Titus 3:10-11 KJV
A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
These are very strong words coming from a man who had just said
Titus 3:2 KJV
To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
As gentle as we are to be as believers, there are those we must have no fellowship with.
The word heretic in the earliest days meant someone who is self-willed. This is one who does as he chooses. Over the course of time, it has evolved to mean someone who holds doctrinal positions contrary to that of the church. Let's just stick to self-willed; a heretic does as he wants regardless of the teaching of his church.
The word reject means, "beg off" or "have nothing to do with." This one who does as he pleases and has been warned about his error should be shunned. Gill says, "...have nothing to do with him; have no society with him; admit him not to private conversation, and eject him from church communion..."
The word subverted means "to pervert" again Gill says, "...overturned and demolished; he is like an edifice, that is not only decaying, and falling, but is entirely everted, and pulled down; so that there are no hopes of a restoration or recovery..."
It is my conviction that great damage has been done to the purity of our faith by those who refuse to practice this. We have gone so far that we have "self-willed" preachers who ignore clear teaching in the Bible so they may continue to teach and preach and they are not only not rebuked, but Christians still flock to their congregations, having no discernment of right.
Lord help us to be gentle and meek and speak well of men. But teach us at the same time to be soldiers for the truth.
A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
These are very strong words coming from a man who had just said
Titus 3:2 KJV
To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
As gentle as we are to be as believers, there are those we must have no fellowship with.
The word heretic in the earliest days meant someone who is self-willed. This is one who does as he chooses. Over the course of time, it has evolved to mean someone who holds doctrinal positions contrary to that of the church. Let's just stick to self-willed; a heretic does as he wants regardless of the teaching of his church.
The word reject means, "beg off" or "have nothing to do with." This one who does as he pleases and has been warned about his error should be shunned. Gill says, "...have nothing to do with him; have no society with him; admit him not to private conversation, and eject him from church communion..."
The word subverted means "to pervert" again Gill says, "...overturned and demolished; he is like an edifice, that is not only decaying, and falling, but is entirely everted, and pulled down; so that there are no hopes of a restoration or recovery..."
It is my conviction that great damage has been done to the purity of our faith by those who refuse to practice this. We have gone so far that we have "self-willed" preachers who ignore clear teaching in the Bible so they may continue to teach and preach and they are not only not rebuked, but Christians still flock to their congregations, having no discernment of right.
Lord help us to be gentle and meek and speak well of men. But teach us at the same time to be soldiers for the truth.
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