Join us for Small Catechism Bible class this Wednesday @ 6:00 pm! Our topic for the next few weeks is the Lord’s Supper – a helpful refresher for all, young and old, new and familiar!
April 16, 2024
Dear Friends,
Lots of good questions in Sunday Bible Study lately!
Here’s one that I hear often from all quarters: If a sin is a sin, no matter how small or large, why are some sins handled differently in the church? How do you decide which sins require discipline?
Let’s start with the difference between private/hidden things and public/open things.
No one can see into your heart, which means that there is a whole private life you live that is completely hidden from everyone. No one can hear your thoughts or see what you’re imagining. Except for God. He sees in secret, and “no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).
No one can see into your heart, but sometimes you put your heart on display through your words and actions. When you do that, your words and actions are public and open. If you steal, murder, lie, commit adultery, etc. – these things are public and open. Anyone can see them.
The church is not in the business of inquiring after private sins. That is what preaching and the Lord’s Supper are for. You are to come to church, listen to God’s Word, let it sink into your hearts, pray the Lord’s Prayer (“Forgive us our trespasses”), and then receive forgiveness in the body and blood of Jesus – all without anyone knowing a thing about those private sins that you’re confessing before God. It’s a wonderful gift he gives us!
However, when sins are public, there’s some work for the church to do.
Note this, first of all – the church, like her Savior, desires all sinners to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4). That is, when sins are public and open, we are to use the tools that God has given us to deliver forgiveness and restore the sinner to fellowship as soon as possible. We are never at any point looking for retribution or punishment or condemnation. Quite to the contrary, we are the messengers of freedom from condemnation! We are in the business of forgiving repentant sinners, just like Jesus.
But, when a sinner is unrepentant, that is where discipline comes in. Here’s what the Small Catechism says about this side of things:
“The Office of the Keys is that special authority which Christ has given to His Church on earth to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not repent.” And a bit further on: “When the called ministers of Christ deal with us by His divine command, in particular when they exclude openly unrepentant sinners from the Christian congregation and absolve those who repent of their sins and want to do better, this is just as valid and certain, even in heaven, as if Christ our dear Lord dealt with us himself.”
All sin is sin, and all sin warrants God’s judgment, and that is why repentance and faith are necessary to be saved. We must be forgiven! If a sinner is unrepentant – if they hold on to their sin by either refusing to acknowledge it as sin or by refusing to give it up – then they are driving away the Holy Spirit, and it is the church’s responsibility to withhold forgiveness and ultimately excommunicate such a person. Unrepentant sin is where church discipline gets applied.
Pay attention, though! This withholding of forgiveness and excommunication are always in the hopes that the one caught in sin may learn to repent! Why would the sinner repent if he is led to believe that he can hold on to his sin and remain in the grace of God? Paul puts it this way: “You are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord” (1 Cor. 5:5). The hope is that he will come to regret his sin.
This also helps the whole body of Christ as we are all learning to avoid sin and repent when we fall into temptation. Again, here’s Paul: “As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear” (1 Timothy 5:20).
So, yes, all sin is sin, and that is why we must repent of all sins. Even the sins that seem most trivial to our flesh deserve the sentence of hell. Thanks be to God that he knows all our sins and sent his Son to die for every one of them! God grant us repentance and faith to receive his forgiveness! As for the unrepentant, may God use us as instruments of his grace! May we always speak the truth and love them the way he has loved us!
God bless and keep you,
Pr. Buchs
COMING EVENTS:
Wednesday, April 17
9:30 am – Chapel
10:00 am – Bible Study
6:00 pm – Small Catechism Bible Study
7:00 pm – Vespers
Sunday, April 21
9:00 am – Divine Service
10:30 am – Sunday School/Bible Study