[Amanda S.]

I would like to share with you all what is in my foot notes of my Common Man's Reference Bible...It voices my thoughts and views:

The Corinthian church probably justified their "compassion" by stating they were not under the law, but under grace. True grace teaches holiness and standards

Titus 2:11-1511 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.


The steps to church discipline are explained in the footnote of Matthew 18:15. When a sinful person is officially barred from the church, all of the believers are to pray for the shunned individual. In this case the man repented and returned to the church -

2 Corinthians 2:5-11 But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

[Jassy]

Sis Amanda,

I wanted to add something about COVETOUSNESS. You had said that you didn't think anyone had been "put away" from the brethren for this sin. It is a crucial "turning point" sin because, before anything else much more grievous happens, what occurs first? COVETING.

I think COVETING is another way of saying LUST. But it is having that desire for something that isn't ours.

If someone were to commit adultery, what did they do first? They LUSTED and COVETED (like David with Bathsheba) he saw her, the wife of another man, and he lusted after her and coveted her. He couldn't have her because she was the wife of another man. So what did that lust and coveting lead to? Not only ADULTERY, but MURDER.

If someone were to commit theft, what did they do first? They LUSTED and COVETED - it was something that did not belong to them... they COVETED it, so then they decided to steal it. One thing leads to another.

Think of the ORIGINAL SIN OF ADAM AND EVE. Eve saw the fruit, she desired it - she LUSTED for it - and then she committed the sin of disobedience by eating it and then offering it to her husband to eat also.

I think that James describes the relationship of coveting as a sin related with the more grievous sins.

James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man that is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

Jassy