by Greg Tidwell

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Galatians 6:1 (ESV)

Paul provides a very realistic and practical statement about sin in the lives of Christians, a balanced approach which deals directly with sin without falling into a destructive self-righteousness. Several important concepts appear in this verse:

1.   Sin is a universal danger. Anyone can be caught in transgression, and all need to keep watch on themselves. We should neither be shocked to learn that Christians sin nor complacent in guarding our own souls against sin.
   

2.   Sin is to be opposed with a view towards the restoration of the sinner. The purpose of confrontation is to bring the transgressor back, not to drive him away.
   

3.   The person doing the restoring must be spiritual, that is to say in step with the Spirit of God. Galatians 5:22-23 describes the attributes of this spirituality as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Each of these spiritual qualities has a place in confronting sin. 
   

4.   Paramount in the restoration of a sinner is an attitude of gentleness. This approach flows from the humility of knowing our own susceptibility to sin and our need for the Savior. Of all spiritual attributes, this quality is most important in confronting sin.
   

Human nature has not changed since the day Adam and Eve fell from grace, and the Biblical approach to sin and salvation remains as true today as when Scripture was first written.

The church will continue to deal with sin and its consequences until the Lord returns. We must make sure we do so as the Lord intended.

by Mike Benson

The Gospel of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:4). Just how does it work in a person's life? Consider this simple explanation...

HEARING the gospel (Romans 10:17) destroys the interest in sin.

BELIEVING the gospel (Mark 16:16) destroys the pleasure of sin.

REPENTANCE (Acts 2:38) destroys the practice of sin.

CONFESSION (Romans 10:9,10) destroys the allegiance to sin.

and BAPTISM (Acts 22:16) destroys the guilt of sin.

The Bible says, "... I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand by which also you are saved ..." (1 Corinthians 15:1,2a). Dear reader, have you obeyed the saving gospel of Christ (Romans 6:17,18; 3,4)?

Dear Lord, you hear our cries and listen when we call upon you. A biography of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas noted how he was a good listener of people. How much more I need to listen to others, in order that I might promote their well-being. And how very much more I need to listen to your word, for my own spiritual health and for that of those around me.

Help me listen to the end, O God, and not cut you off.

Help me listen with my whole being, Lord, rather than just nodding my head.

Help me listen empathetically, Creator mine, to find the heart of love and sacrifice behind the words.

Help me listen by giving a response to your love and holiness, in fear and trembling, in boldness to draw near.

Lord, I have yet much to learn when it comes to listening to you. Through him who always heard you. Amen.

by Stan Mitchell

"I rejoiced with those who said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord'" (Psalm 122:1).

A student at Oxford University began to tire of the boring lectures and hard work required to attain a degree, so he stopped attending class. Soon he had missed an entire term. The professor decided to contact the backsliding scholar and approached his dorm room. There the young man was, at two in the afternoon, asleep on his bed. Driven to indignation by the sight of the slovenly boy, the professor declared:

"You have hissed all my mystery lectures. You have tasted a whole worm. Please leave Oxford on the next town drain!"

I'm sure the professor felt much better after getting that off his chest!

Even in a day of the Internet and virtual reality, it still helps to attend class if one wants to learn his history lessons! Absentee parents should be a contradiction in terms, and perhaps you have noticed that turning up at work helps one's employment status enormously. Being present at Bible class and worship services also helps the Christian grow. You cannot treat beloved brothers and sisters in Christ with compassion and caring unless you see them. You cannot foster a relationship with a God you do not encounter on a regular basis. You cannot learn his will without frequently opening his word and studying it.

Conversely, I cannot imagine the most spiritual and Christ-like element of a congregation being those who habitually miss worship. Sorry. I just don't think it happens.

The result of habitual truancy is that our love for God is drained, the Bible becomes a mystery to us and our taste for spiritual things is diminished. God's will has to be, well, spoon-fed to us! And what I'm worried about most is that those who fail to attend might miss more than a "term"!

by Barry Newton

From sitting at a table while enjoying some coffee to casually chatting in a small group, I have heard several wives describe their husbands as being from the old school. How would you describe the husband and father in your family? In your understanding, do the attributes of the ideal Christian husband fit more closely with old school thinking, new school ideas or is it a mixed bag?

Regardless of whether someone might classify the model Christian husband as exhibiting more old school or new school qualities, Scripture challenges men to adopt a specific style of living epitomized by Christ's relationship to the church. So who do you think initiated loving service and has served the other more, Christ or the church?

Clearly, Christians respond to Christ's love; Jesus took the initiative./1 His love to tend to our well-being caused him to serve our needs. Not only his obedience to God's will, but also Jesus' love for us drove him to the cross. So, who has served the other more, Christ or the church? Christ. This is the model for the Christian husband.

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her that he might make her holy, ... unblemished and holy. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives, even as their own bodies."/2

What does the model Christian husband look like? To follow the loving example of service found in the cross excludes a host of behaviors, attitudes, and motivations. Would a husband who is seeking his wife's well-being crudely degrade her or her ability? No. Would a Christlike man devoted to caring for his wife pursue a lifestyle characterized by issuing self-serving orders and policies? Absolutely not. Would household life be geared to revolve around him? Never.

Proactively, would not a husband shaped by the love of Christ seek to tend to the genuine needs of his wife? Would not such love motivate him to act and communicate through every avenue possible his desire to bless and care for her? Would not such a love create a history which would build her confidence that he was trustworthy and seeking her well-being? Husbands, behold the mandate of cross-shaped love for how you treat your wife!

There is something about the labels old school and new school which has bothered me deeply. Are not these tags sometimes dumped into a conversation to be the final word which can be spoken? Are not such pigeon holes sometimes evoked as a means to claim that someone is either incapable of change or to legitimize a lifestyle as merely being one option among equals? To such fatalistic and rationalistic attempts to dismiss living out Christ's love, Scripture holds forth a bold message about what a Christian husband ought to be. He loves his wife in the same way that Christ has loved the church by dying for her.

1/ 1 John 3:16; 4:9,10 2/ Ephesians 5:25,27,28