Not Grow Weary in Doing Good

“As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.” (2 Thessalonians 3:13-15 ESV)

Doing Good

What good are we to be doing as followers of Christ? How should the good that we do be different from the good that the people of the world do? For there are many non-Christians who are good deed doers and who do good things for the people of this world, sometimes to the point of putting Christians to shame who are busy feeding their own flesh and who are just entertaining themselves without thought to the needs of the body of Christ and to the needs of the people of the world. “Can I get a witness?”

Now there will be some overlaps here, for both Christians and non-Christians might be charitable, and might give freely of their time and money and possessions to help others in need, and/or to contribute to charitable organizations which are at least purportedly helping those in need (not all of them are legitimate nor do they all do what they say they do). Christian or non-Christian can show kindness and gentleness and thoughtfulness for others and they can love their families and others in ways which are good.

But there is a good that Christians must do that non-Christians cannot do because this is done in the power of the Holy Spirit living within us, and it is for the praise and glory of God, and it is a spiritual good which is of God who is good. And this has to do with us denying self, dying daily to sin, and following our Lord in obedience to his commands (New Covenant). And it has to do with the surrender of our wills to the will of God for our lives and following him in holy living and in doing what he has called us to do.

If Anyone Does Not Obey

But not everyone who calls himself a brother or a sister in Christ has denied self, is dying daily to sin, and is following the Lord in obedience to his commands, in practice, though not necessarily in absolute sinless perfection (see 1 John 2:1-2). But lack of perfection is never to be used as an excuse for habitual, deliberate, and premeditated sin against the Lord Jesus and against other humans. For the Scriptures teach us that if sin is what we obey, and is what we practice, that we will not inherit eternal life with God.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2]

So, there are many people who profess faith in Jesus Christ, at least here in America, who are still living in sin, still making sin their practice. But many of them are hiding their sin behind closed doors or in a corner of a room where no one can see what they are looking at or doing. But God knows! But some sin can be seen by others, and others can see, to a point, whether or not a professing Christian is actually living the Christian life or not by his/her practices. For faith is doing the will of God. Faith is obedience to God. 

So, the instruction here is, if you have clear evidence that someone professing faith in Jesus Christ is not obeying the Lord and his commands, but they are living in opposition to the Lord’s commands, in practice, well first of all I believe you should try to speak with that person (male to male and female to female, unless a family member). And you should give them the opportunity to repent. But if they continue on living in sin, and not in obedience to the Lord, we are supposed to not fellowship with them.

[2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; 1 Corinthians 5:9-13]

But the purpose of this is not to be mean or hateful or unforgiving. The purpose is to shame them to the point to where hopefully they will repent of their sins and will then walk in obedience to the Lord. But it appears to me that this has to be something done collectively as the body of Christ for it to have that effect. But in our culture today, most likely the person will just “attend church” someplace else where they will be accepted just as they are and where no one will get in their face about any sin in their lives.

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16 ESV

Teach Them  

An Original Work / May 24, 2012

Based off various scriptures

Open up the blinded eyes of

Those who walk in sin’s darkness.

Turn them to the light of Christ

And to His righteousness.

Turn them from the pow’r of Satan.

Turn them to the peace of Christ,

So they may receive forgiveness

And eternal life. 

Teach them to put off their old selves

And their former way of life,

And to put on their new self,

Reborn to be like Christ;

To not copy worldly customs;

Be transformed in life and mind;

Obey freely His word in them,

Pleasing unto God.

Teach them how to love their neighbors

Truly as they love themselves;

Be a witness; share the gospel;

Satan’s lies dispel;

Comfort all who mourn in sadness;

Share Christ’s love and joy today.

Do this through your life and witness

For your Lord always. 

https://vimeo.com/125485489