My heart breaks and I cry as much for the offender as the one offended. There are some failures that cause us to fall in battle in such a way that we can never get back up, can never make the relationship right, will forever mourn and wail at the losses that our failures have caused.
There are somethings that we can never fix or make right, and don't you think Satan glories in the destruction of people who were/are precious to God?
Good words Amanah. May we all be compassionate, forgiving and merciful because we never know when we might need the same mercy directed towards our own lives, or loved ones.
I think of Peter. He told the Lord he would never, ever deny him. And he really believed those words. He believed that he would never, ever do such a terrible thing... yet... just a day later, he did the very thing he said he would never do.
Did Christ stand in judgment of Peter for this deliberate act of denial? No. Although I'm sure Peter lived the rest of his days in personal remorse over that cowardly act... Christ had already forgiven him before he ever did it.
That is the kind of love our Saviour has for us. He knows what each one of us are capable of doing, and all of us are capable of great sin.
May we all remain compassionate, and forgiving towards those who have fallen... because we don't know when we may need the same grace extended to our lives, or our own loved ones.
2And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
3And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
4And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
6And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
7And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
8And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
9And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
10For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
First, I would like to address whomever said I was bitter and perhaps with a bunch of friends licking our wounds. This couldn't be farther from the truth. I am not bitter, just observant. I have no axe to grind with anyone. I have many friends and family in the UPCI and have no intention on ending those relationships. I acknowledge that there are very many good men and women in that fellowship. I was merely pointing out, that at close of day, The UPCI manual becomes more relied upon than THE WORD! No one can deny that if they are living in reality. No matter how you cut it, there are alot of man made rules and standards that have nothing to do with the Word. It puts people looking and making sure the outside is more important than the inside in alot of instances. NOT sterotyping all UPCI folks either. Please read - alot of instance.
I am not "standard free" I believe in outward and inward holiness. Enough on that subject.
Forgiveness was never in question. However, restoration is. No one can say that relationships in the family will not be restored. That would not be our call, that would be the family. Money misuse.....IF that is proven that would be up to that church. Nobody here can be in judgement of what has been repented for. That is between a person and their God. We don't know. We can't judge that. Time will tell all of that. It just deeply disturbs me that 75 pages of posts, and maybe 3 or 4 about restoration - and oddly, seemed to come from the people from his church, that loved him the most. That is all.
If I became what I hate I would become okra..........
Fried okra, or the dreaded boiled okra and tomatoes?
__________________ "all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
~Declaration of Independence
Then that's holy, even holier than God, and King David.
__________________ "all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
~Declaration of Independence
. . . and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
9And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
. . .
Do you think Jesus saved Z because of the fourfold returning?
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
In all of the 70-odd pages of posts here, I don't believe anyone has said that there is not a place of forgiveness for the man in question who began the issue of this thread. I haven't heard anyone say he shouldn't be forgiven. There is forgiveness for sin at the feet of Jesus, with a humble heart.
And like Zaccheus, whom Jesus forgave, and then told to go out and begin restoration to those whom he had cheated, this man has a long road to follow to restore the things he cheated and destroyed. Yet, forgiveness is available ... always... But just because one is forgiven, and restoration is made, should not be a guarantee that the lost position is given back. That is up to the individuals who have been cheated, and lied to, to make that call. Not us, here on AFF for sure.
Jesus said we are to forgive our brother, seventy times seven, if he asks for forgiveness. Forgiveness is a given for all believers, if we want to be forgiven ourselves.
Forgiveness was granted to Zaccheus, yet, he told Zaccheus to also restore four-fold the things he had stolen. So... repentance, forgiveness, and restitution.... they go hand in hand.
__________________ "all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
~Declaration of Independence
Do you think Jesus saved Z because of the fourfold returning?
Do you think Jesus saved Z because he was short?
__________________ "all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
~Declaration of Independence
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