Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-01-06

ing one of the little ones that be-
lieved in Him to stumble. This
evidently suggested the subject of
sin against one, and what one
should do under the circumstances.
SO He is now teaching them how
to deal with sin in the kingdom.
""If thy brother sin'-there are
four steps to be taken:
l. Go to him alone and talk it
out with him. The Greek is, con-
Wet him of his sin. Show him
where and how he has done wrong.
This is a very necessary first step;
there is every reason why 1T should
be kept as quiet as possible. Later
Paul wrote we which are spiritual
restore such an one in the spirit
of tneekness, considering thyse!t
lest thou also be tempted. me prl-
mary object is to restore your broth
er. Usually instead of going to MN
first and talking it out with him one
goes to some one else and TANKS
about him-and that course usually
widens the breach and prevents res
toration. And the reason why this
course is pursued rather than the
one Jesus has given is because you
are not in the right frame or mind
yourself. How necessary that we
and sense of dependence about which
Jesus has been speaking, so that
we can go to our brother who has
sinned, in spirit of meekness, ana
seek in that spirit to convict him
of his sin eve cannot do this in any
other spirit) that we may gain him!
2. But suppose thy SHINING broth
err will not listen to me; then
must get two or three others to go
with me to him that at the mouth
truth may be established: Not the
truth of his sin, but of his unW1l-
lingness to hear; for of course, 1T
is supposed that 1 have exhibited
such spirit that the continuance
of his sin can in no measure be at
3. If he still refuses I am to tell
it to the church. Here is the second
and only other reference to the
church in the gospels. 1t is inter
esting and instructive to note the
connection therefore. 1t is in deal,
ing with sin in the kingdom, and
the church, or the called out
ones-called out to Christ-Chrlst
assembly, is the court of last re
sort The decision of the church
of Christ's assembly-is to be bind
ing in heaven. Those who give to
Peter unusual authority will take
note here that exactly the same
power is given to the church as
was given to Peter when he made
his great confession, and by al!
fairness whatever authority is
attributed to him must be also at
tributed in equal measure to the
church.
4. If the SHINING brother refuses
to hear the church then he is to be
treated as a heather man and
tax-gatherer! AS one outside-a man
of the nations-and as one outside
because he has forfeited all rights
his treason to his own nation. All!
it is Matthew the tax-gatherer who
tells this: he knows what it is to
be an outsider because OF his trea-
son to his nation. He knows the
marvellous grace that was shown him
while still a taX-gatherer, and how
that grace lifted him out of him
self and into his Lord. Oh, no! Jesus
did not mean that you were to stop
there, but to be more earnest IN
winning him back because he had
put himself in such an outside po-
sition; for remember, the object is
to gain your brother.
Placing such a responsibility on
them necessarily would develop In
them a sense of their own inability
statement that where two or three
the smallest number possible:
were gathered together unto His
name, He is already in the midst of
them He is to be the strength and
wisdom they need when they are
bility He has placed upon them. So
often that is quoted as promise,
it is not a promise, but blessed
Peters Pei tS0' Rule and christ's Principle
All of this raises a question in
Peters mind, How often shall my
brother sin against me and | for
give him? The Rabbias had already
said three times; Peter goes little
farther, "seven times?" On Sunday,
nd On
and Wednesday, and Thursday, ana
Friday and Saturday? Seven was
the complete number. Shall TOR
give him seven times in one Gay
The answer of Jesus completely
floored him-I say unto you, not
until seven times. but until seventy
times seven times" Four hundred
and ninety times in one day? What
Ibid Jesus mean? Some say he meant
an unreasonable number of times
and in a way that is true. Peter
was trying to live by rule, Jesus
was establishing a principle. 1t was
awfully hard for those disciples VINO
had been raised to think that right
realize that law was, not the way
to righteousness. And [ am think
ing that you, my Christian reader,
are having something of the, same
difficulty. But Jesus had already
told Peter that the children are free
L.
Peter that principles, not rules, were
to guide His followers. You see,
Peter was looking at himself, and
his own personal rights. not at his
shining brother. Suppose he had ask
ed his question thus; How often
sinned against me?? The "seven"
times would never have figured in
But why "49O" times?? Why not
some other high number to express
| an unreasonable number of times!
Each of these numbers has a splr-
| itual significance. Two is the num-
| Der of incarnation, Christ the sec
| ond person of the Godhead; five is
| the number of grace; seven lhere
| squared or raised to the two
power) is the number of divine per-
| lection The spiritual significance OF
| 400 therefore is this-the number OF
times one is to forgive is the per-
| feet number multiplied by the grace
| of God as shown in the incarnation
of the son. In other words, we are
! to show the same spirit toward
[ those who have offended us that God
has shown in His dealings with us
| in Christ Can you measure that?
| Jesus might have said to Peter
in answer to his question-HoW
often shall you sin against God and
He forgive you? Well, Peter you for
give the same number of times.
There is a farther light on this
answer of Jesus. 400 is the number
that measures Gods dealings with
| His people. 1t was 400 years from
| the birth of Abram to the exodus;
| 400 years from theoXodus to the
foundation of the temple; 400, years
to the return of the Jews from
| Babylon under Nehemiah; and &C