Step Eight -- "Related" Scripture

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:23, 24) 

Once more time, one more time -- this scripture is taken so widely out of context, and thus a complete failure to rightly divide the Word of God!

In the Sermon on the Mount, when Jesus told his hearers to be reconciled to their brethren before offering a gift, Jesus was bringing the law back to its ultimate and impossible standard (Matthew 5: 21-26). In no way can we expect to be reconciled to every person whom we have harmed, and even then there will still be a conscience of sins when we offer our gifts at the altar (Hebrews 10: 2)

The conscience of sins is something that we have been purged from, as well:

"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

"For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9: 12-14)

"Conscience of sins" basically refers to any sense or feeling within us that we have done something wrong, or that we must still do something more.

Yet many people believe that if we do not hold people accountable with threats of punishment, then they will get nothing done.

Paul did not think that way at all:

"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15: 10)

His grace is flowing through us. We were saved by grace, which we received by faith (Ephesians 2:
4-8).

This grace is what empowers us to live life to the fullest:

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)

Yet the fear of sin has afflicted us more than the certainty of Christ's life in us leading us by the power of the Holy Spirit!

Another comment from  a post using the Scripture to justify using the "12 Steps":

It would seem entirely appropriate, then, and, in the opinion of this commentator, would be pleasing to God if we took this principle of making amends from the book of Leviticus and applied it in our life. In verse 6:7, we are told that after this making of amends in our life that there would be forgiveness. We should not be surprised, then, that in the process of making amends we too find a peace and forgiveness that we had never known before.
(http://www.12step.org/bible/step-8-scriptures.html)

The Old Covenant has passed away:

"In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." (Hebrews 8: 13)

If we want to please God, we do that by faith:

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11: 6)

Even the Old Testament, the New Covenant of faith was made manifest:

"And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." (Genesis 15: 6)

Believers today now have the faith of the Son of God (Galatains 2: 20), and we receive this faith by hearing the word of Christ (Romans 10: 17)

If we wish to please God, let us believe on Him (John 6: 29) and let His grace flow in our lives!