Matthew 18:15-17
The topic of today’s SERMON is EXCOMMUNICATION.
& when you hear EXCOMMUNICATION, you usually think of the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH …
… as they’re known for EXCOMMUNICATION, but it’s actually a very BIBLICAL DOCTRINE …
(not the way that the Catholics do it, but it is Biblical).
& You think of historical figures that were excommunicated …
… such as MARTIN LUTHER during the PROTESTANT REFORMATION ….
… or WILLIAM TYNDALE who translated the Bible into English …
… & was burnt @ the stake.
Obviously those were unjust persecutions.
But EXCOMMUNICATION is a DOCTRINE that isn’t preached very much in churches nowadays …
& we don’t burn people @ stake here, so that’s a good thing …
Before we started our local body here …
… I’d been a member of various churches over the course of the last 2+ decades …
… I’d been to non-denominational churches, charismatic, four square churches, Baptist churches …
… I even briefly attended an ANGLICAN church when I was studying abroad in Wales …
… but in all these years …
… I never heard a SERMON preached on CHURCH DISCIPLINE or EXCOMMUNICATION.
… & that’s mainly because most of our modern churches are guilty of being “seeker friendly”.
But 1 of the REASONS for CHURCH DISCIPLINE …
… is to create UNITY w/in the BODY OF CHRIST …
… to be a HOLY PEOPLE, called by GOD to live SEPARATE from the WORLD …
… & finally, to preserve PURE DOCTRINE within the church.
& the PRIMARY PASSAGE that I’d like to begin with is 1 CORINTHIANS 5.
This is the most COMPREHENSIVE single CHAPTER on CHURCH DISCIPLINE & EXCOMMUNICATION that we have in the Bible.
1 Corinthians 5:1-5 begins:
1 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.
In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul was dealing w/ the liberal permissiveness of the ancient Corinthians believers …
… who were being tolerant of 1 of their members who had fallen into unrepentant FORNICATION & INCEST.
& notice in v. 5 that he commands the church to: “deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh” …
… DESTRUCTION … not of the SPIRIT …
… but of the FLESH …
… his SALVATION was SECURE!
Even though the CORINTHIAN BELIEVER had fallen into gross, blatant, unrepentant sin! —
… his salvation was not in jeopardy …
… but his flesh was in MORTAL DANGER because of his SERIOUS, UNREPENTANT SIN.
& Paul instructs the CHURCH in CORINTH that they have the power & the authority …
… to give that PERSON’S FLESH – his physical being — into THE HANDS OF THE DEVIL …
… for the punishment of the body …
… The UNREPENTANT BELIEVER was even in DANGER of being TAKEN HOME early by the LORD.
… if he were to remain in an unrepentant state.
1 John 5:16 speaks of SIN that leads to DEATH:
(now this only happens if it’s a very serious SIN; God doesn’t do this lightly. But it says:
“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. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.”
This is a somewhat hard passage to understand.
But, basically, it’s saying that there are SINS that DO NOT lead to physical death …
… & there are SINS that when committed WILLFULLY, can be serious enough …
… to lead to physical death …
IF the SINNER remains UNREPENTANT & refuses to change.
In 1 Corinthians 11:29-30, some believers were getting sick & dying (for example) …
because they were taking COMMUNION in an unworthy manner:
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
Those who preach a pure GOSPEL of GRACE through FAITH alone & teach ETERNAL SECURITY …
… get accused of being permissive of SIN & teaching that CHRISTIANS can live however they want …
… But it’s not outside of GOD’S CHARACTER to take BELIEVER’S home early …
… who continue to defy Him knowingly & willfully and who remain in serious unrepentant sin.
Now, God is very graceful & doesn’t exercise that right frequently …
It takes A LOT to get to that point …
… but there is a SIN that LEADETH to DEATH!
& that’s what PAUL meant when he talked about giving the UNREPENTANT FORNICATOR over to “Satan for the destruction of the flesh” …
An example of this is ANANIAS & SAPPHIRA who lied to the HOLY SPIRIT in the BOOK OF ACTS chapter 5 …
… & God took them home early.
You can go back & read ACTS 5 …
… but God DISCIPLINES those whom He loves!
Hebrews 12:5-6 says:
5 … My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
CHASTISEMENT is a PROMISE from the WORD OF GOD to every SAVED BELIEVER.
You can NAME IT & CLAIM IT!
It’s a SURE PROMIS from GOD’S WORD!
Paul continues in 1 Corinthians 5:6-11, concerning the UNREPENTANT BELIEVER:
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 is pictured here as SIN.
If MAJOR, UNREPENTANT SIN is tolerated in the church, it grows & infects the whole church.
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.
So Paul says, LOOK, don’t fellowship with CHRISTIANS who are living in SERIOUS SIN …
… & who are unwilling to repent.
& Paul lays this out as an admonishen to BELIEVERS —
… not to UNBELIEVERS because they’re EXPECTED to behave this way …
In v. 11, he says: 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 idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
So “IF ANY MAN that is CALLED A BROTHER” be a fornicator, or an extortioner, or a drunkard …
… this instruction is to CHRISTIANS only.
Because we’re not supposed to JUDGE outsiders …
… we’re supposed to judge ourselves WITHIN the CHURCH.
In 1 Corinthians 5:12-13, Paul says:
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.
So as a CHURCH, we can & should hold one another ACCOUNTABLE.
& so in 1 CORINTHIANS 5:11, PAUL lists the specific SINS which require excommunication …
… if the OFFENDING BELIEVER refuses to REPENT.
He cites 6 habitual sins:
1. FORNICATION
2. COVETOUSENESS
3. IDOLATRY
4. RAILING
5. DRUNKENNESS &
6. EXTORTION
& there are other times CHURCH DISCIPLINE is required …
But let’s take a look @ these 6 1st before we move on …
1. FORNICATION
1 Corinthians 6:18-20, 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.
GOD has redeemed us by the SHED BLOOD of His Son, the Lord Jesus Chirst.
That means God has literally PURCHASED US.
We used to be sold & in bondage to SIN …
The Bible says in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of SIN is DEATH …”
But CHRIST redeemed us with His own BLOOD …
… so that DEATH would no longer have power over us.
… HIS BLOOD was the PRICE that he PAID to make us what the Bible calls, “HIS PURCHASED POSSESSION” …
Ephesians 1:14 says of the HOLY SPIRIT dwelling inside of us, that it is: “… the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession [that’s us], unto the praise of his glory.”
SIDENOTE: this is yet another PROOF for OSAS …
… because we do not BELONG to our OWN SELVES, after we’ve been redeemed!
We don’t have the RIGHT to WALK AWAY from CHRIST, as HIS PURCHASED POSSESSION.
1 John 5:13: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”
So when we DEFILE our BODIES …
… we are DEFILING the PROPERTY of the LORD.
This FLESH is HIS PURCHASED POSSESSION.
1 Corinthians 6:13 says: “… Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.”
& that’s because we have the HOLY SPIRIT dwelling inside of us …
… & so when we FORNICATE, we’re making our BODIES 1 w/ an HARLOT.
Paul says in the next chapter, in 1 Corinthians 6:15-16:
15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, he also says:
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;
5 Not in the lust of concupiscence [which means constant lust], even as the Gentiles which know not God:
PAUL is saying FORNICATION is how the WORLD LIVES.
Almost every MOVIE that you watch, nearly EVERY TV SHOW that you see …
… promotes FORNICATION like it’s normal & there’s nothing wrong w/ it!
Like you’re just EXPECTED to do it, if you’re an ADULT.
I was watching that old TV SHOW, “SEINFELD” …
… because the HUMOR & characters on that show are so funny & clever …
… but @ some point you realize that EVERY CHARACTER on that show …
… is either a WHORE or a WHOREMONGER …
(except perhaps w/ the exception of KRAMER).
& that was back in the 90s!
TODAY, they’re pushing SODOMY on TV like it’s completely normal behavior that we have to accept!
& you can hardly watch anything on TV anymore.
2 Corinthians 6:17 says: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,”
2. NEXT on PAUL’S list is COVETOUSNESS.
Now, you might think is that really a SERIOUS SIN?
Well, it IS the 10TH COMMANDMENT.
So God does take it seriously.
Exodus 20:17 says: “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.”
You need to be CONTENT w/ your FAMIL, w/ your WIVES, w/ your HUSBANDS …
… & all the MATERIAL THINGS that you’ve gained …
… & not COVET after your neighbor’s life & possessions!
Job 31:24-25, 28 says:
24 If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;
25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;
…
28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.
Covetousness leads to idolatry, because you’re putting riches & possessions & even relationships above God!
Psalm 10:3 says: “For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.”
God HATES covetousness.
Paul says in Acts 20:33-34:
33 I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.
34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
& in Ephesians 5:3, he says: “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;”
3. #3 on the list is IDOLATRY.
This one is obvious in that we are not supposed to place ANY OBJECT OF WROSHIP above GOD! —
Whether material things or idols or relationships.
IDOLTARY is the 1st of the 10 commandments.
Exodus 20:3: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
& we can have many different types of IDOLS;
they don’t have to be WOODEN STATUES overlaid w/ GOLD & SILVER to be IDOLS.
In fact, the Bible says that COVETOUSNESS IS IDOLATRY.
So these 2 are very closely related.
Colossians 3:5 says: “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:”
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:7-11:
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Notice that Paul was quoting examples of the CHASTISEMENT of GOD’S PEOPLE ….
… in the OT.
& even though we’re in the NT now …
… Paul says that all these are an EXAMPLE unto us!
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:14: “Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.”
& The APOSTLE JOHN says in 1 John 5:21: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”
So what IDOLS do you have in your LIFE?
What are you unwilling to give up for the LORD that you’re desperately hanging onto?
#4 on the LIST is RAILING.
Railing is a REALLY DESTRUCTIVE habit.
It’s very ABUSIVE to those around you.
RAILING or REVILING (which is basically the same word) …
… is demeaning someone w/ harsh & malicious words …
… words that are full of reproach & contempt for that person …
It doesn’t even have to be LIES …
… it’s the way that you approach someone & demean their character.
JESUS was REVILED or RAILED ON when he hung on the Cross …
… by 1 of the thieves who hung next to Him.
Luke 23:39 says: “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.”
In Matthew 27, it says that those who passed by the CRUCIFIXION …
… also RAILED on JESUS, as they walked by.
Matthew 27:39-43:
39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
& it’s really EASY to get into the HABIT of RAILING on people, especially in today’s SOCIAL MEDIA culture.
People sometimes say things online that the wouldn’t say in PERSON …
… so that’s 1 area where we have to be careful.
But @ the same time it’s no excuse.
Because I know plenty of people online who don’t have a RAILING problem.
But we do need to check ourselves & make sure we’re still being charitable online as well as offline.
& the BIBLE says that even when people RAIL AGAINST US …
… that we shouldn’t RAIL BACK on them.
So even if you think you’re justified in RAILING, you’re still not supposed to do it.
1 Peter 3:8-9 says:
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.
& in 1 Peter 2:21-23, the Bible says that Jesus also never RAILED, even though He was RAILED on:
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
& RAILING is 1 of the CHARACTERISTICS that the Bible tells us …
… is grounds for removing someone from our fellowship.
Now does that mean that if you’re having a bad day …
… & you rail on someone that you’re up for CHURCH DISCIPLINE?
No, we all have moments where we lose it @ times!
But when it becomes a REPETITIVE PATTERN & a HABIT …
… when a person becomes CHARACTERIZED by RAILING …
… that person is a RAILER & needs to be dealt w/!
& if you’ve been RAILED on for the sake of Christ …
… rejoice, because you’ve earned ETERNAL REWARDS.
Matthew 5:11-12 says:
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
So we have to learn to tame our tongues, even in the midst of our adversaries.
James 3:5-6 says:
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
#5 ON PAUL’S LIST IS DRUNKENNESS.
The Bible is emphatically against drunkenness.
Proverbs 23:29-30:
29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
This is a fairly obvious one.
Drunkenness is clearly condemned by the Bible.
Romans 13:12-14 says:
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Isaiah 5:11 says: “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!”
& what is the Bible’s remedy against drunkenness?
Ephesians 5:18: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”
I like how the Bible defines its own words.
Being drunk with wine here is defined as “excess”.
It’s having an excess of wine that leads to drunkenness.
# 6 ON THE LIST IS EXTORTION.
Extortion is basically FORCING SOMEONE to give you something (such as money) …
… or coercing someone to do something for you against their will.
… It’s very similar to BLACKMAIL …
God rebukes the leaders of Israel in Ezekiel 22:12: “In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.”
JESUS also rebukes the PHARISEES in Matthew 23:25 for being full of “extortion”: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.”
Extortioners are also mentioned in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10:
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
& so EXTORTION is serious enough to get you KICKED out of CHURCH.
So that’s PAUL’S LIST of 6 MAJOR SINS that have to be dealt w/ in the church.
& so PAUL concludes his list in 1 Corinthians 5:11 by telling the church that if a believer is unrepentant, that: “with such an one no not to eat.”
In other words, he tells the church to CUT FELLOWSHIP w/ people who are characterized by:
FORNICATION
COVETOUSNESS
IDOLATRY
RAILING
DRUNKENNESS
or EXTORTION
& the reason he says not to eat w/ them …
… is because the spiritual application of Paul’s words …
… have to do with the TAKING the LORD’S SUPPER together.
It’s a command to break FELLOWSHIP & COMMUNION w/ the WRONGDOER.
In the EARLY CHURCH …
When believers would gather for CHURCH on SUNDAYS …
… they would eat meals together (that’s why we do the same here).
Acts 2:46 says: “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,”
& so the CHURCH would break FELLOWSHIP w/ & ultimately EXCOMMUNICATE …
… the OFFENDER from their midst.
Now, there are a few more instances in which BELIEVER’S can be EXCOMMUNICATED.
2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 talks about believers who are DISORDERLY BUSYBODIES & REFUSE TO WORK:
6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
8 Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Other passages like 1 Timothy 5:8 also say: “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
What is an INFIDEL? An UNBELIEVER.
Those who refuse to WORK to provide for their HOUSEHOLDS are WORSE than UNBELIEVERS.
& so we are to withdraw ourselves from believers who are busybodies, gossips, disorderly …
… & who are capable of working but refuse to do so!
THE FINAL REASON for EXCOMMUNICATING BELIEVERS …
… has to do w/ those who preach a FALSE GOSPEL …
Paul says in 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.
Some people misundertand this passage & say that this is talking about DIVISIVE people …
But Jesus said in Luke 12:51: “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:”
Sometimes it’s good to be DIVISIVE …
We’re supposed to SEPARATE the LIGHT from the DARKNESS …
… the GOOD from the EVIL …
But Paul says to SEPARATE from those who: “cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned.”
He’s speaking of people who teach HERETICAL DOCTRINES …
… & cause DIVISIONS w/in the CHURCH as a result of their false teachings.
Paul says to MARK them & to AVOID them.
Titus also says in Titus 3:10-11:
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.
OK So … we have 3 GROUPS that need to be DISCIPLINED or KICKED OUT OF CHURCH …
(1) Those who are CHARACTERIZED by SERIOUS, HABITUAL SINS …
… such as FORNICATION, DRUNKENNESS, RAILING, etc.
(2) Believers who are DISORDERLY & BUSYBODIES & REFUSE TO WORK when they are able.
(3) Those who CAUSE DIVISIONS contrary to SOUND DOCTRINE.
Anything outside of this, is not grounds for separation.
Now, obviously if you have a MURDERER in your MIDST …
… common sense dictates separation & adherence to the LAW.
But this means that we can DISAGREE about SIDE-ISSUES …
… (non-fundamental, essential issues) w/out separating.
OK, but what is the PROCEDURE for EXCOMMUNICATION …
Well, it goes back to the 1st passage I started the SERMON w/:
Matthew 18:15-17:
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.
When an OFFENSE OCCURS or a believer has fallen into heresy …
1. First, you have a DISCUSSION w/ your BROTHER or SISTER 1 on 1.
You lay it all out on the table & air your grievances.
Hopefully, that DISCUSSION will lead to RESOLUTION.
2. But if that doesn’t work, the Bible says to take 1 or 2 other believers w/ you as witnesses …
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:1: “… In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”
This goes back to the LAW OF MOSES …
Where all ALLEGATIONS had to LEGALLY be established by the mouth of 2 or 3 WITNESSES.
This also creates accountability in the process.
If 1 party is wrong, you also have a MULTITUDE OF COUNSELORS …
… who can help JUDGE & ASSESS the situation.
& the POINT of these PROCEEDINGS isn’t to CONDEMN the WRONGDOER.
it’s your hope that through these discussions that REPENTANCE & RECONCILIATION can occur!
Too often when people find themselves in this kind of situation …
… they’re TOO PROUD …
… which is probably WHY they fell into that situation in the 1st place …
But the purpose of these proceedings & discussions isn’t to KICK THE MEMBER OUT …
… but to bring the MEMBER back into GOOD STANDING w/ both GOD & the CHURCH.
But when these things DON’T WORK …
It’s time for the FINAL STEP …
… which is to bring the GUILTY BELIEVER up publicly before the ENTIRE CHURCH …
… lay out the case …
… give them a FINAL OPPORTUNITY to REPENT …
& if they do not …
… that PERSON is EXCOMMUNICATED before the ENTIRE CHURCH.
So WHAT HAPPENED to the CORINTHIAN BELIEVER who was disciplined by PAUL?
(& I’ll end w/ this).
Last that we left the fornicating Corinthian believer …
… Paul had said: “Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.”
1st note that Paul called a BELIEVER WICKED.
Christians CAN BECOME WICKED!
The fornicating believer in Corinth is a TESTAMENT to ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED …
… & to SALVATION by GRACE THROUGH FAITH alone.
He had fallen so far into FORNICATION & INCEST …
… & he was unrepentant!
But he was still saved!
If this had happened today, the LORDSHIP SALVATION & REPENT OF YOUR SINS CROWD would look @ him …
… & conclude that YOU CAN’T LIVE LIKE THE DEVIL & still be saved!
But that’s EXACTLY what the CORINTHIAN BELIEVER was doing!
& we see from PAUL’S 2ND EPISTLE to the Corinthians …
… that as a result of the discipline inflicted upon the sinful believer …
… that he repented & was reconstituted back into the Corinthian body.
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2:4-5 says:
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.
Paul wasn’t overly harsh in his discipline (he wasn’t a RAILER!) …
… but he was strict according to Biblical standards.
His words were STRONG, but they were accompanied by TEARS & an ANGUISHED HEART.
& this is the kind of attitude that we have to approach such situations …
… we’re not supposed to be SELF-RIGHTEOUS & HIGH & MIGHTY about it.
1 of my FAVORITE passages in Scripture is Luke 18:10-14:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
That’s the attitude we’re supposed to carry with an entire lifetime!
& so Paul instructs the believers @ CORINTH to now forgive the ousted member …
… because CHURCH DISCIPLINE had resulted in his repentance.
2 Corinthians 2:6-8:
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.
The PURPOSE of CHURCH DISCIPLINE isn’t to exact vengeance or punishment for punishment’s sake…
The purpose of CHURCH DISCIPLINE is to SEEK the RESTORATION of the SINNER.
It’s all about RECONCILIATION.
But the PERSON has to be willing to show up & face the MUSIC!
As a CHURCH, we need to be SEPARATE & HOLY & pleasing to GOD.
That’s the only way we can expect our church body to grow & to be blessed.
In REVELATION 2, there’s a serious warning to CHURCHES who don’t put GOD 1ST …
Revelation 2:1-5 says:
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Those who don’t believe in OSAS …
… use this passage to claim that a BELIEVER can have their CANDLESTICK snuffed out …
… if they continue in HABITUAL SIN & don’t REPENT.
They misuse this passage against ETERNAL SECURITY.
But REVELATION 2 is JESUS talking to a CHURCH BODY.
He’s telling the CHURCH that if they don’t put HIM 1ST …
… & return to the kind of ZEAL & LOVE which they had for HIM @ 1st …
… that He would remove their CANDLESTICK.
THE CANDLESTICK is the LOCAL CHURCH.
It’s an ADMONISHMENT for the CHURCH to be HOLY, & PURE & to PUT GOD 1ST …
… otherwise, GOD will REMOVE our CHURCHES … & scatter us …
I’ll close w/ Galatians 6:1-2:
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
