 3:16 is called. You remember it: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. God’s love for all mankind moved Him to make that ultimate sacrifice of giving up unto death, His own Son, to purchase forgiveness for all. What a costly and precious gift forgiveness is.

Why is it, then, that so many despise this costly gift? “What?” you say. “How do people despise this gift, Pastor?”

Very simply. The gift of God’s forgiveness is despised when people continue in their sinfulness. This is what Paul says: What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans. 6:1-4)

Having been baptized into Christ’s death, you have died to sin. If you are dead to sin, how can you live in it any longer?

It has been commented to me in the past that I harp on certain sins. In fact, some people have thought that I think these certain sins are worse than any others. You might even guess which sins those are. You probably guessed homosexual behavior and living together without the benefit of marriage.

Those sins are no worse than any other sins. Let me say it again, those sins are no worse than any other sins. So, you are probably asking, “Well then Pastor, why do you mention them?” I have never called them greater sins. However, they are evidence exactly of what thi text is speaking about. That is, we are to speak to our brothers and sisters about their sins - in order that they might repent and be saved.

Remember that repentance is sorrow over sin - and as we just heard from Paul, repentance includes turning away from sin and continuing it no more. Also, repentance includes trusting that through the sacrificial death of Christ Jesus the price of forgiveness has been paid in full, and God holds you no more accountable for them. The gates of heaven are open and eternal life is granted.

These two specific sins are not any worse than any other sin. The greater problem than the sin itself, is the heart of impenitence in those who continue in these sins. They are not repentant, for they have no sorrow nor the desire to amend their sinful life. As they continue in their sin, acting as if what they are doing isn’t wrong, they are sinning against God’s grace in Christ Jesus.

At issue is repentance - sorrow over sin, the desire and action to amend a sinful life, and trusting the forgiveness Christ purchased. Those who do not repent, are not forgiven - they are bound to their sins - as true on earth as in heaven. Those who do repent, are forgiven - loosed from their sins - both in earth and heaven.

If you notice in our text, there are no specific sins mentioned. However, Jesus gives these guidelines as to how all sinners are to be dealt with.

First, a sinner is to be shown their sin. Next, if they do not believe they are sinning, then witnesses to the truth of God’s Word are to come and together make testimony to the facts concerning that sin. If they do not listen to the witnesses of the truth, then the church is to speak to them about their sin. Finally, if they still continue in their refusal to repent, they are to be excommunicated. They are to be treated as unbelievers - pagans and tax collectors.

So, what sins are bad enough that we need to deal with them in such a manner? Jesus doesn’t give a list, for all sin is wreaking stench to God, such that He will not let it abide in His presence. Paul gives a partial list to the believers in Corinth: Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinth. 6:9,10)

Paul gives a partial list to the saints in Galatia. I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 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. (Gal. 5:16-21)

So, which of you was called a sinner by those two texts? Do you harbor lust in your heart for some man or woman? Do you hate? Are you unwilling to forgive someone? Jealous of the success of another? Do you easily get angry? Do you tarnish the reputations of others with your unbridled tongue and gossip? (pause) We are all guilty. Will you continue to live in your sin - unrepentant?

To be honest, this is a simple list of sins against our neighbor - there are others not mentioned. We do not break the second table of the law, we shatter it to smithereens. We also do not keep the first table of the law, but hide it away in a closet and forget about God - hoping He’ll forget about it too.

We are to forget about neither table - when your brother sins, go and show him his fault. If he does not repent, take witnesses. If not even then, bring it to the church. Finally, if the severity of the sin doesn’t bring him to repentance, we are to excommunicate him.

We don’t hear that talk much. Excommunication is almost forbidden language in the church. Yet, it is directly commanded here by Christ. And that is why this text is quoted in the congregation’s directives about excommunication in the constitution. There is a purpose for this directive from our Lord, for two basic reasons.

First, it is done to lead unrepentant sinners to repentance and back to the grace of God - we want them living in God’s forgiveness, loosed from their sins here and in heaven. But, where there is no repentance, there is no forgiveness. Where there is no forgiveness, there is no eternal life, salvation, and no heaven. Since, forgiveness for all sinners is what we desire, excommunication may be necessary to show the severity of sin in order to lead them to repentance.

Secondly, without this course of action, many will believe that they too may engage in such behavior. What is worse, when you and I, and the church remains silent, others will believe that God, by the actions of His church, approves of such sinful behavior. As such, more will be led into the great abyss.

Today’s society doesn’t like this kind of talk. In fact, when many Christians today talk about a loving God, they explain that He is a loving God, epitomized by leniency and that He winks at sins saying, “Yeah, I know how hard you are trying, so I’ll let that pass.” That isn’t a God of love. God in the crucified Christ is a God of love - who gave His life to free us from sin. That doesn’t give people the permission to live however they’d like.

This is Satan’s lie to deceive all who would fall into the trap. Do not believe it.

I do not want anybody to enter hell, and I’m sure you feel the same way. Is it loving to allow someone to continue to do something that you know will harm them? I mean, if you saw some children playing jump rope in the middle of highway 22, with an semi bearing down on them, you’d get them out of the middle of the road. And, I am guessing that some of you wouldn’t be really gentle about doing so. And why would you do it? Out of love for children!

It is out of love that Christ gives this command to His church and why I preach as I do. It is because I do not want any of you, God’s children, in the middle of life’s highway with eternal death bearing down on you. I do want you to live in the love of sins loosed by the very blood of Christ.

Dearly beloved of Christ, this is an incredible text encouraging us to love God, even as God has loved us. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. I invite you to love God by trusting that He has taken upon Himself, your sins. I invite you to hear again the marvelous message of salvation, that Christ opens wide the gates of heaven with the precious blood He shed upon the cross on Golgotha.

I know the difficulty of fleeing from my sins. When I think I’ve got one sin conquered, I get to feeling pretty good about it. Then, out of nowhere it shows up - AGAIN! If you are anything like me, that can be pretty depressing. I look at my sinfulness and think, “What a failure I am!”

God has a better word to you in Christ Jesus. That is why Christ Himself gives this command for a word of forgiveness to His church in our text today, it has an incredible purpose. He says, “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” God doesn’t look the other way. Sin is bad, and that’s an understatement. Sin will keep impenitent sinners out of heaven. If you look at yourself, at your own works, can you ever be sure of heaven? There will always be doubt, “I know I’m not perfect, have I done enough?”

Jesus wants you to have no doubts. He gives His church this command, “Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Through the waters of baptism, heaven was opened Wednesday for Natalie Rose Stueck and today for Joel James Acevedo. The Word of Christ, attached to the water, loosed them from their sins.

When we come together in the name of Christ, He is here with us. He is present as the Word of forgiveness spoken - loosing us from sin and opening heaven. He is present as the Word which gives us His body and blood to eat and drink - a meal of precious food, come down through the open gates of heaven. He is present even now, loosing you from your sins in His Word of promise I am speaking to you even now.

Our text gives us peace - live in God’s grace, confident of this - Christ looses you from your sin, here in this place and before the heavenly throne. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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