Coming Home to Freedom: Binding and Loosing
Devotional Reading: Matthew 18:15-20
Sometimes the power we have in Christ is a little overwhelming. The idea that what we do here on earth has an impact in the heavenly realm and visa versa should give us pause. If I in some way put handcuffs on someone it impacts them in the spiritual realm. If I in some way release someone from bondage on earth it somehow impacts them in the spiritual realm. Jesus tells us, "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." What do these words mean to you?
If my words and actions condemn a fellow believer how does that impact them spiritually? If my words and actions release or set free a fellow believer how does that impact them spiritually? If your words and actions either condemn someone or release someone how does that impact them spiritually? Perhaps the act of forgiveness is more powerful than we even understand!
This verse about binding and loosing is in the context of church discipline. Prior to statements about church discipline in the book of Matthew, we read about the lost sheep and how our heavenly Father desires that not even one of the little ones be lost. Following the passage on church discipline we find the story of the unmerciful servant and are told that God won't be merciful to us unless we forgive our siblings from our heart.
At the conclusion of church discipline, if it gets to the final step, we are to treat someone who we once considered a brother or sister in Christ as "a pagan or a tax collector." How did Jesus treat the pagans and tax collectors? We are to treat the person as someone who is still needing saved.
So, we recognize their wrongs and that they are no longer representing Christ's righteousness. This is if they are unwilling to repent after being confronted one-on-one, by a small group, and by the church as a community. But this doesn't mean that we don't show them mercy. I think it means we recognize them as someone who is in need of a Savior.
Sometimes the power we have in Christ is a little overwhelming. The idea that what we do here on earth has an impact in the heavenly realm and visa versa should give us pause. If I in some way put handcuffs on someone it impacts them in the spiritual realm. If I in some way release someone from bondage on earth it somehow impacts them in the spiritual realm. Jesus tells us, "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." What do these words mean to you?
This verse about binding and loosing is in the context of church discipline. Prior to statements about church discipline in the book of Matthew, we read about the lost sheep and how our heavenly Father desires that not even one of the little ones be lost. Following the passage on church discipline we find the story of the unmerciful servant and are told that God won't be merciful to us unless we forgive our siblings from our heart.
At the conclusion of church discipline, if it gets to the final step, we are to treat someone who we once considered a brother or sister in Christ as "a pagan or a tax collector." How did Jesus treat the pagans and tax collectors? We are to treat the person as someone who is still needing saved.
So, we recognize their wrongs and that they are no longer representing Christ's righteousness. This is if they are unwilling to repent after being confronted one-on-one, by a small group, and by the church as a community. But this doesn't mean that we don't show them mercy. I think it means we recognize them as someone who is in need of a Savior.
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