THE SAINTS MUST CONFRONT SIN AS FAMILY: 1 Timothy 5:1-2

INTRODUCTION

You and I must confront sin, when necessary, in the lives of fellow saints, for the glory of God and the good of our neighbor.

Matthew 18:15-17 “15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”

Luke 17:3-4 “3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

Proverbs 27:5 “Better is open rebuke than hidden love.”

Proverbs 27:6 “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.”

Galatians 6:1-2 “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. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Ephesians 4:25-27 “25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.”

Matthew 5:23-24 “23 If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

The Church of Jesus Christ is likened to I) a body, II) a kingdom, III) a priesthood, IV) the Temple, V) a vine, VI) a flock; The Church of Jesus Christ is also likened to VII) a family. This last metaphor, family, is how Paul writes to Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:1-2.

DOCTRINE: When you have to confront sin in a believer, you must do so as a member of the same spiritual family.

I. When you confront sin in an older man, you must not rebuke him sharply, but you must encourage him as you would a father (1 Timothy 5:1a)

II. When you confront sin in a younger man, you must not rebuke him sharply, but you must encourage him as you would a brother (1 Timothy 5:1b)

III. When you confront sin in an older woman, you must not rebuke her sharply, but you must encourage her as you would a mother (1 Timothy 5:2a)

IV. When you confront sin in a younger woman, you must not rebuke her sharply, but you must encourage her as you would a sister, in all purity (1 Timothy 5:2b)

CONCLUSION (1 John 1:5-9)

1 John 1:5-9 “5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.“

There is no sin that can be confronted that cannot also be covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. Christ’s blood will wash away the darkest stain!