Restoration of our Relationships

Distinction Between “Sin” (Singular) and “Sins” (Plural) — Part 2

Ian Johnson May 12, 2022 1 Comment

The Scriptures generally draw a qualitative distinction between “sin,” in the singular, and “sins,” in the plural. “Sin” is our inward attitude of rebellion against God. “Sins” are bad actions. This post gives a series of examples from John and the shorter Pauline Epistles.

Confession and Repentance, Confession of Sin, Discipline or Correction, God was never our enemy, God's purpose for us, God's rationality, Is forgiveness of sins the focus of salvation?, Peril of Seeking Respectability, Reconciliation, Regeneration, Repentance, Repentance in community, Restoration of God's Image, Restoration of our Relationships, Salvation, The Problem of Evil, To be his ambassadors, To live in unity

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“Repent and be Baptized,” in Acts 2:38

Ian Johnson October 24, 2021 1 Comment

After Peter preached his first sermon, on the day of Pentecost, his hearers asked “what must we do to be saved?” His answer was “repent and be baptized.” Those who believed his message repented by giving up their claims of self-ownership and self-reliance and starting to live in community with each other, sharing freely as any had need.

Changed treatment of each other, Desire to have our own way, God's purpose for us, Repentance, Repentance in community, Restoration of God's Image, Restoration of our Relationships, Salvation, Sin, To live in unity, What is sin?

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Repeated sins, repeated repentance and repeated forgiveness in Luke 17:3-4

Ian Johnson October 17, 2021 2 Comments

Jesus uses unforgiveness as the prime example of a stumbling block we can place in the way of a fellow believer, bringing judgment. Therefore he warns us that we must be careful to freely forgive those who come to us expressing repentance for harm they have done to us by missing the mark of either our own, or God’s, expectations for their behavior.

Confession and Repentance, Confession of Sin, Divisions in the Church, Forgive as we forgive, Forgiveness and Unforgiveness, Repentance, Restoration of our Relationships, To live in unity

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Debts, debtors and paráptōmata in the Lord’s Prayer and Jesus’ associated saying on mercy towards others’ weaknesses–Matthew 6:12-15 and Mark 11:20-26

Ian Johnson August 12, 2021 2 Comments

In the Lord’s Prayer and the parallel teaching about mercy, Jesus tells us that we are to ask God to release us from the consequences or resulting debts of our sins as we release others from the debts we imagine they owe us. While praying, we are to show mercy upon the flaws (paráptōmata) that led them to sin, because the Father will show us mercy in the same measure.

Confession and Repentance, Divisions in the Church, Forgive as we forgive, forgiveness and mercy, Forgiveness and Unforgiveness, Reconciliation, Repentance, Restoration of God's Image, Restoration of our Relationships, To live in unity

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Repentance, Confession and the Textual Variant in James 5:16

Ian Johnson August 9, 2021 3 Comments

James 5:16 occurs in a context dealing with sick Christians and healing. In that context, it teaches that we are to agree with each other about the character flaws in our lives that lead to discrete sins, and pray for each other that these flaws–and the whole person–will be healed. This sensible reading is supported by the Byzantine New Testament text tradition, which is to be preferred for this verse.

A God who Speaks, Confession and Repentance, Confession of Sin, Forgiveness and Unforgiveness, God Speaks to Us, God's purpose for us, Is forgiveness of sins the focus of salvation?, Reconciliation, Repentance, Repentance in community, Restoration of God's Image, Restoration of our Relationships, Through others, Through the church, To live in unity

Agree with Each Other, agreement, character flaws, Confess, confession, fault, faults, healing, James 5:16, prayer

Authority Figures in the Church — Elders

Ian Johnson November 21, 2020 4 Comments

The term term translated “elder” refers to the age and wisdom of persons functioning in this role in the Church. It often seems to be used interchangeably with “overseer” (or “bishop”), and the way a person legitimately functioning in this capacity is to be recognized (often called the “qualifications”) is the same as for an overseer. Like overseers, elders teach and lead by example, not by fiat.

A God who Speaks, Discipline or Correction, God Speaks to Us, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Restoration of our Relationships, Salvation, Through others, Through the church, Uncategorized

authority, authority figures, authority in the Church, elder, elders, functions of elders, presbuteros

Mutual Submission is the Key

Ian Johnson November 8, 2020 2 Comments

Unity in the church arises, not from submission to a power structure, but from mutual submission to each other, seeking each other’s good above our own, in submission to Christ.

A God who Speaks, Desire to have our own way, God Speaks to Us, In the Church, Meaning of Unity, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Reconciliation, Restoration of God's Image, Restoration of our Relationships, Through others, Through the church, To live in unity

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The “Heretick” in Titus 3

Ian Johnson August 6, 2020 3 Comments

Titus 3:10 instructs whenever a divisive person approaches ME and tries to start an argument, I am to warn them twice about their behavior and then excuse myself. Thereafter I should ignore them, until they repent of their argumentativeness. It is a simple instruction by which I can avoid being influenced by divisiveness. It is not an instruction to the Church or the State to burn heretics.

Authority Contests, Disputes about words, Divisions in the Church, Greed, Heresy, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Peril of Seeking Power, Personality cults, Quarrels, Restoration of our Relationships

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Rejection of Unity Makes Us Vulnerable to Divisive Leaders and their False Teachings

Ian Johnson July 5, 2020 2 Comments

Our disunity also leaves us vulnerable to exploitation by false teachers and their distorted religious teachings, with which they seek to win a personal following for their own gratification or profit. proper recognition of the oneness of the Body, and of the importance of living in oneness, protects against divisive people.

Divisions in the Church, Heresy, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Religious violence and persecution, Restoration of our Relationships, Wars as consequences

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God Provides for Our Needs through Our Unity

Ian Johnson July 3, 2020 3 Comments

God’s pattern shown in the Early Church was to provide for the needs of its members through its unity. In unity, we regard ourselves and everything we own as God’s, and give unselfishly to the needs of others, as he directs us. This gives the world a picture of God himself.

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Church History, Church together, Church unity, early Church, Generosity, Giving, Holy Spirit, Money, Provision, Spirit filed

Distinction Between “Sin” (Singular) and “Sins” (Plural) — Part 2

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“Repent and be Baptized,” in Acts 2:38

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Repeated sins, repeated repentance and repeated forgiveness in Luke 17:3-4

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Debts, debtors and paráptōmata in the Lord’s Prayer and Jesus’ associated saying on mercy towards others’ weaknesses–Matthew 6:12-15 and Mark 11:20-26

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Repentance, Confession and the Textual Variant in James 5:16

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Authority Figures in the Church — Elders

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Mutual Submission is the Key

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The “Heretick” in Titus 3

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Rejection of Unity Makes Us Vulnerable to Divisive Leaders and their False Teachings

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God Provides for Our Needs through Our Unity

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