WHY THIS MUST BE DONE WHEN YOUR FOOT, EYE, OR HAND OFFENDS YOU- Mt.18- Pt.2

By Edward O'Hara,

Taking up where we left off last time. I will now continue to show Biblically how a man that is the hand, eye, or foot that causes offense that Jesus spoke of in Mt.18. Must be cut off so that he can not cause others to be cast also into the fire with him.

The clue we have that shows us it is a man through whom the offense comes is from Mt.18:7 that says, “Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!” So these body parts that Jesus says to cut oof” are people who offend with false teachings that lead to hell.

Making sure that we understand that this is not talking about someone who is an actual part of the body of Christ. But, is actually talking about those who have come into a fellowship with false teaching that will cause an incredible amount of damage if not dealt with as Jesus and Paul instructed.

Last time I was using the man in 1Cor.5 who Paul said was to be cast out of the body to show what Jesus meant when He said to cut off the one who brings an offense. The reason this man brought the offense is instructive for us.

Because it wasn’t just his behavior that caused Paul to tell them to cast him out. It was what caused this man to participate in this behavior that brought such a reaction from Paul. It was his continued belief in his old way of practicing the false religion of Corinth.

Because in Corinth where this man learned his beliefs early on their temple worship included many different forms of fornication. Actually believing that the more they engaged in this kind of worship the more spiritual it showed they were.

So it was because he would not leave those beliefs behind, but held them as most dear in his heart, which would not allow him to renew his mind as Paul instructed believers to do in Rom.12:1,2, he brought this idolatrous practice right into the body of believers there. The scripture saying that many who were there gloried in his idolatry. Showing that many of them had kept what they formerly believed in their hearts as well.

This shows that just because they may show up at fellowship times doesn’t mean they are really a part of the fellowship. Or part of the body. So as their apostle, Paul wrote to them that this man must be removed from the fellowship of believers there. Lest others be emboldened by his idolatrous behavior as these were being emboldened. And by this the whole fellowship come into condemnation.

And listening to Paul’s instructions they did cast him out from their fellowship. Paul saying that it must be done for a very specific purpose. That is “To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”

Here Paul shows the true purpose of doing this. That it was not so that the man would go to hell. But, so that even if he died before being allowed to return to the fellowship, he might repent beforehand, after having been made aware of his grievous sin of unbelief, so that his spirit might be saved. Turning from his idols to serve the living and true God as 1Thes.1:9 says. Knowing that only through such repentance before death could the man have a spirit birthed in him, which was obvious to Paul had not been the case for this man as yet, so that he could be saved.

Another place we see this offense is where in Rom.7 Paul teaches Israelites that were trying to live under the law and in faith in Jesus at the same time that this made them the “wretched man” who is still in need of “deliverance from the body of this death”.

That while they remained in such a belief they would be under the condemnation of the law. And would not have the deliverance from it that God accomplished for Israel through Jesus.

A deliverance that comes only by trusting in Jesus as He trusted the Father apart from works. Saying in Gal.1 that those who teach this kind of perverted gospel would be accursed. Anathema. Damned to hell. Obviously participating in an offense to those in the body as well.

So when reading about the hand or eye Jesus says is offending us. We who are in the body of Christ need to understand that this is talking about someone who is in the fellowship whose false teaching, and any behavior that may accompany it, is bringing offenses to the rest of those at the fellowship. Offenses that if not rejected are capable of causing others who may not yet be saved but are participating in the fellowship to also be cast into the lake of fire.

We see some of these teachings being called out like the man in 1Cor.5 was, where John writes in 1John4:3 saying, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

And again in 2John1:7-11 saying, “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”

So the belief that Jesus did not come in the same flesh all men have is the doctrine of antichrist. And is a doctrine of deceivers that knowingly or unknowingly are working for that spirit.

And the “doctrine of Christ” John is speaking of here in 1st and 2nd John, is also found in Heb.2. Where in vs.14,15 Paul writes “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” This is how we know what John meant was that Jesus’ flesh was the same as all men have.

And while this should easily be recognized as an offense to the body of Christ. And cut off as Jesus told us we should. Instead, because this wasn’t done as Jesus and the apostles instructed at its beginning, most have come to believe this false teaching. So much so that by now almost the whole lump has been leavened with this damnable doctrine.

Have you recognized the offending doctrine that is taught today that teaches that Jesus did not come in the same flesh all men have? If not, let me help you with that because there most certainly is. And is so popular today that it is being taught in virtually every church from their pulpits. This doctrine is known as original sin and sin nature.

The way that the doctrine of original sin and sin nature teaches that Jesus could not have come in the same flesh all men have. Is that if He did He would have the same sin nature that all men have that makes it impossible for men not to sin.

And being that Jesus was the sinless sacrifice. He could not have come in the same flesh all men have because these pagan gnostics have believed the flesh is evil by nature.

So these believing that if Jesus came in the same flesh all men have His nature would have made it impossible for Him not to sin. This is to these gnostics what made it impossible for Jesus to do what the apostles said He did. Impossible they say because Heb.4:15 says that Jesus was tempted in every way just as we are yet without sin. So to these pagans who are teaching the Gnosticism of Augustine, that all men are born with a sin nature, Jesus could not have come in the same flesh all men have.

But, the problem for them is that Heb.2:14 says plainly that Jesus did have “the same” flesh all men have. Showing that these who teach the doctrine of original sin and sin nature have brought a terrible antichrist offense into the body of Christ. And should have long ago been “cut off” and “cast out” so that they could not affect anyone else in the fellowship.

I will end this portion of this message here because of length. There is much more I will say in pt.3 about what believers must do to deal with this kind of offense in the fellowship.

But, for now I have a question for you. Now that you have heard this message, do you think you have trusted in the Biblical Jesus who came in the same flesh all men have for eternal life? Have you believed the dioctrine of Christ? Or have you believed in the pagan Gnostic Jesus of Augustine? Have you trusted in the Jesus taught to us by the apostles? Or the Jesus taught in so many of the churches by the spirit of antichrist?

If you have never come to a saving faith in the Jesus of the Bible who came in the same flesh all men have, then believe in Him now. Turn from that antichrist Jesus. To the Biblical Jesus who came in the same flesh all men have.

Paul says this is done by confessing the Lord Jesus and believing in your heart that He has raised bodily from the dead. For it is Paul says that with the heart man believes and is righteous. And with the mouth confession is made for salvation.

If you will do this then you will have eternal life now. By a spirit God creates in all who will trust in Jesus. If you will do this then you will have immortality at the resurrection. By the new body you will receive. If you will do this then you will be a child of God and heir to His kingdom. If you will do this… then I will see you there or in the air!

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