Our Beliefs : Sermons : Sermon Archive - 2005 : September 4, 2005

Theme: Win Your Brother or Sister Over

Church year occasion: Pentecost 16

"I knew I just had them a minute ago. I've got an appointment in 10 minutes across town. I have to leave right now or I'll never make it in time. Why did I have to lose them now?" What can't I find? My car keys, right? It seems that when we just can't afford to lose our keys, that's when we lose them. Now in the grand scheme of things, if you end up being late for an appointment across town, it might not be the end of the world. If it's for a job interview, you can kiss that job good-bye. But that's not the end of the world, either.

But what if it were the end of the world, and you didn't have your keys? That would be the worst thing imaginable. I'm not talking about your car keys any longer -- I'm talking about the keys that Jesus himself gave to you -- the keys to the kingdom of heaven. If you don't have the keys to the kingdom of heaven when Judgment Day comes, then you can't get into heaven. That's why we need to take a look at the Ministry of the Keys this morning, not only for our own selves, but also as we use those Keys on others so that they, too, can go to heaven with us. So this morning you will see how you can Win Your Brother or Sister Over by using two different keys: the loosing key and the binding key.

We're surrounded by sin in this world. If you thought even for a moment that wasn't true, all you had to do was watch what happened in New Orleans this past week. Not only were people looting all kinds of flooded stores and homes when they got a chance because law enforcement was busy elsewhere, but some even started shooting at the helicopters as they were trying to rescue some of the most critically ill victims. As sad as that is, it shouldn't surprise us. It simply reminds us that everyone on this planet is sinful -- including us.

But how do you react to that sin? As Christians, Jesus wants us to do one thing with our sins -- repent of them. What does that entail? Three things:

Recognize our sin and be sorry for it
Take our sin to Jesus and trust him to forgive us
Turn our backs on sin and live for Jesus.

As John tells us, "If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sin and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

In the verses of the Bible we're looking at this morning, Jesus wants us to go even a step further regarding sin. Not only does he want us to repent when we sin, but he wants us to lead others who sin to repentance also. That is no small task. If you were one of the victims of hurricane Katrina and knew some of the people looting some of the stores for more than just food, how would you react? The easiest thing to do is to ignore it -- it'll go away. "I will just mind my own business," can easily become our motto. But Jesus tells us -- It is your business. Why? For one simple reason -- if that person fails to repent of their sin, they won't go to heaven -- they'll go to hell. It's as simple as that.

That's why Nathan confronted King David with his sin. David was not repentant. He was trying to hide his sin. If he didn't repent, he would go to hell. But Nathan led him to see just how dangerous a position he was in -- he said to the king, "You are the man" who committed adultery and murder and deception. And the Word of God worked. David repented. That's why Nathan could tell David immediately, "God has taken away your sin." David once again had forgiveness through faith. Nathan gave David the key to heaven, which is the forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus. Instead of holding on to his sins, David let them fall on Jesus. That's why it's called the loosing key -- David's sins were loosened from him, and he simply held on to Jesus for salvation.

You have the loosing key -- it's the gospel. The loosing key is the key that opens the door to heaven because it tells us that Jesus lived a righteous life in the place of every sinner. It also says that a bloody cross, made bloody by his own blood, was where Jesus took all your sins on himself and died for all of them. Jesus wants us to care enough about others to get involved in their lives to lead them to repentance so we can share that key of the kingdom of heaven with them.

Here's an example of how we can use that key -- a sin that all of us know of and often ignore -- those who despise God's Word by not coming to worship on a regular basis, not hearing the gospel on a regular basis. What's really happening? Unless they have a good reason, like they're disabled or something similar, they're breaking the Third Commandment on a regular basis. Those who do that are in very real danger. Jesus said in John 15:5-6, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." The Apostle Paul says, "Faith comes by hearing the message." (Romans 10:17) In other words, when you hear the Word of God, your faith will grow. If you separate yourself from the Word of God, you have separated yourself from Christ, and eventually your faith will die.

That is dangerous ground. And that is why Jesus says this in our text: "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you." So when we see a fellow Christian caught in sin, like one who is not worshiping on a regular basis and not getting fed regularly with the gospel, we talk to them about their sin, right? At least that is what we should do. But we often don't want to rock the boat or make waves, so we do nothing about it. But Jesus says, 'Do something about it.' That Christian's very soul is at stake. Show him his fault. In other words, tell him he sinned and needs to repent. What is the reason for doing this? If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. If you have won your brother or sister over, they have repented and are now perfect in God's eyes. Then they will want to regularly come to worship and stay in contact with that gospel, the loosing key, which has opened the kingdom of heaven to them.

But sometimes it doesn't work quite so nicely. Sometimes when we get enough gumption up to confront someone with their sin, they don't want to listen. They think we're a religious freak. They might even become belligerent. Then Jesus has more direction -- and this time we must use the binding key that tells them their sin still remains on them. "But if he will not listen, take one or two others along." After every attempt has been made by us individually, and the fellow Christian will still not repent, then we must bring others along to show how serious the sin is. Hopefully the fellow Christian will listen to them. If the person repents, you can again give him the key to the kingdom of heaven and tell them that their sins are forgiven. But, if it becomes clear that the person will not repent, then you have to take the next step. "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church." Now the matter comes before everyone in the church. Hopefully this will get the person to see how serious his sin is, repent, receive forgiveness, and attend worship regularly. But again, if it becomes clear that the person still cares nothing for God's Word and continues to stay away from worship and the gospel, then the final act of the binding key must be taken. "If he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector." Now the fellow Christian has shown that he is no longer a Christian, but an unbeliever. By refusing to repent, the person has taken himself out of God's kingdom. He has thrown away the forgiveness of sins. Then, even though Jesus paid for his sins in full on the cross, he has rejected Jesus as his Savior by not placing his sins on Jesus. His sins are not forgiven. If he dies in that state of impenitence, he will go to hell.

We certainly don't want it to get to this point. We don't want anyone to forfeit the forgiveness Jesus has already won for them. But that is the very reason Jesus gave us the ministry of the keys. We use the horror of the binding key, which tells the sinner that their sins have locked the gate of heaven against them. It shows them that without Jesus, they are eternally lost. Hopefully, they will come to see the error of their ways and repent. Then they need to hear the words from 1 John 1:7 which says, "The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."

Timing is everything when using the binding and loosing keys. A parent harping on their college-aged kids to go to church could actually do more harm than good. But we dare not use that as an excuse never to call them to repentance. And if you are a child in that situation, realize why your parents might be harping on you to get to church -- they want you to go heaven. It's as simple as that.

In the midst of so much destruction by water this past week, our hearts go out to those who have suffered so much as a result. We can send help and pray from a distance, but we'd like to do more. But you can help people right here. Many of them are drowning in their sins. They will drown if they don't trust Jesus for their salvation. You have a life preserver for everyone. All you can do is throw it to them, sometimes repeatedly. Some will grab onto that life preserver and life forever. Others will try to get out of the rising waters by themselves or by trusting someone else. Eventually, if they reject the life preserver you're offering enough, you might have to reel it in and no longer offer it, but in the hope that even that person will see his need of it and hold on to it and be saved.

"I knew I just had them a minute ago. Where did those keys go? Ah, here they are." The Keys to the kingdom of heaven. Don't lose them -- use them, to win your brother or sister over for eternal life. Amen.