[continued from previous message]   
      
   the body of Christ. Just as Israel united to confront evil, the New   
   Testament church is commanded to exercise discipline toward unrepentant   
   sin (1 Corinthians 5:1–13; Matthew 18:15–17). This action is not cruel   
   but necessary to protect holiness and to call sinners to repentance. The   
   church must confront sin with brokenness, dependence on God, and hope   
   for restoration. It stands as a community under the lordship of Christ,   
   acting not in vengeance but in obedience to the Holy Spirit’s leading   
   and the Word’s authority.   
      
   LAST THINGS   
      
   The battle of Judges 20 previews the final judgment when God will once   
   again separate righteousness from wickedness. Just as Benjamin faced   
   destruction for persisting in sin, all who reject God’s truth will face   
   eternal separation from Him (Revelation 20:11–15). Yet for believers,   
   the cleansing of Israel anticipates the future kingdom where   
   righteousness will dwell (2 Peter 3:13). God’s justice will be   
   perfected, His people purified, and His presence restored among them.   
   The church is called to live now in light of that coming day, standing   
   firm against sin and proclaiming the message of repentance and salvation   
   through Christ before that final judgment arrives.   
      
   CONCLUSION   
      
   Judges 20 teaches that God demands holiness within His people and that   
   sin cannot be ignored or excused. Israel’s confrontation of Benjamin’s   
   wickedness prefigures the church’s calling to maintain purity and truth.   
   The Lord who judged Gibeah now calls His people to proclaim forgiveness   
   through the cross, where judgment and mercy meet. This chapter reminds   
   believers that holiness costs much but glorifies God when pursued   
   through humility and obedience.   
      
   --   
   Have you heard the good news Christ died for our sins (†), and God   
   raised Him from the dead?   
      
   That Christ died for our sins shows we're sinners who deserve the death   
   penalty. That God raised Him from the dead shows Christ's death   
   satisfied God's righteous demands against our sin (Romans 3:25; 1 John   
   2:1-2). This means God can now remain just, while forgiving you of your   
   sins, and saving you from eternal damnation.   
      
   On the basis of Christ's death and resurrection for our sins, call on   
   the name of the Lord to save you: "For 'everyone who calls on the name   
   of the Lord will be saved'" (Romans 10:13, ESV).   
      
   https://christrose.news/salvation   
      
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   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)