# Confession of Faith, According to the Holy Word of God. · Page 37 of 44 [Previous page: Confession of Faith, According to the Holy Word of God.](/en/stories/mm-confession-of-faith-according-to-the-holy-word-of-god/part-36/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: Confession of Faith, According to the Holy Word of God.](/en/stories/mm-confession-of-faith-according-to-the-holy-word-of-god/part-38/) But if any one fall into open works of the flesh, from which the church perceives that through these sins he has separated himself from his God, and incurred the divine wrath, such an one the church shall, without any of the aforesaid admonitions and words as in the case of the offending sinner, on account of his sins, exclude from the brotherhood, and point him to repentance and reformation, by which he may again find grace with God, even as he has become separated from God through the evil works of the flesh. Thus the church shall knowingly keep none in her communion who are separated from God through their sins; nor separate any from her communion save those who have previously through their sins become separated from God; nor again receive any, and promise life and peace to them, except those who through faith and true repentance have first been received into grace with God. This true repentance possesses the following properties: 1. That we have a sincere sorrow before Almighty God for all the sins we have committed; 2. that we confess our sins from the heart, before God and men; 3. that we desist from and do not continue any longer in sin, and, according to our ability, seek to make amends for the evil we have done, by doing good. This repentance and reformation again opens the entrance to the kingdom of God, which before was closed to us on account of our sins. So that the church of God, by this her separation and reception, may according to his word, follow the previous separation and reception by God in heaven, of which the action of the church is only a proof and proclamation. And since with God there is no respect of persons, therefore the church of God shall use this key of the word of God aright, and, in punishing, spare no one, whether he be minister or brother, man or woman, but shall judge the small as well as the great after one rule and measure of the divine word, according to the truth. And, as all disobedient sinners by consent of the church, with sorrow and sadness of heart, are excluded from the brotherhood, and referred to repentance and reformation; so also shall all obedient, penitent sinners with the consent and concurrence of the church, be received, by the bishop of the church. And, as men are wont to rejoice over the finding of a lost sheep, piece of silver, or son, so shall believers rejoice with all the angels of God over the repentance and return of their erring brother or sister. How the minor sins, whether caused through weakness or ignorance, were reconciled by the priest with various offerings, read: Lev. 4:27; 5; Numbers 5:6; 15:22. But the open transgressors of the law were put to death without mercy under two or three witnesses. Of this read: Num. 15:30; Lev. 24:14; Deut. 17:12; 19:15; Heb. 10:28. In connection with this read also the words of the high priest Eli: “If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him; but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him?” 1 Sam. 2:25. How Christ commanded that small offenses between brother and brother should be punished, read: “If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matt. 18:15–18; Luke 17:3; Gal. 6:1; Jas. 5:19. “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death.” 1 John 5:16. But open offending members Christ commanded to sever and cast away without exercising admonition, intercession, or forgiveness in regard to them, before the separation. Read: Matt. 18:8; Mark 9:42. Thus did also the apostles, according to the doctrine of Christ, deny eternal life to all the known works of the flesh, condemning them to death, and in their assembly; delivered the Corinthian fornicator unto Satan, with the word and power of our Lord Jesus Christ, without using the aforesaid admonition with regard to him. 1 Cor. 5:3. Read also: 1 Tim. 1:20; 5:20; 2 Cor. 13:2. ## Original source [Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_390) [Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855) [Previous page: Confession of Faith, According to the Holy Word of God.](/en/stories/mm-confession-of-faith-according-to-the-holy-word-of-god/part-36/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: Confession of Faith, According to the Holy Word of God.](/en/stories/mm-confession-of-faith-according-to-the-holy-word-of-god/part-38/) --- Page: https://history.truechristian.church/en/stories/mm-confession-of-faith-according-to-the-holy-word-of-god/part-37/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+Confession+of+Faith%2C+According+to+the+Holy+Word+of+God.+%C2%B7+Page+37+of+44&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0AConfession+of+Faith%2C+According+to+the+Holy+Word+of+God.+%C2%B7+Page+37+of+44%0A%0APage%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fen%2Fstories%2Fmm-confession-of-faith-according-to-the-holy-word-of-god%2Fpart-37%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-confession-of-faith-according-to-the-holy-word-of-god--b00931-o000000%0A%0ADate+currently+shown%3A+16th+century+%28source+section%29%0A%0A%23%23+Correction+or+addition%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Sources+and+evidence%0APlease+include+book%2Fpage+references%2C+archive+links%2C+or+first-hand+documentation.%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Image+credit+%28if+applicable%29%0ACreator%2C+source%2C+and+permission+or+public-domain+basis.%0A%0A%0A%0ASubmitted+for+review%3B+this+issue+does+not+publish+changes+automatically.)