With Such an One No Not to Eat

 

• 1 Corinthians 5:9-11

 

There are times in the Bible when God instructs us through His Word to cut ties & not keep company with other believers, under very specific conditions.

 

& There are two extreme responses to this that we usually  see among Christians.

 

1. On the one hand, you have the modern-day Rick Warren church model of all-inclusive Christianity, where everything & everyone is acceptable …

 

… Where the ultimate goal is to never judge anyone, where there’s never a harsh word spoken, never a rebuke, where sin is never confronted, & there’s very little to no substance or depth in the preaching …

 

… because everything is geared towards acceptance & tolerance.

 

And the culmination of this is that pedophiles are let into the church, sodomites are let into the church, & so-called pastors like Rick Warren will proudly inaugurate the most wicked president of American history …

 

… while simultaneously urging Christians to unite with Catholics & Muslims & Jews & the Pope in his push for the one-world religion of the anti-Christ.

 

2. On the other hand, we have genuine, Bible-believing Christians, who love God and want to live holy lives …

Who want to live according to the Bible and understand doctrine …

 

But IN REACTION to modern-day Christians, will take rebuking & reproving to another level … to the stratosphere … & become a different sort of extreme …

 

It’s one thing to rebuke a false teacher … like Joel Osteen or The Poop, Poop Francis, but Christians who start with good intentions will end up on a rebuke fest …

 

& become self-righteous, modern, religious zealots & Pharisees who neglect Romans 12:10, which says:

 

“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”
They forget John 13:35: “By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

 

Or 1 John 4:7: “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

 

So we’re to admonish our Christian brothers & sisters when we’re in disagreement or in a dispute in a spirit of meekness & charity.

 

Christians forget that “Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, ⁵ Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; (1 Corinthians 13:4-5)
1 Corinthians 13:1 – “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”

 

While we’re commanded to rebuke false teachers & to cut ties w/ Christians whose lives are characterized by certain sins …

 

The purpose of rebuking a brother or a sister IS NOT to condemn, but to force them into a place of repentance for the purpose of restoration.

 

So I want to go over specific areas where the Bible tell us to cut fellowship w/ believers, but this has to be done in an orderly fashion & with the Bible’s instructions.

 

Romans 12:5: “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

1 Corinthians 12:

²⁰ But now [are they] many members, yet but one body.

^…

²⁵ That there should be no schism in the body; but [that] the members should have the same care one for another.

²⁶ And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

 

& So when we rebuke a brother, or we get into these endless debates & harsh disputes over doctrine, and not work within the Spirit of meekness, it’s like fighting ourselves.

 

Eventually, I’m gonna say something that you disagree with …

 

But unless it’s a salvific issue or encouraging someone to  sin, we are to treat each as members of the same body.

 

Turn to 1 Timothy 5:

1 Timothy 5 is really about how we are supposed to treat each other.

 

But a lot of people misunderstand this verse.

 

¹ Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;

² The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

 

Now pastors love to stop at 1 Timothy 5:1a (“rebuke not an elder).

 

But this verse is not even talking about pastors.

Now I’ll get to verses about how to treat pastors in a minute, but read 1 Timothy 5 again:

 

¹ Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;

² The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

 

[EXPLAIN]: younger contrasted with older, “pastor women”.

 

Elders here is simply talking about people who are older, as in your elders …

 

* People think that the word “elder” always means a pastor or a bishop, but that’s NOT the always the case.

 

Now, sometimes the word “elder”IS synonymous with “bishop”.

Titus 1:5-7, Paul says to Titus:

⁵ For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain ELDERS in every city, as I had appointed thee:

⁶ If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

⁷ For a BISHOP must be blameless, as the steward of God …

 

Using the KJV Bible Dictionary, we see that ELDER here does mean BISHOP in Titus 1.

 

As a side-point in this verse, notice that Christian churches already existed OUT OF NECESSITY prior to Titus TRAVELLING & ordaining bishops within existing congregations. But that’s another topic for another day …

 

• If you search “elder” in the Bible, it also simply means, “one who is older.”

 

• The first time “elder” appears in the Bible it refers to Japheth, the eldest son of Noah.

 

Genesis 10:21: “Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.”

 

The first time a word appears in the Bible, it typically defines the most common usage of that word.

 

Genesis 25:23, the next time “elder” appears:

“And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.”

 

Speaking of Jacob & Esau.

 

• So again, 1 Timothy 5 is contrasting the older w/ the younger, and explaining how Christians ought to treat eachother.

 

The whole passage is contrasting the aged with the young.

 

• Further down in the passage, Paul talks about older widows & younger widows and then later about younger women marrying.

 

So 1 Timothy 5 is really saying is: have respect for your elders.

 

We see this in 1 Peter 5:5: “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of yoube subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”

 

This is a simple truth that has been lost in our modern-day culture.

 

You know I always tell my kids: There’s nothing wrong with saying Yes Sir & Yes Ma’am. It’s a sign of respect for your elders.

 

I agree that we should have respect for good bishops & pastors, & not to rebuke them sharply, because the Bible says they tend to our souls …

 

Look instead at Hebrews 13:17:

“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

 

So my view on eschatology or the End-Times isn’t a reason to break fellowship, my Biblical understanding that women should have long hair & wear feminine clothing & men should cut their hair short, my view on whether “wine” means “wine” in the Bible or whether it means grape juice …

 

None of that has anything to do w/ when we are to CUT FELLOWSHIP with other Christians.

 

SALVATION is the main dividing point, DOCTRINALLY …

 

I’m gonna to talk about PERSONAL SINS in a minute … that’s what I really want to get to, that’s the where the meat of this sermon is …

 

But Look first to Romans 16:17-18:

”¹⁷ Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

¹⁸ For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

 

If someone is preaching a works-based Gospel or the word of faith movement or another Jesus, after 1 or 2 serious admonishments, MARK THEM & AVOID THEM, because they’re preaching another Gospel.

 

Titus 3:10:

¹⁰ A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

¹¹ Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

 

Spending time with a heretick who won’t be admonished IS NOT a good stewardship of your time & your talents.

 

Ecclesiastes 4:13 says: “Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.”

 

So that’s as far as the doctrine of salvation is concerned.

 

Now, WHEN SHOULD WE SEPARATE from another Christian over SINFUL BEHAVIOR?

 

Turn back to 1 Corinthians 5:9-13, where we started, & Let’s dissect that a bit.

 

• Notice that FORNICATION is at the top of the list.

 

• So if you are in a fornicating relationship with someone, I have no choice but to shun you, until you repent.

 

• We see in v. 10, Paul says: “Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world.”

 

• The moral standard that Paul establishes is for believers only. The world is expected to behave this way, they’re not saved, they don’t have the Holy Ghost.

 

• So we are to continue preaching the Gospel to fornicators & sinners of this world.

 

• This is embodied by the fact that Jesus drank with sinners.

 

·       Luke 7:34: “The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!”

 

• Yet we see in v. 12 that he says, “IF any man THAT IS CALLED a brother be a fornicator …”

 

• Notice that this includes those who ARE Christians and those who CLAIM to be Christians.

 

• Paul says: “If any man THAT IS CALLED a brother …” So if you simply call yourself a Christian, whether you’re saved or not, this applies.

 

• Paul adds to this list in v. 11 a brother who is also: “covetous”, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner.”

 

• And he says: “with such an one no not to eat.” And he says in v. 13: “Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person”.

 

• Paul here is referring to a man who in v. 1 of Corinthians 5, had had his “father’s wife”.

 

• There was serious fornication going on within the Corinthian church & Paul instructed the Corinthians to “Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person”.
• And we see later in 2 Corinthians that the man in question repents & COMES BACK into fellowship with the Corinthian church:

 

• 2 Corinthians 2:

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.

 

• So we see that cutting ties with the sinner in this case, was for the purpose of repentance and restoration.
• So we see 6 major sins that Paul singles out as being enough of a reason to PUT AWAY and NOT TO EAT with such a person, IF that person wears the name of Christ.

 

• These are the words the Bible uses to describe breaking fellowship with our brothers.

 

• In another passage, Paul uses the word, “have nocompany with” (in 2 Thessalonians 3:14).

 

• The 6 sins, again, include: FORNICATION, as the primary sin, also someone who is COVETOUS, an IDOLATOR, A RAILOR, a DRUNKARD, or an EXTORTIONER.

 

Let’s briefly isolate each of the 6 sins, so we can examine them individually:

 

1. FORNICATION: this is the first one mentioned, & without being graphic, it means to be intimate with or “to know” someone outside of marriage (to use the Biblical euphemism).

 

In 1 Corinthians 6, the very next chapter, Paul says:

¹⁸ Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

¹⁹ What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

²⁰ For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

 

NOTICE in v.20 the Bible says: Your body & your spirit are not your own, but God’s, who purchased them with His own blood!

“For ye are bought with a price”.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:

³ For this is the will of God, [even] your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

⁴ That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

 

When we let sin continue, like leaven, it spreads to the whole lump.

 

Paul says in 1 Cor 5:

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 …

 

• And this is not to condemn, but to compel believers to REPENTANCE & then ultimately RESTORATION.

 

Hebrews 12:11: “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

 

• So let’s briefly go over the other sins mentioned:

 

2. COVETOUSNESS (which is the 10^th commandment)

Exodus 20:17: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

 

• Covetousness is actively desiring to obtain something that is unlawful for you to have.

 

Now, we all covet things from time to time.

 

This isn’t talking about the occasional sin, otherwise we would all be kicked out of church …

… but about a life that is CHARACTERIZED by covetousness.

 

• And that’s the case with lot of these sins.

 

Psalm 10:3: “For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.

 

 

1^st commandment, Exodus 20:3: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

 

OK, I think of Catholics.

… People who wear the Christian name, but have respect unto idols, from Mary to the Saints to the Pope.

 

• Idolatry is a sin that is justification for breaking fellowship.

 

4. A RAILER

 

What is a railer? Think about the Biblical phrase, “railing accusations”.

 

I think of false accusations, people who bear false witness, scoffers, people who are insulting, people who just go off on you.

 

1 Timothy 6:3-6:

³ If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

⁴ He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

⁵ Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain.

 

1 Peter 3:

⁸ Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

⁹ Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

¹⁰ For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

¹¹ Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

¹² For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

 

5. A DRUNKARD

 

Now, a drunkard DOES NOT include people who have a sip of wine or a glass of beer with their meals.

 

Paul is talking about actual drunkards … someone who gets sloshed, goes out and parties, & has excessive alcohol.

Ephesians 5:18 says: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”

 

6. EXTORTIONER

 

Someone who forcibly compels you to give them money.

Like a black-mailer or someone who threatens you w/ violence if you don’t pay them.

 

• OK, so these are the 6 sins mention in 1 Corinthians 5.

 

• And Paul says “with such an one no not to eat”.

 

What does Paul mean by that?

Especially during Paul’s time, believers were a strong family-like community, they ate meals together, they were in constant fellowship, they took financial care of one another, and this is something also that has been lost in our modern age to a great degree.

 

We eat together here fairly often, after church, sometimes during the week or on the weekends, during Bible study, sometimes after we go soul winning.

 

So we’re constantly in fellowship.

 

And so if we were to stop eating with one another, the connection, the fellowship, the brotherly gatherings, would be lost … and that’s what Paul meant.

 

• Now there’s 1 more instance in which Paul instructs Christians to separate from believers.

 

So there’s actually 7 clear instances.

 

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

 

Paul is talking about those who don’t work, but go around being BUSYBODIES, being gossipers, causing strife, & getting in the way of those who are busy at work.

The only other time “busybodies” appears in the Bible, Paul applies this young windows who as a result become idle gossipers.

 

1 Timothy 5:13: “And withal they learn [to be] idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

 

Conclusion:

 

There are times when WE MUST sever ties with certain believers, but each step must be orderly and according to the Bible’s instructions.

 

The end-goal is to compel a brother or sister to rentant for the purpose of restoring them to the fellowship of the body.

 

In the Book of the Law, Deuteronomy 19:15, the Bible says:

“One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.”

 

Jesus says the same thing when dealing with church discipline:

 

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.

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.

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.

 

& this must always be done with a spirit of brotherly love, humility, & meekness.

 

Hebrews 13:1 says: “Let brotherly love continue.”

 

Philippians 2:

¹ If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

² Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

³ Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

⁴ Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.