In our study of the Church, we have examined the Church’s Foundation, (Jesus Christ) It’s Head, (Jesus Christ) and It’s Organization.  We now progress onto the portion of the Church that is necessary to,  yet seriously lacking in most local churches.   We must not underestimate or exaggerate the importance of . . .

CHURCH DISCIPLINE

1 Corinthians 5:5-7

⁵ To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

⁶ Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

⁷ Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

LEAVEN IN SCRIPTURE IS ALWAYS A TYPE OF EVIL!  THE CHURCH MUST PURGE OUT ANY EVIL IN ITS MEMBERSHIP.

The purpose of church discipline is brotherly love – and the goal is to restore him to fellowship with the Lord and his church family.

1 John 4:7-11

⁷ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

⁸ He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

⁹ In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

¹⁰ Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

¹¹ Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

(Please note that this Scripture is directed at those who are already saved)

exercising biblical church discipline “if thy brother shall sin against thee”

step#1 –   The one who is sinned against must go to his brother alone, not seeking after revenge or self-justification, but to “gain his brother.”  

Matthew 18:15

 Moreover 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.

step #2 – if the offender does not repent, the next step is to take one or two believers and go to him again.

Matthew 18:16

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.

step #3 – if he will not hear the two or three witnesses, the third and last step is to take it to the church.

Matthew 18:17

 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 an heathen man and a publican.

An excellent example of church discipline is to be found in the Bible, of course.  It is found in Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth.

1 Corinthians 5:1-13

King James Version (KJV)

5 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.

² And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

³ For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,

⁴ In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

⁵ To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

⁶ Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

⁷ Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

⁸ Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

⁹ I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

¹⁰ Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

¹¹ But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

¹² For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

¹³ But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

In Paul’s 2nd letter to the church at Corinth, we learn that the man repented and was restored to the fellowship of God’s people.

2 Corinthians 2:3-11

King James Version (KJV)

³ And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

⁴ For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

⁵ But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.

⁶ Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

⁷ So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

⁸ Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

⁹ For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

¹⁰ To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;

¹¹ Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

The attitude of the church towards a repenting brother ( I stress repenting because we are not referencing the crocodile tears shed by famous, adulterous televangelists) should always be demonstrated by forgiveness in love.  This is not to be confused with the “tolerance” practiced in the Emergent churches.  Forgiveness is NOT tolerance – with tolerance the sinful behavior is encouraged and  embraced – with forgiveness, the sinful behavior is expunged and forgiven.

sage