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Dear friends,

There may be no more important work we can do at Walk Worthy than this teaching. It’s that sobering and deadly serious. Your eternal destiny is determined in part by your deeds in this crucial area.

Don’t think Almighty God would eventually send His human creatures to the lake of fire for failing to practice reconciliation? Well, be sure to read on then…

As a young boy I grew up on Keokuk Avenue in a blue collar neighborhood right in the heart of Chicago. My unsaved but law abiding parents would throw many parties in our flat. And the drinking of alcohol was the star of the show. Mild drunkenness was the rigor of the day. It all seemed so right for it was all I knew.

My Dad would exclaim, “Let’s have a libation…or two…or three!” Eventually, at the age of 10 or so, my Dad would give me a taste of both his Canadian Club bourbon and occasionally a Tavern Pale beer. I never really liked it, but I felt it was the socially acceptable thing to do. And the “libation” was the way we all knew we were united as dear friends…in agreement with each other and not unreconciled.

We’d frequently offer a “toast” and the clinking of glasses as they came together in a further sign of unity.

Eventually over the ensuing years, the alcohol would win and I’d become a nightly drinker and closet alcoholic even while keeping high paying jobs, and being an entrepreneur at times.

This “libation” tradition came alive to me in a greater way as a young boy of 9 years old as Hollywood made a rare mistake in making a fairly good movie about the power and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

Hollywood Makes A Movie

In the 1959 riveting movie Ben-Hur, the winner of 11 Academy Awards, wealthy entrepreneur Judah Ben-Hur of Jerusalem and his boyhood friend Masala, now a Roman soldier, reunite. At first they would rekindle the old fellowship, and seal this with an arm-around-arm libation. But Judah suspects Masala has an agenda against his fellow countrymen.

Masala is the new commander of the Roman garrison in Jerusalem. The next day at Judah’s city estate, he demands from Judah the names of the local Judeans (Jews) opposed to Rome. When Judah refuses and Masala declares him an enemy of Rome, he becomes irreconcilable towards his old friend Judah, quickly has him condemned to death, and sent to the sea in the belly of a Roman galley warship.

Gods used this movie to begin drawing me to Himself even back then. I would see the move at least 8 times over the next 15-20 years before being saved. Each time the salvation scene at the end sparked by Christ’s blood off the cross would convict and overwhelm me with tears. Judah Ben-Hur’s forgiveness towards his enemies would strike a dagger in my restless heart. It would take another quarter century until that rebellious heart surrendered to the King of Kings.

His Word Speaks Clearly About Disagreement

The Word of God has a lot to say about being one in the Holy Spirit, being in unity, being reconciled if things come apart, and what we must do with those who are irreconcilable.

The body of Christ these days is more characterized by divisions than unity and with irreconcilability vs. reconciliation. How often do you hear the statement, “we can just agree to disagree.”

What “agreeing to disagree” really means is, “no, I won’t even eat with you to find agreement in this. I want to stand apart from you in this since you’re wrong and I’m right. We can just focus on Jesus.”

True?

Our brother the apostle Paul directly assaults his Corinthian church plant head on since they are in huge trouble with this demonic attitude of divisions, sects, and irreconcilability.

1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.

No divisions. No disagreements. The same mind and judgment. Made complete and 100% by the humble Spirit’s wisdom and conviction. When was the last (or first) time you’ve heard a message on this, beloved?

We expect pagans devoid of the Holy Spirit to be irreconcilable over even the pettiest of disagreements and offenses. But the holy body of Christ with the Head residing in the spirit of His children? God forbid.

As I read and hear brethren comment on the passage above, virtually all I hear is, “well, what he really meant to say is….blah, blah, blah.” Oh, really? They always turn the passage on its ear to say exactly the opposite.

Again, our job description as kingdom citizens is as ministers. Of what primarily?

2 Corinthians 5:17-19 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

The Main Reason We Meet

Now…according to Paul, was is the main reason we meet in the New Covenant body of Christ?

To hear a sermon? Listen to and sing contemporary Christian music? Spend time in small groups away from the main meeting? Attend Sunday School for the kids? Lead a Bible study?

Paul is taking them to task here.

1 Corinthians 11:18-20 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions (Greek: skisma; a split) exist among you; and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions (Greek: hairesis, where we get the word ‘heresy;’ sects) among you, so that those who are approved (read more about approved-disapproved here) may become evident among you. Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper…

Furthermore, some are getting drunk in the home meetings. Despicable, actually.

1 Corinthians 11:21-22 for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you.

We have two major clues to God’s holiness here.

First, eating together is the sign of true unity – and before we do so, we’re to seek complete 100% unity in reconciliation. Why? We insult and dishonor the blood of Jesus Christ if we remain unreconciled.

Second, if we persist, God may very well just kill us. Yep, you heard that right. God killed some who were dishonoring Him and His people at the supper. He’s serious about the sacrifice of His Son.

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 Libation In Ancient Times

Now, Paul also illustrated how important the “libation” was in life since it was a central part of pagan worship and a part of their past pagan experiences before Christ.

Philippians 2:17-18 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering (Greek: spendo, a libation) upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

The Complete Biblical Library Commentary put it this way:

Paul expressed his unselfish willingness to give his life as a martyr for the Lord. Several years later he used nearly the same terminology just before he actually did suffer martyrdom (2 Timothy 4:6). He used the metaphor of a cup of wine being poured upon a burnt offering. He wrote about the pouring out of his blood upon the sacrifice which was the Philippians’ testimony and service for God. The Philippians understood very well this type of language. They often saw (demonic pagan) public ceremonies where animals would be sacrificed and wine would be poured on top of the sacrifice.

Paul continues to model the servant lifestyle by examples. Brother Craig Keener, in his IVP Bible Background Commentary, teaches us this about this passage:

Ancient religions regularly poured out libations to the gods, usually wine but sometimes water or another substance. Paul is being poured out (cf. Phil. 2:7) as such a “drink offering” to the true God, a willing offering on their behalf that joined their own sacrifice.

The last written chapter of Holy Scripture in the remarkable life of our brother, the apostle Paul makes this stunning declaration.

2 Timothy 4:6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering (spendo), and the time of my departure has come.

What Happens To The Rebel?

But…what does the Lord say about the rebel who refuses to reconcile? And in our day and age, many (most?) of those in the west in pews and chairs in homes will fit this category I’m afraid. We all might for a moment be disunited, but the real lover of Jesus will drop everything to make it right.

Here’s one list of sins these rebels display against God. Look very carefully at the other sins in the list. Scrutinize them with prayer. It’s terrifying, actually, at least to me. Hopefully, to you as well.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men (people who profess Christ) will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power. Avoid such men (people) as these.

The word here for irreconcilable in Greek is aspondos (as-pon-dos), taken from a (no) and spondê (truce, libation). So then, it’s “without libation,” i.e. without truce, hence the admitting of no truce. It eventually came to mean a person not willing to make peace, or to come to an understanding. In the Jerusalem Bible they call it “unappeasable.” You just can’t appease these people.

A common attitude in these people can be encapsulated by the phrase, “God told me (so buzz off),” and “God can tell me but you can’t.”

Once again, The Complete Biblical Library Commentary speaks truth to us on verse 3.

The six sins listed in this verse are those (1) “without natural affection” (astorgoi, from storg?, “family love”); (2) “trucebreakers” (aspondoi, from spondai, “truce, agreement”); (3) “false accusers” (diaboloi, “slanderers”); (4) “incontinent” (akrateis, “without self-control”); (5) “fierce” (an?meroi, “brutal, savage”—describes wild beasts); (6) “despisers of those that are good” (aphilagathoi, “haters of good”—i.e., all that is good, whether in people or things).

From Old Testament times, a truce was often reached and consummated around a meal, a drink, with a libation.

But who are the people in this passage we’re to avoid, and not even to eat with such a one? You might be thinking that we’re supposed to be “friends” with everybody, just forgiving them, and “let bygones be bygones” so to speak.

The Word declares to us the truth here.

1 Corinthians 5:9-13  I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES (Duet. 3.5, 17.7, 21.21, 1Cor. 5.2).

It can’t be much more clear, can it? We’re in the world with His Light, evangelizing, discipling, preaching the clear clarion call of full reconciliation with Christ.

But…Marc, you might say, are you suggesting we’re to remove the sinning, irreconcilable brother-sister, and their evil, from any fellowship until they repent and make it right?

Yes. Here it is in full array. Deuteronomy 13:5, 17.7, and 21.21.

But this is quoting an Old Testament verse, right? How can this be for today, you may muse. See the eternal value of the Old Covenant record here and here.

This holy deed, this purging, is called “delivering one to Satan” in the very name and power of our Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 5:4-6 In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?

Even Christians have every work, every deed, judged by the King when He sits on His judgment seat over us.

2 Corinthians 5:10-11a For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men….

We all know the goal is complete restoration is a spirit of humility and gentleness.

Now What About Us

The vital question, then: are you reconciled to all as far as it depends on you? Or are you really a stonewaller? Would God consider you a reconciler…or a rebel against true unity?

So…dear friend…are you, in any way, practicing this heinous sin akin to witchcraft and severe contention?

1 Samuel 15:23a For rebellion is as the sin of divination (witchcraft), and insubordination (pushing and pushing) is as iniquity and idolatry.

Wife, are you fully reconciled to your husband in obedient respect. Husband, to your wife in obedient protection and provision? To your family? To the members of His body?

Brother, are you offended and not going to your offender as Matthew 18 specifies? Or are you causing someone to stumble, and refusing to reconcile? Sister, is the same happening to you?

Or are you mostly “agreeing to disagree” and trampling under our feet the blood of the covenant by which we were sanctified and insulting the Spirit of grace? It’s a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God (1 Cor. 10)

Moreover, we must repent, or perish.

Luke 13:1-5 Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

My dear brethren, make it right with the people and groups you’ve stood apart from recently and over the years. Now. If they won’t reconcile, then shake the dust off your feet. But you must make the effort.

Matthew 5:23-26 “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.

Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.

Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.

Being irreconcilable is also akin to practicing dissensions, to stand apart. God always blesses by bringing people together around His Truth. And He curses by dividing people up.

Galatians 5:19-21 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions (those who stand apart), factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Romans 16:17-18 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.

That’s why the truce, the reconciled act, the “libation” is so precious to our great God. And if not, I myself will have to avoid you…which is not at all what I desire to do, since I truly desire to be unified as one in the Spirit. I couldn’t even eat with you…to have a “libation.”

When anyone says, “we can just agree to disagree” a bell ought to go off in our head. Pray to Almighty God that those words never, ever again pass between our lips. That the mouth, the rudder of our ship, will be so controlled by His Spirit that all we will do – ever again – is to be ministers of reconciliation.

Proving Our Love To Christ

Are you really a new creature in Christ since He will no longer count our sins against us if we endure to the end?

Prove it then…for again we quote His holy Word.

2 Corinthians 5:17-19 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

God Himself reconciled you and me – rebellious wretched sinners – through Jesus Christ even before we were saved…before the foundation of the world through the blood of His torturous and murderous cross. Amazing.

We can do no less – no less – unless we are still, or have fallen away to again become, the devil’s children…or are presently being seduced by evil, demonic spirits and the teaching doctrines of demons themselves.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith (lose their initial salvation by not enduring to the end), paying attention to (seduced by) deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron…

For when you practice irreconcilability, God must be true to the justice of His holy character. He must act to purify His kingdom from those who would pollute it by their hypocritical lives.

Even our dear brother Daniel records the promise and warning of the visiting angel beginning at the end of Chapter 10 as he closes the book that bears his name.

Daniel 12:2 “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt…”

God awaits your reconciliation since as a new creature He expects you to go and sin no more. It’s the normal life for a little Christ…a little Messiah.

1 John 2:3-6 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep (guard) His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

And in the last chapter of His sacred writings, we find the following.

Revelation 22:14-15 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.

Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.

So, then. Are we breaking Jesus’ commandments in practicing lying by standing apart in disunity?

Just how vital it is to avoid being irreconcilable and practice the ministry of reconciliation?

Eternal life and death.

Revelation 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds (like being irreconcilable).

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds (like being irreconcilable).

Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Do we truly have ears to hear?

Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.

Your friend and brother in fighting the good fight,

Marc

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Saints, we’re one day closer to Home, and Him! Love Him wholeheartedly!

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Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.

Marc White, Director, Walk Worthy Ministries, www.WalkWorthy.org