Here is a question on yesterday's sermon:
"But when someone sins against us, or we see a Christian brother in gross
sin, or our children, we are to go to them and make comment, observations,
give warnings, make them accountable. We are not supposed to be blind
to others' sins but watch out for them just as they lovingly watch out
objectively for us. We make judgment calls but we do not condemn them.
When we are speaking to others in a group setting at work we talk about
the sinfulness of homosexuality and abortion but not as a condemner but
an observer. Wouldn't this be a correct behavior for a Christian?"
Yes, and that points out a difference between the judgment of condemnation, which I preached about yesterday, and the use of law in evangelism. The sharing of the gospel is also for Christians, and the sharing of the gospel uses the law, which is a right judgment. We point out to brothers and sisters in Christ where they are violating God's law, and we do so as fellow sinners who are also violating God's law, albeit in different ways. We are both under the curse of sin, and all we can do is point to Jesus Christ as our only rescuer from under that curse. When we discipline our children, we show them which of God's commandments they violated, acknowledging that we are sinners, too, and always pointing to Jesus Christ as ready to forgive the sins of those who repent. Knowing that Jesus died for the sin that they just committed just breaks a child's heart, and they repent, and then they go and ask their sibling (sister in this case) for forgiveness. This way of discipline is much more productive than condemnation, as it uses the law to point to the gospel, and not as an end unto itself.
Great question! I hope this clears things up.
