July 27, 2021

Question 97: What is required to be the worthy receiving of the Lord's supper?

Answer: It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord's supper, that they examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lord's body, of their faith to feed upon him, of their repentance, love, and new obedience; lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgement to themselves.

This is a good and biblical answer, however, there is something missing from this answer. The thing missing is church membership. I do not mean membership in the particular local church in which a traveler might take part in the Lord’s Supper, but I mean membership in the church universal. We do not believe in Baptismal regeneration; therefore, this is not of which I am speaking. However, we do believe that Baptism is a church ordinance; therefore, Baptism is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and the Lord’s Supper. Faith in Jesus Christ is the prerequisite to Baptism, believers Baptism is the prerequisite to church membership and church membership is the prerequisite to participation in the Lord’s Supper. 

The apostle Paul wrote, 1 Corinthians 11:27-32

Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

The period of time before participating in and ingesting the Lord’s supper is a time to reflect on persistent personal sin, to confess it and forsake it. We should also reflect while taking the the Lord’s Supper that “ Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Cor. 15:3-4) It is the joy of a believer to participate in the ordinance of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Monday: July 26, 2021

Question 96: What is the Lord's supper?

Answer: The Lord's Supper is a sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ's appointment, his death is showed forth; and the worth receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace.

Dear Neighbor,

I do not believe that this answer is sufficient. I believe “The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.” (BFM, Article 7b) 

The Westminster Puritans believe that the Lord’s Supper is a sacrament but I believe that it is a symbolic act of obedience. Remember, the word sacrament implies that the act itself conveys grace to the believer. I do not believe that the act of receiving the Lord’s Supper conveys any grace to the believer. 

Ephesians 2:8-10

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

The Lord’s Supper is a remembrance of the last supper that the Lord Jesus Christ had with his disciples. At that supper, the Lord explained his atoning death to his disciples with the use of bread and wine. He used the bread to symbolize his body broken for believers and he used the wine to symbolize his blood shed for believers. 

Hebrews 9:22

And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Jesus commanded that his disciples do this in remembrance of him. (Luke 22:19)

The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience, whereby members of the church, memorialize the death of the Lord Jesus Christ and anticipate his second coming. It is at his second coming that we will celebrate the wedding supper of the Lamb. (Rev. 19:7) Regular observance of the Lord’s Supper is a teaching moment for the church and is a teaching moment for the parents of their unbelieving children. Unbelieving are not participants but witnesses of the symbolic act and the obedience demonstrated by their parents.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Friday: July 23, 2021

Question 95: To whom is baptism to be administered?

Answer: Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him; but the infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be baptized.

Dear Neighbor,

I know by what means they came to this answer, but being men who spent much time in the Scripture, I do not understand how they held to it. There is much that we all do out of habit, and because others did it before us; but the truth is, the second part of this answer is fallacy. There is absolutely no instance of anyone being Baptized in Scripture except that of a believer. 

I believe that the reformers were on the path to abandon the practice of infant baptism but they chickened out. Throughout the middle ages, and during the time of the reformation, the way that governments counted its citizenry was through church baptismal records. If only believers were baptized, not all persons born in the country would be counted. In order to have governmental protection, the reformers attached themselves to the state, and the Westminster Puritans were no different.

An inference, therefore, was made on a text in Acts 16:31-34 and attached to circumcision in the Abrahamic covenant. There is no reference in Scripture that links baptism and circumcision. When one really looks at it, the whole thing is just crazy, but human emotion takes over and blinds reason.

The Phillipian Jailer asked Paul and Silas, Acts 16:30-34 (NASB)

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.

I do not have time in the few minutes that I write this morning to explain and refute infant baptism as it relates to covenant theology, however, the Scripture only teaches believers baptism and not that of unbelievers, which includes a believers infant. There is no indiction in the aforementioned text that suggest infant baptism but only suggest that those who believed were baptized. In order to make such an inference, there must be other examples in Scripture but there simply is not any. 

What does the Scripture teach about Baptism?

Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord’s Supper. (BFM, Article 7a)

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Thursday: July 22, 2021

Question 94: What is baptism?

Answer: Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, doth signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord's.

Dear Neighbor,

Baptism is not a sacrament, whereas, by calling Baptism a sacrament, the word implies conveyance of grace. No one has been or ever will be sealed our ingrafted into Christ through the act of Baptism. However, Baptism is required for church membership, that you a believer may then take part in the activities of the church, but it does not give us the benefits of the covenant of grace, for all was given to us when we first believed. 

Ephesians 2:8-10

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

All Christian works follow after faith, which comes to us by grace, which is the gift of God. Baptism is, therefore, a good work. Christian Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Baptism does not save anyone, nor seal anyone into Christ, nor convey grace, nor make us the Lord’s. Baptism is an act of obedience that symbolizes a believers faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, and was buried, and was raised again the third day. Christian Baptism also symbolizes the believers death to sin, the burial of his old self, and resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Baptism is the testimony of a believers faith in the final, bodily, resurrection of the dead at Christ coming.

While Baptism is not required for salvation (see the thief on the cross, Luke 23:42-43) it is required for church membership. Since Baptism is a command of Christ, to refuse Baptism would negate entrance into the church community. The believer must be taught to observe all that the Lord Jesus Christ commanded. Baptism is the first act of obedience for the new believer, and is, therefore, a teaching moment for the church.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Wednesday: July 21, 2021

Question 93: Which are the sacraments of the New Testament?

Answer: The sacraments of the New Testament are, Baptism, and the Lord's supper.

Dear Neighbor,

I believe it of necessity that I once again define sacrament and ordinance. In answer to question 92, the Westminster Puritans said, “A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ.” I agree that the Baptism and the Lord’s supper are ordinances instituted by Christ, and they are Holy because Christ instituted them, but for what purpose and to whom? This is the purpose of the questions that follow, but for now, let us once again define sacrament and ordinance.

The authors of The Baptist Faith & Message define ordinance and sacrament thus:

• Ordinance means decree or command.
• The word sacrament implies that the act itself conveys grace to the believer.

Both the Westminster Puritans and Baptist agree that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted Baptism and the Lord’s supper, and there are none but these. (cf. Mt. 28:19 & 1 Co. 11:23) On Thursday and Friday we will explorer the questions of Baptism.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Tuesday: July 20, 2021

Question 92: What is a sacrament?

Answer: A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ, wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.

Dear Neighbor,

As I said yesterday, I do not like the word sacrament being used of baptism and the Lord’s supper because the word sacrament implies that the act itself conveys grace to the participant. I, however, prefer to call them ordinances because an ordinance is a decree or command; therefore, I am pleased to read in answer to question 92 that the Westminster Puritans said, “A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ.” However, I do not believe that the entire second half of the answer is correct: “wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.” I do not like the answer because it implies that the act itself conveys grace. 

I knew when I began to write about the questions and answers given in the Westminster Shorter Catechism that I would be in agreement with the Puritans up to this point but would be in disagreement with them regarding this subject. My convictions are Reformed with regard to soteriology but my convictions are Baptist with regard to ecclesiology; therefore, I am a Reformed Baptist. In systematic theology, soteriology is the study of the salvation of man and ecclesiology is the study of the church.

I do not believe that Christ, the benefits of the new covenant, are sealed and applied through the act of participation in the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s supper. I do not believe this because it is not biblical but comes from tradition. 

Why then baptize and participate in the Lord’s supper at all? Because the Lord Jesus Christ commanded us to. It is our obedience to Christ’s commandments that testifies to God’s grace. I read this morning in James that “faith without works is dead.” (Jam. 2:29) The ordinances are pictures and remembrances of grace. The act does not convey grace but we do receive grace and blessing when we obey Christ’s commandments and remember what he has done for us.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Monday: July 19, 2021

Question 91: How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation?

Answer: The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or in him that doth administer them; but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of his Spirit in them that by faith receive them.

Dear Neighbor,

The word sacrament is derived from the ancient Roman religions of making and oath to and worshiping the gods; for this reason the Roman Catholic church adopted this word into the Christian faith. The Westminster puritans continued to use the word in their confession and catechisms; both longer and shorter catechisms. The Baptist decided to make a change and call them ordinances. It became excepted in Roman Catholicism that there was virtue in the ordinances and in the priest who administered them.

I do not believe this to be true. I do not believe that Baptism and the Lord’s supper are acts that convey grace but are commands given by Christ as pictures and affirmation of grace. Baptist do not observe Baptism and the Lord’s supper because they convey grace, an effectual means of salvation, but because Christ commanded that we do so.

The ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s supper are illustrations and remembrances of grace. Believers do not receive grace and blessing through sacramental grace, but by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and obeying all that Christ commanded.

Once again I encourage you to consider Acts 2:41-42 as the bases:

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Saturday: July 17, 2021

Question 90: How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?

Answer: The the Word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation, and prayer; receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practise it in our lives.

Dear Neighbor,

The bases for these final questions and answers is Acts 2:41-42

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Those who received the Word began to practice the Christian life!

In the parable of the Sower and the Soils; (Mark 4:1-20) Jesus explained that there are four ways in which people receive the Word:

1. People who hear, but do not receive the Word.
2. People who hear, receive the Word, but do not lay it up in their hearts.
3. People who hear, receive the Word, lay it up in their hearts, but do not practice it in their lives.
4. People who hear, receive the Word, lay it up in their hearts, and practice it in their lives.

In Matthew 13:16, Jesus said to his disciples: “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.”

The Word of God must not be heard only but must be received with faith and love, laid up in our hearts, and practiced in our lives. The apostle James wrote, James 1:23-24

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

Do not take the reading our hearing of the Word lightly, but attend to it with diligence, prayerfully prepare yourself and others to receive the Word with faith and love, that you may lay it up in your hearts, and practice what the Word says in your lives.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Friday: July 16, 2021

Question 89: How is the Word made effectual to salvation?

Answer: The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the Word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation.

Dear Neighbor,

Yesterday, I wrote that the bases for these final questions in the Westminster Shorter Catechism were set in the answer to question 88; therefore, even if the answers deviate, we will not, for this is the bases, the establishment of the church of Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:41-42

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

The apostle Paul wrote to his apprentice Timothy: “Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.” (1 Tim. 4:13) Why? Because the apostle Paul understood, “The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul.” (Ps. 19:7) The Hebrew word, תּוֹרָה (torah) translated into English, Law, means direction or instruction. Therefore, the Word is made effectual to salvation by directing the hearer to the incarnate Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, Law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless. (1 Tim 1:8-9) Whoever walks according to the flesh, is unrighteous, for the righteous man shall live by faith. (Rom. 1:17) For this reason the apostle Paul wrote, Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” It is through preaching the Word that we ensure salvation both for ourselves and for those who hear. (1 Tim. 4:16)

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Blessing and Cursing

Text: Leviticus 26

The Lord begins a closing discourse that refers to the Ten Commandments and the sanctuary; that if they keep his commandments in the land, he will give them abundant life. But if they do not keep his commandments in the land, the Lord will punish them in the land. The evils that he promised to take away if they observed his commandments, he will increase sevenfold. So, they may turn to him, but if not he will increase these evils sevenfold. If they remain rebellious, then the Lord will destroy their cities and scatter them among the nations. The land will get its rest but they will have it very difficult while in the lands of their enemies. When they come to repentance in the land of their enemies, the Lord will remember his covenant with Jacob and with Isaac and with Abraham and he will remember the land; the Lord will remember the covenant that he made with them when he took their ancestors out of Egypt. This is the word of the Lord to the sons of Israel.

In this chapter there is the promise of blessing if the sons of Israel observe the commandments of the Lord and the promise of cursing if they disobey the commandments of the Lord. This includes moral, civil and ceremonial commandments. For the sons of Israel there were several commandments but only one law. If they observe the Lord’s commandments, the promises to bless them in the land but if they rebel against his rule he promises curses sevenfold. 

Not for Israel only, but for all the nations, there is a promised blessing and cursing. The promise blessing and cursing for the sons of Israel had to do with the land of Canaan. The promise blessing and cursing for all the nations has to do with eternal life in the new heaven and new earth which is yet to come. God is now declaring that all people everywhere should repent, because he has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through Jesus, whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising him from the dead. (Acts 17:30-31) The promise of blessing and cursing that was promised to Israel has to do with observance or rebelling against the commandments that the Lord gave through his servant Moses. The promise of blessing and cursing for all people everywhere has to do with receiving or rejecting the Son of God, who Jesus Christ the Lord. Those who rejected him will go away into eternal punishment, but those who received him will go into eternal life.

Leviticus 17

Making a sacrifice out in the field was a very serious offense. In fact, the person that did so, bloodguiltiness was reckoned to the man. Because he shed blood, he was to be cut off from the people. Life, whether man or beast was to be considered precious. The life of all living beings on the earth is in the blood; therefore, the sons of Israel, or any foreigners who lived with them were not to eat blood. All animals were to be taken to the doorway of the tent of meeting to be slaughtered by a priest; whether the sacrifice was a peace offering, burnt offering, or sin offering.

The sons of Israel were to think of themselves as one people and their king was the Lord. The Lord had designated Aaron and the sons of Aaron as priest to the Lord. The Lord had designated the tent of meeting as the place to make sacrifices. The Lord had commanded that the sons of Israel eat no blood, because the life is in the blood; therefore, it is the blood that makes atonement. The Lord’s portion of any sacrifice was the fat. There are three things to consider:

1. The sons of Israel were to make sacrifices to the Lord only. If they were making sacrifices out in the field, to whom were they sacrificing?
2. The sons of Israel were to think of themselves as one congregation and not individuals doing their own thing.
3. The Lord commanded that all sacrifices be done in this way.

They were aloud to kill and eat wild animals that were considered clean animals but were not to eat the blood. If they shot and killed a deer for instance, the blood had to be drained out in the field before the animal was cooked and eaten. If an animal was killed by another animal it could be eaten, but the man had to take a bath and wash his clothes and was considered unclean until evening.

The Christian is not under these ceremonial obligations because we have a new covenant in Christ Jesus our Lord, who is the Son of the God. He has been given all authority in heaven and on earth; therefore, he is our king. During his last supper with his disciples, Matthew 26:26-28 (NASB)

While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.

Like the sons of Israel were to come to the doorway of the tent of meeting to make sacrifices. We are not to eat the Lord’s supper alone but together in a congregation. 

Matthew 23

What does it say?

Jesus spoke to the crowds and the disciples about the scribes and the Pharisees. He said that they have seated themselves in the chair of Moses. He said, therefore, do as they say but do not do as they do. They like to seek honor before men and to be called  Rabbi. However, Jesus said to not be called teacher because one is your teacher and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on the earth father because one is your Father and he is in heaven. Do not be called leaders because one is your leader and he is the Christ. Jesus gave eight woes to the scribes and Pharisees and he called them hypocrites because they lay burdens on people that they are not willing to do themselves. Jesus said that he wanted to gather all of Jerusalem together like children and protect them, but they were unwilling; therefore, they will not see him again until they say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Ps 118:26) 

What does it mean?

Many of the words of Jesus get explained away. I think that this is done out of human desire to be honored. Many in the church today are called teacher, father and leader. They are honored but Jesus did not want it to be this way. Do we need teachers? Do we need pastors? Do we need elders? The answer is yes, but they should not think of themselves as better than anyone else in the church, nor should the congregation elevate these persons. Teachers, pastors and leaders need to be very careful with what they burden the church. We are all brothers and sisters with the same Spirit. We are all children of God, adopted by the same Father. We are all subjects of King Jesus. No one in the church should seek honor for themselves and no one in the church should be honored above anyone else in the church. All should think of everyone as equal. No one should think themselves better than the other. Nor should anyone burden another with something that they are not truly willing to do themselves. Nor should anyone think themselves less than anyone else in the church. We are all brothers and sisters. We all have the same Spirit, the same heavenly Father and the same King, Jesus Christ our Lord.

What shall I do?

I shall not elevate teachers, pastors and elders above anyone else in the congregation. I shall not seek to be honored above anyone else in the congregation. I shall not burden my brothers and sisters with anything that I am not willing to do myself. I shall think of everyone in the congregation as equal to everyone else in the congregation. In a Bible study, what one has to say is as worth listening to as much as the other. It is the Spirit who interprets Scripture. It is the Father who loves us, he gave his Son that we should not perish but have everlasting life. It is the Son (Jesus Christ) who has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. I shall keep this in mind always. 

Matthew 18

What does it say?

The disciples asked Jesus “who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus answered them with the example of a child and said that they shall be like children in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus then begins to talk about causing others to stumble and says “woe to him who causes others to stumble.” Whatever causes you to stumble should be removed from your life. The weakest in the congregation should not be despised but cared for the most. God’s will is that all whom he has given to the Son will not perish. Then Jesus begins teaching about relationships in the church. There is a time to severe a relationship because of sin, but not before doing everything possible to get the other person to repent. Meet with the person one on one, then take one or two more, then tell it to the entire church that all may plead with the person, but if the person will not listen to the church, then severe the relationship. What the church decides on earth with loving care, will also be bond in heaven. Peter wanted to know how many times he had to forgive someone and Jesus gave him an answer that did not allow for any un-forgiveness. Then he told a parable about a man who owed a debt to his master that was impossible to ever be repaid in a life time. The master had compassion for the slave and forgave his debt, but the one forgiven did not show the same compassion and forgiveness towards a fellow slave who owed him a debt; therefore, the master became angry and handed him over to be tortured until he should repay his debt. Jesus said that his Father will do the same if you do not forgive your brothers from the heart. 

What does it mean?

There are three timeless-universal-principles taught in this text:

1. No one in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than anyone else. God is our Father; therefore, we are all equally his children and Jesus Christ is Lord; therefore, we are all equally his subjects. The pastor who teaches the word should not be held higher than the stay at home mother who cares for her baby. All are equal in the kingdom of heaven. This is not so in the kingdom of man but in the kingdom of heaven all are equal.
2. The one who struggles the most with sin should be cared for the most. We should take great care not to become a stumbling block for the person who struggles with a particular sin. However, sin most be dealt with and the person who is sinning most be confronted. There is a time to severe a relationship within the church but not before great effort is taken to get the person to repent. 
3. There is no un-forgiveness of others in the church. God has forgiven us a debt that we cannot pay. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom.6:23) For our sin against God, we deserve death. Not just the death of our bodies, but the death of our soul, the lake of fire, the second death. Jesus paid our penalty on the cross; therefore, we should forgive all who sin against us without exception.

What shall I do?

I shall not think that I am better than anyone. All are equal in the kingdom of heaven. I shall not become a stumbling block for others. I shall not be put off because I may not have the freedom to do what I want to do because of caring for someone else in the congregation. I shall take great care when one of my brothers is living in sin. It is not the will of God that any of his children should perish. I shall forgive all who sin against me because God has forgiven me of a debt that I cannot pay.