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Just as there is community action in righteousness (I am forgiven my sins "for Christ's sake," Ephesians 4:32, KJV), so there is community action in sin. Achin's sin resulted in the death of many of his fellow countrymen (Joshua 7:5). For that reason Achan was discovered with his sin, which was stealing what belonged to God, and his whole family was destroyed (7:24-25). His family suffered judgment with him as a symbol that no one sins unto himself any more than he dies unto himself.
Community sin begins with Adam; I am a sinner because he was. But if I were the only sinner in the world, others would still suffer because of me. In fact, the more godly my aquaintances and fellow Christians are, the more they will suffer because of my sin. Since I am not a solitary Christian but a member of a body, when I sin I infect the body and the cells nearest to me suffer the worst. The Bible warns me against having a "root of bitterness" in me by which "many [are] defiled" (Hebrews 12:15). Paul warns that sin, like leaven, permeates the whole dough (1 Corithians 5:6).
So sensitive is my example to my fellow believers that even the "appearances" of sin (1 Thessolonians 5:22, KJV) must be avoided for their sakes. As far as possible, I must live free from ambiguity. Above all, I must never repeat the behavior of Jeroboam, who "made Israel to sin" (1 kings 14:16). The tragedy of Jeroboam was that he never realized the community action of sin. He sinned and a nation sinned with him.
I am encouraged by the "keeping" power of God, "The Lord is your keeper" (Psalm 121:5). If He is my keeper, He will protect me from all harm, the harm to others as well as the harm from others.
"And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it" (1 Corithians 12:26-27). *AMEN*
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Lord I lift up these words to you that my fellow brothers & sisters have said. Lord help me not to be sinful, I know since we are of the flesh it's impossible for us never to sin. Lord I ask as soon as a sinful thought even comes across my mind, please help me not to act on it but to lift it right up to you. Lord please direct and guide all my thoughts, actions, reactions, interactions. Please make all my words that leave my lips be filtered through you and not let anything unedifying leave my lips. Lord I desire that your light shine through me so others can see you and not me. In Jesus Name Amen I pray this for all of us here.
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