Christian Churches of God No. 112B

Reconciliation through Forgiveness in the Temple of God

(Edition 3.0 20080119-20080203-20110305)

This text follows on from the paper Forgiveness (No. 112) and deals with the reconciliation to the Church and the brethren.

Christian Churches of God PO Box 369, WODEN ACT 2606, AUSTRALIA

E-mail: [email protected]

(Copyright  2008, 2011 Wade Cox)

This paper may be freely copied and distributed provided it is copied in total with no alterations or deletions. The publisher’s name and address and the copyright notice must be included. No charge may be levied on recipients of distributed copies. Brief quotations may be embodied in critical articles and reviews without breaching copyright. This paper is available from the World Wide Web page: http://www.logon.org and http://www.ccg.org Page 2 Reconciliation through Forgiveness Reconciliation through Forgiveness Page 3

Reconciliation through Forgiveness

The Temple of God, which Temple we are, is This text placed the level of operation of the made up of the people of God in which God followers of Christ at a higher level or standard resides. We will examine the concept of being than that which the law demanded. It showed a reconciled to our brothers. A building cannot spirit or mental state that was required of the stand unless it is composed of stones properly faith that was of a type that ensured right crafted and fitting together in proper joints in conduct between the members of the faith. It sound construction. was to ensure that the concept of violence was lifted above the simple injunction not to kill All humans have differences of opinions and anyone and place it on a level of the obligation difficulties. Sometimes we can take offence at to make alive and to safeguard the well being others. Sometimes we can be influenced by of the individual. others to our detriment and the detriment of the body of Christ. Sometimes we can make a false Each of us is not to maintain anger against our report not knowing the full or true facts of the brother. We will be judged for it as the elect are matter and we can follow after a multitude to under judgment now. If we insult our brother do evil, not even understanding that is what we we are doing damage to the person. Insulting are doing (cf. Ex. 23:1-2). someone is assault to the person and often "You shall not utter a false report. You shall not join defamation. Such conduct is to be dealt with by hands with a wicked man, to be a malicious witness. the council of the Body of Christ. The concept [2] You shall not follow a multitude to do evil; nor shall you bear witness in a suit, turning aside after a of “Raca” translated “you fool” is really the multitude, so as to pervert justice; (RSV) Aramaic insult of “Spit in your face.” It is violence to the person and such an attitude We have seen it happen many times in the removes one from the First Resurrection and Church of God. Sometimes people are hurt by places one in danger of the death of the Second it and some take themselves out of the body Resurrection unless the action is repented of. because of it. In some cases it is with self- righteous railing accusations. God knows the The comment Christ made regarding offering full facts of a matter and He will vindicate the your gift at the altar is of significance. What cause. Our job is to make sure that we do not gift was he speaking of, and what altar was the cause anyone to stumble and we do not give one in question? Clearly if he was meaning the offence and cause them to depart the faith. physical Temple of God at Jerusalem then the comment is superfluous as it was not the There is a sequence of a teaching in Matthew Temple that was built by Christ and the from 5:21-26 that throws light on the mindset apostles. That temple was a spiritual temple of behind the conduct of the Church of God. living human beings. Each one is part of the building. Each one is part of the offering of Matthew 5:21-26 "You have heard that it was said prayers and worship to God. The prayers and to the men of old, `You shall not kill; and whoever worship are daily and one is told not to let the kills shall be liable to judgment.' [22] But I say to sun go down on one’s anger. So reconciliation you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his to the brother is at least on an ongoing basis brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever either daily as we forgive others before we go says, `You fool!' shall be liable to the hell of fire. before God, or at least weekly at Sabbath [23] So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and services where we meet to go before God as a there remember that your brother has something cohesive body. 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. [25] Make friends More importantly, the greatest ceremony of our quickly with your accuser, while you are going with spiritual year is the reconciliation of the church him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the and the individual to God at the Lord’s Supper. judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in We cannot expect to go before God at the prison; [26] truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny. (RSV) Lord’s Supper and be forgiven our sins if we have not reconciled ourselves to our brothers Page 4 Reconciliation through Forgiveness and have forgiven them, or been forgiven for Himself by Jesus Christ and has given to us the whatever perceived grievance that they have Ministry of Reconciliation. To whit, that God against us and whatever offence we may have was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, caused them. not imputing their trespasses unto them, and has committed unto us the word of The Day of Atonement also represented the reconciliation (2Cor. 5:18-19). sacrifice for reconciliation of all the sins of the Holy People in that day (Lev. 16:20). All the So if God gave us the ministry of reconciliation sacrifices were fulfilled in Christ and thus it is ought we not to be dedicated to reconciling at the Lord’s Supper that the sacrifices of each one of us to each other not imputing sin to reconciliation are also fulfilled. We have seen any? We are ambassadors for Christ as though people offended and also those that give God beseeched the elect by us. We pray for you offence. He who is full of the Holy Spirit takes in Christ’s stead that you are reconciled to God no offence. However, sometimes people are (2Cor. 5:20). Christ was made sin for us; he offended more easily. Sometimes people are so who knew no sin, that we might be made the self-righteous they don’t understand when it is righteousness of God in him (cf. v. 21). they that are at fault. Is it not then incumbent on us all that we are to We were reconciled to God while we were as let no accusation or division occur among us so yet sinners and enemies of God by the death of that we are reconciled to each other and God’s son and in his life we are continually therefore to God through Christ? reconciled to him (Rom. 5:8-10). We cannot remain away from God and be saved. As we It was Christ that was made like unto his are all partakers of the Holy Spirit, God is in all brethren where he did not take on himself the of us. Therefore how can we be reconciled to nature of Angels but was made like the seed of God and remain apart from those in the Holy Abraham. He was made in all things like his Spirit who are part of the Temple of God? It is brethren in order that he could be made a logically impossible to do so. Therefore, to merciful and faithful High Priest in things maintain salvation we cannot be apart from the pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the body of Christ, which is the Temple of God. sins of the people (Heb. 2:17). Do you not know that you have been redeemed and made a We are duty bound to maintain a continuous nation of kings and priests under Christ in the state of reconciliation to attain salvation. That Order of Melchisedek being priests forever is why the Seventy Weeks of Years were without genealogy and without limitation or allowed to the physical Temple to build it and end of our priesthood? to sanctify it and to bring it to an end. That was so that we who were chosen and predestined to How then can we cause division and not take be called over the forty jubilees in the the Passover together or take resentment before wilderness could take our place as the spiritual God and let our offences remain unresolved, in Temple of God (see the paper The Sign of spite of the injunctions placed upon us to be Jonah and the History of the Reconstruction of ministers of reconciliation, each and every one the Temple (No. 13)). of us? To reconcile means to make two . opponents to become friendly, to accept a situation that exists or one is confronted with, Seventy weeks are determined upon your people or simply to balance statements of account, and and upon your Holy City, to finish the in that sense it means to forgive debts also and transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to especially within the body of Christ. make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the What then are we required to do? How do we vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy leave our gift at the altar and then go and be (Dan. 9:24). reconciled? What is our gift?

All things are of God, who reconciled us to Are we not required to make daily sacrifice in Reconciliation through Forgiveness Page 5 prayer as a sweet offering before God? Have caught out. Some commence alternate groups, not the 24 elders of the High Priesthood and but rarely accomplish anything of value as the inner council of the elohim been tasked with same spirit of conspiracy and intrigue collecting our prayers as an incense offering accompanies them in the next venture. and monitoring them under the Lamb who was anointed above them and found worthy to open Some people think that they are serving God the seals of the plan and prophecy of God? when they meet with people that believe other (Rev. chapters 4 and 5). things than they do. The usual result is that they do not discuss the key issue on which they Do we not go before God three times a year disagree. with our gifts as part of the Laws and Commands of God? People will make errors from time to time and they should be exhorted as brothers. Is not the most important of these the Passover where we are commanded to go before God for The text of the paper Forgiveness (No. 112) the Feast of the Passover and Unleavened ended with the procedures for forgiveness. Bread and make our offering and take of the Lord’s Supper with which we are again washed Actions in Forgiveness of our sins and reconciled to God? Is this not required each year? How can we take of this Phase 1: Offence most important feast and yet remain unreconciled to our brethren? How can we Consider: Is it a breach of God’s Law, or is it expect forgiveness and not extend it to our our or their pride, or a root of bitterness? Has it brethren? happened before? Step 1. Go to God in prayer for guidance. The command is to go and be reconciled and Step 2. Decide to ignore or decide to act. If we then return to God and give Him praise. Ask ignore, then forgive and forget. End the matter. forgiveness at the Lord’s Supper so that He might forgive you as you forgive your brethren, Phase 2: Establish individual responsibility and ask forgiveness for the trespass or offence that you have given them. Step 1. What did we do? What could we have done? What should we have done? No conflict is entirely one way. We are all at Step 2. What did the other party do? What fault. could they have done? What should they have done? All of us give offence and trespass against one another. We must forgive each other so that we Phase 3: Go to the person may be forgiven in turn and thereby reconciled to God. Step 1. Discuss both aspects. a. Acknowledge our fault(s) first. Over the years the Church has lost a number of b. Note their problems. Take the low people through sin, error and self- ground. righteousness. Sometimes people regret their Step 2. Their response: errors and seek to be reconciled to the Church. a. They repent of their action. Many are held back from reconciliation Go to Phase 5. through shame. Many hate for the same b. They show no repentance: reasons. Proceed to Phase 4.

Where the Church is a body of believers that Phase 4: Litigation agree on a course of action, then sometimes manipulators seek to wrest control or to change Litigation is the process of settling dispute the course of the decisions by devious means. before authority. There are specific processes Those people also usually leave when they are and authorities established for the resolution of dispute. Dispute should be resolved within the Page 6 Reconciliation through Forgiveness

Church. Actions in Restoring to the Church

Step 1. Go to the person with witnesses. Phase 1. Establish the Reasons for the Establish the problem as in the first instance. Estrangement.

Step 2. If there is still no resolution then and Ask the question: “Why did I leave the only then proceed to the ministry and the Church? Was it a result of disagreement with council of the Church. Too often individuals the elected leaders of the Church, or did I run to the ministry before going to their simply sin and leave or was removed as a brother. However, a minister can suffice for the result? witness phase if necessary. 1.A: If so: did I go to the Church with the Step 3. The case is decided by the council of problem and abide by the resolution of the the Church and the matter is resolved. Go to Elders and voting members? Phase 5. If I did not do so, why did I not do so?” Step 4. The matter is not resolved by the Church council and the matter is serious Remember, rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, enough to warrant solution. Paul is clear that as it says in 1Samuel 15:22-25: this is a last resort and that the Church is 22 And Samuel said, "Has the LORD as great delight responsible for just resolution of dispute. We in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the must decide matters between the elect, as we voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For are to judge the world and angels (1Cor. 6:2-3). rebellion is as the sin of divination, and If the Church will not act and there is no stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because repentance, then proceed to civil litigation, that you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has is, if there is no other option and the matter is also rejected you from being king." 24 And Saul said serious enough. to Samuel, "I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, Phase 5: Reconciliation because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, I pray, pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD." (RSV) Step 1. Be united in the resolution of the matter. Proceed in brotherly love. Other questions are: Did I fail in my written undertakings to abide by the Statement of Step 2. Rectify the problem: Beliefs and the Constitution? Is the current a. physically group I am with properly and democratically b. spiritually and emotionally. run? Do I have a vote? Why am I there?

Step 3. Ongoing care of the relationship and Did I listen to whisperers and to attacks on the guarding against further offence. brethren? Where are those people now, and what are their fruits? What do they do for the If offence is repeated then commence again. If Faith? forgiveness is requested, then forgive again and continue the relationship. Bring the offence to If I simply did not like someone in authority mind only if it is repeated. over me, or working with me, what is the biblical basis for me leaving the Body of The only exception to this sequence is that of Christ? the cessation of the doctrine of Christ and relapse into the doctrine of Antichrist through Where is the real Body of Christ working and the view of the Godhead, which seeks to am I taking the Passover with that Body, separate Christ’s divinity from his humanity. having discerned its location and fruits? Do I 2John 9 then requires that the offender be not tithe to that Body? If not, then I am in sin or it even greeted. Repentance must be shown to be is not the Body of Christ. complete. Reconciliation through Forgiveness Page 7

Remember, there is no excuse for failing to support and work within the Body of Christ. We should ask: If I sinned and was rebuked by Most people who leave the Church stop tithing the Church, did I leave in a huff or was I for some twelve months before they announce dismissed as a result of a review? their exit. If I left in a huff then it is about time the matter At his return, Christ punishes those who bury was treated in maturity and I was reconciled. their talent. If the person was dismissed, was it because Matthew 25:14-30 "For it will be as when a man they refused to accept correction or did they going on a journey called his servants and entrusted attempt to lead a rebellion or cause a schism in to them his property; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to the Body? his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded Were they dismissed for theft or other sin? Did with them; and he made five talents more. 17 So also, the person attempt to make amends? he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and If the person did not attempt to make amends, dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants is it not about time he/she did so now? came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing Reconciliation and Restoration five talents more, saying, `Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' 21 His master said to him, `Well done, good and We might realise now that, regardless of the faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, rights and wrongs of the issue, we all have to I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your be reconciled to the Church. We might say: “I master.' 22 And he also who had the two talents came was wrong but I was also wronged, in my forward, saying, `Master, you delivered to me two view”. Be that as it may, we all have to put that talents; here I have made two talents more.' 23 His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful aside and seek reconciliation. servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your Reconciliation Step 1. master.' 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, `Master, I knew you to be a The person to be reconciled has to contact the hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; 25 so I was secretaries of the Church and ask to be afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. reconciled. They will then provide a minister to Here you have what is yours.' 26 But his master interview and counsel with each person. There answered him, `You wicked and slothful servant! will be fruits of repentance evident that lead to You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and reconciliation. gather where I have not winnowed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was The minister may require some matters to be my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, completed or rectified before reconciliation. If and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to the minister is satisfied that the person is every one who has will more be given, and he will repentant and earnestly seeks reconciliation he have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the will recommend to the Church that the person worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men be readmitted, and forward the completed will weep and gnash their teeth.' (RSV) “Application for Fellowship”.

If you have answered all these questions and The committee of the Church responsible for realise that you must be reconciled then it is those matters will process the application for time to rectify the situation. We cannot take the fellowship. There are times when people have Passover without proper reconciliation to those been marked and the Church has determined in the Body. We certainly can’t when we are that they have an additional period of trial out of the Body of Christ. added to their fellowship. That is because the circumstances have been serious enough to 1.B: Estrangement in Sin. warrant that decision. The decision is never Page 8 Reconciliation through Forgiveness made lightly and is usually voted on by the Sometimes God restores a person and places members in that congregation as well or their sins as far as the east is from the west and sometimes even the international body. they go on as before.

The Church has had applicants restored to full It is God through the Holy Spirit that voting membership immediately as well, determines the level of maturity and because the circumstances were understood to understanding. It is up to each individual to be such that it was a misunderstanding. make amends and to initiate the process of reconciliation, and the Holy Spirit will make As CCG is one of the few churches that confer the matter manifest. voting membership on its members, what does it matter if you have a vote or not? In such If we pray and fast for repentance and circumstances the person simply has to rely on reconciliation God will deal with us. It is not a the fact that Christ is running the Church new thing, and the Churches of God have dealt through the voting members with the Holy with it all before, and God’s mercy is without Spirit. measure.

Limited Restoration You will not be the first in that situation nor will you be the last. Be prepared to make There are circumstances when officers have amends and to be restored to your brothers and been removed or remove themselves for sisters. various reasons so that the period is extended, or the person is restored to fellowship but not They have never stopped working and loving to their former position(s) and responsibilities. one another in the Faith. They have prayed for the reconciliation of the whole world to God through Christ and, most of all, those who have We all labour for salvation and receive the been estranged from the Church. same wages as the parable of the labourers in the field tells us. They do not reply to overtures from the estranged, but pray for their reconciliation. The However, there is a price to be paid for error. silence is to make one aware of the problem Satan and the demons will be offered and initiate the recognition of the need for repentance but will not receive the same reconciliation. positions they held before the rebellion (see the paper Judgment of the Demons (No. 80)). The The Passover is central to the Faith. Those who First Resurrection is a better resurrection. are estranged and seek reconciliation are to do Repentance and loyalty are required to achieve it so that there is peace and harmony and love it (Heb. 11:35). in the brethren at the Passover in all aspects of the Feast, and for all the Feasts. 