Church Discipline

Confronting Immorality in the Church

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Confronting Immorality Within the Church Family

Book of 1 Corinthians Chapter 5

Some things in the Bible are not easy to comment on, and the things Paul writes in this chapter are one of those places.

I do not see myself with enough knowledge to present this lesson other than to follow where research will lead me, along with the Word of God.

We must accept this chapter as something the local church should do when it is known that there is sin in the midst of the congregation.

In reality, most churches have bylaws that take effect in such situations, and the pastor of the church would be aware of them.

First, there is no local church that can prevent someone from sinning!

God gave us free will, and we are still in these bodies of flesh.

So, the big question is, how does the church, the Body of Christ, respond when someone’s sin has become known?

If we, as church members, take sin lightly and do not put away known sin that is among us, then can we still say we are the church that Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, established?

These are also things that can divide the church, and we see this happening all over America today.

Many in the church say, “I just do not see anything wrong with that,” rather than seeing what God says about it.

We must know that there is a difference between “falling into sin” and “living in sin”.

Falling into sin means we have done something that is sinful.

Living in sin is not something that is done once; it is a sinful practice in everyday life.

If someone commits adultery once is terrible because it affects two families, but living in adultery is far more terrible.

What should we do if we know someone is in sin? The Lord Jesus gives us the answer.

Mat 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.
Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear there, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 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.
Mat 18:18 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.

We should first approach that person and attempt to resolve this issue with them.

If we do not succeed, then we should try one more time, bringing another person.

If we do not succeed, then we need to get the Pastor involved and then the church.

If that person confesses that sin to God, and another person, if such a one was involved, and no one else needs to know about it.

What had happened in this church at Corinth was a terrible sin, and almost all the church knew it and had done nothing Biblical to stop it.

Some in this church even thought this was laughable.

*1Co 5:1 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.

We should not try to connect this chapter with chapter four, as Paul jumps in to handle this sinful situation in the Church at Corinth.

To the Church, this is a terrible sin, and is rarely seen, but to the Jew, this sin was specifically addressed in the Scriptures and the Books of the Law.

This passage gives us an idea of just how wicked the city of Corinth was; it was full of all sorts of lust, lewdness, and excessive unlawful indulgence.

This sin is unacceptable in almost every nation upon this earth.

We would think that this sin was not possible for a believer to take part in, but we would be wrong.

The Apostle Paul explains this very well: Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

We should understand what Paul is saying here and prepare ourselves for the day the Devil will place us in these situations.

When morals have become so corrupted as they have in our nation and most other nations of this world, we see more and more of these types of sin.

Our own nation might recognize same sex marriages, but God does not.

Fornication is any sexual relationship outside the relationship of a marriage between one man and one woman.

The Word of God states that gay men and lesbian women are living in sin.

In Hebrew families, fornication was seen as a crime against society and was severely condemned, and it should be.

Deu 22:22 If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.

So, how did this church respond to knowing this sin had taken place and this church member was living in sin?

We sometimes do not realize how important it is for us to confess our sins and repent for them.

We cannot live in sin and say we are Christians!

*1Co 5:2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

How did this group of believers react to this sin in the midst of them?

They acted as if nothing was wrong. They became arrogant, pretending to be greater than they were, even proud of themselves.

The Church at Corinth was in deeper sin than the man who had done this wickedness, when they should have been sad that such a thing took place.

If they had been sad, maybe the man who had done such a thing might have been removed from the congregation.

We come into the Church to praise and honor God, and we are saved through the Lord Jesus Christ, who did not sin at all.

We cannot connect Jehovah to sin!

We cannot connect the Lord Jesus Christ to sin!

We know that the Lord Jesus Christ died for all our sins.

We must not be partakers with those who are living in sin!

Eph 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Eph 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
Eph 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Eph 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Eph 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

If we allow such things to go on unchallenged, then we are partakers with these so-called Christians.

Paul said the church should have handled this situation immediately after finding out about it.

If a sin of this proportion has become public knowledge and is allowed by the church, how could we ever criticize the sins of the world?

*1Co 5:3 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,
1Co 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Co 5:5 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.

What is Church discipline? Discipline in the Church comes from rules for order and the purity of the lives of the members, including rules for the government and worship in the church.

Each church may have different rules for the discipline of church members.

We have already read what the Lord Jesus has said in Matthew chapter 18.

Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: 2Th 3:6 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.

Then Paul added: 2Th 3:14 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.
2Th 3:15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

We can love them and pray for them, but we cannot hang out with them.

First: This man was to face church discipline, “in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ”.
The Lord Jesus is the head of the Church. It is His Church!
It is the Lord Jesus Christ whose name is being damaged.
It is for the Lord Jesus that discipline should take place!
It is only by the conviction of the Lord Jesus that will awaken this brother to his sin.

Second, the entire church was to come together to handle this difficult matter.
Paul said he would be with them in Spirit.
This church was to clean itself up before this discipline could take place.

A church full of sin cannot discipline a sinful member!

Third: This brother is to be given to Satan.

What does this mean? In short, it means that this brother was to be excommunicated.

If the Church is in the realm of God, then outside the Church is the realm of Satan.

2Co_4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Those outside the Church do not have the hand of God to protect them, and God would remove His hand of protection from this brother.

We have not seen much church discipline throughout the many denominations today, as many of them have fled from the truth of God and have given in to the world, and the Church has lost its power.

It is only by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ that discipline can be carried out on any child of God.

We know for sure that there is Spiritual power that inflicts punishment for sin.

2Th_2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

For those who have control of their flesh, we already have God’s answer to that problem.

1Jn 5:16 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.
1Jn 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
1Jn 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

The Apostle Paul tells us that Christians can become castaways

1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

We are told to always examine ourselves: 2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

The only person who can commit a sin unto death is a church member!

I do not know what this means, but it is said by some to mean eternal death.

Review: 1Jn 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

If the life that God gives is Spiritual and Eternal, then the sin unto death must correspond, and it must mean the opposite, which is spiritual and eternal death.

This being true, then for the Bible to be held in High Regard, this person must not have been saved to begin with, because we cannot lose our salvation!

Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.

It is never good for any church or any church member to glorify sin, especially as we see it today!

*1Co 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
1Co 5:7 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:
1Co 5:8 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.

We know that using leaven is the same as we use yeast today.

Leaven in the Bible stands for sin.

Sin in the Church leavens the whole Church.

This sin had reached the Apostle Paul in Ephesus, and the testimony of this church in Corinth was ruined because this church was glorifying sin.

As long as sin remained in this church, the testimony of our Lord Jesus, who had no sin, and drastic measures must be taken, or the early church would fail.

Too often, a church will overlook the sin and a sinful lifestyle of a man who is a leader in the community, government, or big business. In fact, some churches will brag about having such a man as a member

This church in Corinth needed to wake up to the truth of the Word of God.

The first thing this church needed to do was to remove the sin by removing the sinner.

This meant that every member needed to look at their own lives to make sure to remove any sin that they had.

This means looking at their old life before salvation and making sure there were no remnants of that sin remaining within them.

If we accept the truth of God, then there must not be any of that old leaven in our lives.

This is a big problem in the Church today.

Many of the queer community just say God made them the way they are which means God must have made some mistakes when He created them which is impossible. God does not make mistakes!

Like every sinner, they can be forgiven, but they must repent of their sin just as all sinners must do.

To become Christian, we must be “Born Again” and become new creations of God without sin.

The Church is not to bring sin (leaven) back into the Church!

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

During the Passover, the Jews would remove any leaven they had in their homes, even taking a candle and searching all the corners and the dark spaces to be sure to remove any leaven that remained in their homes.

It is no different for us; we are to search ourselves to remove any sin that remains in our lives after salvation.

If we continue to practice sin and or accept sin, it proves we do not believe that we are cleansed by the Blood of Jesus Christ.

“For even Jesus Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us”.

This Church at Corinth must have its own Passover and search out all sin and remove it from the congregation before they could remove this sinner.

1Jn 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
1Jn 3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
1Jn 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
1Jn 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

*1Co 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
1Co 5:10 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.

The duty of the Church is to separate itself from the World!

The duty of the Church is to welcome every sinner into the Church and teach them the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If they accept the truth of the Lord Jesus, they can stay; if they reject the truth of Jesus Christ, then they must leave and go back into the world.

There is no middle ground!

The Church must separate itself from the world!

We are not to become a part of the world outside the doors of the Church.

We must be friendly and love those who are lost, but we do not party with them or hang out with them.

If we know of some in the Church under false pretenses, we are not to associate with them.

We are not to keep close company with the lost world!

We have to work in this world, and we have to live in this world, but we are not to be a part of this world.

What we find is that much of the Church of today has ignored the teachings the Holy Spirit gave to the Apostle Paul.

It can be said that fornication is what drives the world’s sin today.

Fornication includes all immoral sexual acts! Adultery, pre-marital sex, homosexuality, and any form of sexual deviation.

Those who practice fornication are not to be part of the fellowship of the Church!!!!!!!

The Church is not to become mixed up with the covetousness of this world.

The word covetous means all those who seek more and more, while millions within this world are dying from sin, hunger, disease, and poverty.

Covetousness is a sin that is especially despised by Jehovah!

Luk 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

The Church is not to become mixed with extortioners.

These are thieves, grafters, and those who take advantage of the poor to get more gain for themselves.

There is a certain party in politics that has been doing this for years, and in fact, this is what all the immigration we have seen in the last few years was all about: to gain voters and people dependent upon handouts they could control.

This Church is not to become mixed with those who worship false gods. There can be no Chrislam!

Jesus Christ is the God of the Bible, and He must be accepted as such!

Believers are in the world, but they are not to be part of the world!

Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

*1Co 5:11 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 idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

We must separate ourselves from those who say they are Christians, but the fruit of their lives tells a different story.

We know our salvation is between us and God, but the Lord said we would know them by their fruit.

To be safe, we must avoid them while praying for them, not even eating with them.

These are the same ones who should not participate in the Lord’s Supper.

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Psa 78:35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.
Psa 78:36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.

*1Co 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
1Co 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

We have nothing to do with the people whom the Lord will judge when He returns.

Our one job is to tell them of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and we need to show them the love of Christ while we are doing this.

The lost world will be judged by God, and we can tell them how to avoid this judgment.

Any and all evil must be removed from the Church!

There must be discipline in the Church!

Those who refuse to repent must be removed from the Church!

We must not forget we were once part of the lost world.

Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Knowing what we were before coming to Christ should allow us to see those who in the Church who are still of the world, but we should also remember there are times we should not remove them, as the Lord has stated.

1Th 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
1Th 4:12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

The Lord Jesus has already said: Mat_13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

There must be discipline in the Church, but it must be done according to the Word of God!

Remember, every Word of the Bible was written for the Church!

Amen

God’s Guidance

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Guidance for Church Life

Book of 2 Thessalonians Chapter 3

In the end Paul knew that the prayers from each church were more important than all other things.

It is the same today. Prayer is the power behind the Church!

Prayer is very different from preaching, and yet a moment’s reflection will show how they work together.
Prayer speaks to God for man; preaching speaks to man for God.
Prayer seeks to bring God to man; preaching aims to bring man to God.
Prayer moves God towards man; preaching persuades man to seek after God.
Prayer makes known unto God man’s request; preaching reveals to man God’s mind and will.
Preaching casts in the seed; prayer brings the rain and the sunshine.
Preaching deposits the leaven; prayer secures the hand which adds to it working.
Preaching utters the good tidings; prayer carries the sound to the ear and makes that all sensitive.
Preaching is doing the practical work which man can do; prayer asks for what God only can do, and for that which is necessary to the success of that which the man can do.

Now the Apostle Paul switches to a subject that we all already know, “work and employment”.

Preacher Sam says it all the time, the Holy Spirit was not just given to us for our enjoyment but was given to us more importantly for our employment!

*2Th 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
2Th 3:6 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.

It is extremely hard to be patient in this wicked world we live in, but the Lord Jesus Christ directs each of us to be patient while we wait upon His return.

It helps us to stay away from unbelievers unless we are witnessing to them.

Here we see it is very important to get away from so-called brothers and sisters in Christ who walk against the truth of the Word of God.

We also see in this verse that God commands us to stay away from those who refuse to work and provide for themselves.

As our lesson states, we are to withdraw our fellowship and maybe even remove them from church membership.

If you have worked for any amount of time, you have seen workers who slack off and do as little as possible.

These are the same ones who work only when they see the boss coming.

There are also far too many today who just refuse to work and want someone, even the church to provide for them.

Why are there so many recalls in every industry today? Why? Because the work forces of America do not have pride in their work.

They are just in it for the money.

Now I certainly believe in a fair wage and there are many who are just not paid enough, but there are many who depend on the unions to cause an increase in wages when they maybe taking that company into closing the doors.

The Bible commands us to walk away from such people who walk disorderly, that is who do not work.

In the early days of the church, the Thessalonians became so excited about the return of the Lord Jesus Christ they began to sacrifice all their possessions to meet the needs of the Church people but they went too far.

They ignored the Word of God that only God knows when He will return to this earth.

They even began to project the dates of the Lord’s return.

Some even quit their jobs to have more time to witness for the Lord.

When these things did not take place as they thought, they depended upon the Church to support them.

These things caused many problems for this new church.

The Bible teaches each of us to live our lives as if we will live long lives.

In fact, God promises us long lives!

Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Eph 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
Eph 6:3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Deu 4:40 Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever.

We are to be the example to the world as the very best workmen possible in everything we do but especially in the work the Lord has given us to do.

Not working is disorderly behavior and the church is not to support such people.

Obviously, there will be times when a member in good standing may need the help of the church, this is not what the Word of God is referring to, but we are not to support those outside the Church who refuse to work.

We are to stay away from the idle worker which is the meaning of the word withdraw as used in this passage.

The Apostle Paul was their example of a hard worker to support himself without church support.

The Church is not to be identified with members to come only for church support.

We are not to run the risk of being associated with idle workers. This will give us a bad testimony as we witness for Jesus Christ!

*2Th 3:7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
2Th 3:8 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:
2Th 3:9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
2Th 3:11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

According to the Word of God we are to be industrious beings and not lazy Christians.

The Bible commands us to do good for all people, but we are not to support those who refuse to support themselves.

A slothful person will be a slothful Christian!

Laziness can be looked upon as sin!

There is absolutely no excuse for a Christian to be a lazy employee, it is a command of God that we not be lazy!

Even the Lord Jesus Christ had a reputation as a carpenter. This would not have been said of Him if it were not true!

We can believe that Jesus was the best carpenter in Nazareth.

We know the Apostle Paul was a tent maker and we can believe he was a good tent maker making quality tents.

According to the Word of God, when we refuse to work, we lose our right to eat.

In other words we become so useless to society that society would be better off without us.

This message does not go over well today, but it is still the truth of God!

Those who refuse to work tend to get into everybody else business and not their own.

One of the greatest gifts God gave to humans is our minds.

The mind is always active, even in our sleep.

It is either thinking positive thoughts or negative, evil thoughts.

It is true that the idle mind is the Devil’s playground!

This is why so many lazy people are always getting into trouble!

The world has pity upon such people when the world should insist that they work or starve.

Sounds harsh but still the truth of God.

We must not forget that Paul is speaking to the Church, in fact to a church that started out on the right tract.

They just got confused about the return of Jesus Christ.

It is a sin to poke our noses into the affairs of others unless they have asked for our help.
It is a sin to gossip.
It is a sin to spread rumors.
It is a sin to tattle on others when we do not know the whole story.

All we need to do is to look around at nature and we will see that the law of labor is rigidly enforced.

Every animal except domesticated animals have to work for their food.

The Bible speaks of the ant.

Pro 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

The Bible speaks of other creations.

Pro 30:24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
Pro 30:25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
Pro 30:26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
Pro 30:27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
Pro 30:28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.

The Bible speaks of the birds.

God feeds the birds but they have to go look for it.

We had better get one thing straight!

We are not saved by our own works, but by God’s free and unmerited mercy.

How are the people of God described?

We are called soldiers.
We are called pilgrims.
We are called husbandmen.
We are called fishermen.

All these things imply some form of work.

In fact all these things require demanding work.

2Pe_3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Work was the law in the Garden of Eden.

It only became arduous work after sin entered in!

There is probably no greater feeling than to sit down and partake of those things that come by honest work!

*2Th 3:12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
2Th 3:13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

There can be no doubt that we are commanded to work to provide for ourselves.

Notice this commands comes directly from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Luk 11:3 Give us day by day our daily bread.

Notice not only is this a command straight from our Lord Jesus, but He also uses this passage as a way to train us in the proper way to act in the Church.

As believers we are prone to make mistakes and we can even make mistakes about how we are to work.

If we have been slack in our work the Lord will forgive us and teach us the proper ways.

We must still confess our wrong and repent.

We are to work with a quiet spirit and mind our own business.

Our brothers and sisters will come to us if they require our help.

We are never to be weary in well doing.

We must not allow idle busybodies to discourage us but stick to the work the Lord had given us to do.

We must not forget we are to be examples of Jesus Christ and not examples of other Church members unless they are wholly following the Lord themselves.

It is obvious that many in this church were doing things right and Paul does not want them to change their effective ways.

There are most always those in the Church that do need some help.

Some who are working and doing the best they can but maybe fell on challenging times.

These are those who we need to help if we are able to do so and continue to help until they are recovered.

Paul also informs these who live and work according to the Word of God that there are things they can do to discourage those that are not following the Word of God.

*2Th 3:14 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.
2Th 3:15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

We must understand that the epistles of the Apostle Paul are to be considered Church Doctrine along with all the Books of the New Testament!

If there are those who reject the truth of the New Testament in the blood of Jesus Christ then we are to make a mental note of that person and refuse to be associated with that person.

The Church is a place we are to be in one accord, one mind, one fellowship one bride of Christ!

Note, this is not an excommunication but simply an avoidance.

This discipline is meant to shame that person.

This goes back to where we began our lesson today.

2Th 3:6 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.

There should be no excuse for not accepting the truth of the New Testament.

For Paul, it was his intention to read this epistle to read out loud while the entire church was gathered together so there could be no misunderstanding of his intent.

Paul knew that many of them would acknowledge their faults and it would be the end of this matter.

As usual there will be those who still reject the truth and it is these, after they have understood the exact words of the Apostle Paul from whom the Church must withdraw.

2Th 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

There must not be any unkind feelings towards this person as the intent is to shame that person.

If this shaming does not work then there might have to be other steps taken but these things will work or this would not have been the truth of the Scriptures.

We must never allow a false doctrine into the Church to take holt.

*2Th 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

1) We must remember that peace in our lives can come only by the Lord Jesus Christ.

2) The Lord Jesus Christ seeks a close personal relationship with each of us.

3) It is only by the “Grace of God”, the undeserved favor and strength in Jesus Christ, that any of us can be saved.

We are not put into the Church to be the judge of any other person!

We are all to obey the truth of the Gospel and help each other understand it as best we can.

This is why the Lord will not allow any deviation in the Words He has given to us.

We are all judged by the same Word of God!

Amen.

Neglecting Church Discipline

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Problem Of Neglecting Church Discipline

1 Corinthians 5

Before we begin such a topic as church discipline we need to consider that no matter who we are, we are all sinners who are saved only by the “Grace of God”!

Many of us always seem to be guilty of justifying our own sin, while we condemn the sin of others!

Most of us go out of our way to concoct ways to make wrong conduct appear to be right!

It is because we all still possess that old sin nature passed down to us from Adam!

Many will say that the Bible does not teach much on church discipline but it does not take much for us to know what God really means!

What is the only intent of church discipline? Ask Job.

Job 36:9 Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
Job 36:10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.

The intent of church discipline is for that guilty party to return to the fellowship of the church!

To return means that at some point they were denied fellowship with the church!

By what means is church discipline to take place?

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, “for correction”, for “instruction in righteousness”:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

It is by the “entire Word of God” that we are use, not only “for doctrine” but also “for correction”!

We are not to make up things as we go, we are to follow the written Word of God!

Let’s see what the Apostle Paul says:

*****1Co 5:1 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.

We know that the house of Chloe had reported many things to the Apostle Paul but it does not seem that this thing was reported by them.

Paul says it was “commonly” reported!

This act of fornication was done, not by some citizen, not by someone who had visited the church, but by someone who was an actual member of the church in Corinth and it was known by everyone inside and especially outside the church!

It is a fact, that the church in Corinth could not plead ignorance of this thing nor could they excuse such an act and push it aside, even though up until this letter by the Apostle Paul they had condoned this thing and had said nothing.

Immediately we can see that their standard of morality was very low at this time, still much like the city of Corinth, whose nickname was “the city of fornication”.

What’s wrong with this picture?

Most of the world today would just say, so what.

Today in our societies it seems that all immorality is accepted!

1) The father of this young man was still alive and had suffered for what his son had done to him!

The proof is here:

2Co 7:12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, “nor for his cause that suffered wrong”, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.

2) Corinth was ruled by Roman law which was loose on morality, but in this thing, it was still branded as a public scandal, which meant it brought shame and reproach to both families and was considered a crime.

3) The man was a church member who was bound by the Word of God to walk by a higher standard than even the laws of Rome and the laws of all men, but he walked by his own laws!

It is these types of things that is fatal to the Christian image and the image of the “Body of Christ”!

We must remember the last verse in Chapter 4 where Paul had said this:

1Co 4:21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

You see, through the first 4 chapters, no one had been singled out to blame for the divisiveness of this church and we should believe that this was not the only sin of it’s members!

We can see that before Paul wrote this letter, this epistle, he had spent much time in prayer and much counsel of the Holy Spirit to provide a method for church discipline then, and that is now to be used by the church!

We can already see the the commandment of the Lord Jesus had already been rejected!

Mar 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

The is also means that this church did not love the Lord as they should, which is the first commandment of the church, “To Love The Lord With All Our Heart”!

*****1Co 5:2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed “might be taken away from among you”.

This an awful example for a church!

Rather than being grieved by the behavior of the church member, this church had defended their open-mindedness!

This is exactly what we see today in those place of worship that have welcomed the gay community into the church and not condemned that sin, “not that sinner” but “the sin” itself!

They try to defend their open-mindedness at the expense of the truth of God!

Some are even more arrogant to allow this sect into the priesthood directly violating the Word of God.

The Book of Timothy lays down specific guidelines for the Priest, the Preacher, and the Servants of the church named Deacons.

The the testimony of the this church had reached all the way to Ephesus where the Apostle Paul was now located when he wrote this Epistle.

When sin in the house of God, is a sin that even the world condemns, that news will spread faster than any other sin of the church.

Incest, even at that time was a revolting public offence that had to be addressed by the church!

It did not require some gathering of the elders!

It did not require some vote by the church body!

These things are completely addressed in the Word of God and no action of the church is to ever go against the written Word of God!

The “integrity” of the Body Of Christ is on full display throughout the world and it must remain the cause of all those who love Jesus Christ enough for salvation, “to protect the integrity of the Church at all costs”!

The Body of Christ should be in deep mourning today, and emotionally charged, to end such nonsense and return to the work of the Church, as outlined by Jesus Christ and moved by the Holy Spirit!

The Apostle Paul then proceeds to give acceptable guidelines to this church in Corinth which must apply to all the Body of Christ even through our day!

We must look at these words of Paul as the actual Word of God because all Scripture is inspired of God!

*****1Co 5:3 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,
1Co 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Co 5:5 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.

Paul said though he could not be there bodily, he was always with this church spiritually!

Paul said his decision was instantaneous and his judgment was final, just as soon as he heard of this thing, as though he were present!

That word “judgement” turns off many in the “Body of Christ” but is a fact that God will not only judge the World by His Word, but God will also judge the Church by that same Word of God.

We are never to judge that lost soul, because that is the job of God Himself!

But just as God judges by the Word of God we are definitely to judge the actions of those that are welcomed into the fellowship of the “Body of Christ” by that same Word of God!

“Not in condemnation” but as loving brother or sister in Christ!

Gal 6:1 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.

God’s Word give us specific guidelines for these things but to ignore these things makes us a part of that sin!

The existence of the Church itself was in jeopardy then, even as it is today!

Remember what Jesus said about His soon coming return.

Luk 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, “shall he find faith on the earth”?

We all look forward to the “Rapture” of the Church, but in truth there may not be many left that God has not already taken home!

Jesus is referring to the modern day church, that is not led by faith but by those who twist and turn the truth of the Word of God into something that is itself a condemning sin!

We must remember there is a highway to hell but only a stairway to Heaven!

Since no single individual had approached this man who was living in the sin of incest, it was time for the church to gather and come to the proper decision to remove this person from the fellowship of the church!

The church of today must also repent and gather together and remove all the “unrepentant sinners” from fellowship in every house of God.

We all know that when a child of God sins, if they will repent, God will forgive them of that sin and when God has forgiven them, then the church can allow that repenting one back into the fellowship of the Church!

The world may never understand these things but the world does understand it is a hypocritical church that does not condemn sin, especially a sin that even the world condemns!

Today the world condemns very little sin!

The ultimate goal of any church discipline, must always be to restore that sinner back to fellowship!

But the Church must take a stand on the entire Word of God and make an open statement condemning any action that goes against the Word of God!

It must be very clear that all those who refuse to confess their actions as sin before the Lord and repent of that sin, then they should never be allowed back into the fellowship of the Church!

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

That phrase “to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh” is clearly misunderstood by many.

If we want a glimpse into the unseen spiritual world that goes on around us, but is out of our sight, we can see a part of it in this reality!

Ever since Adam, Satan “in some sense” has the power of death over human beings!

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy “him that had the power of death, that is, the devil”;
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Ultimately God Himself restrains this power that He has given to Satan, especially for all those that are redeemed into the family of God.

The child of God can only be hurt or even stressed, only to the point that God allows and this can happen when God is fulfilling some purpose He has for that individual!

The Book of Job addresses this issue as we know.

We also have this account of Peter:

Luk 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

And of the Apostle Paul:

2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
2Co 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9 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.

Satan’s power of death only extends to the reach that God allows it, but we know that God allows it from time to time and it is for sure that sin can destroy any life!

Even that child of God who has returned to a sinful life!

We also have the case of Ananias and Sapphira in the Book of Acts.

And we must not forget the statement Paul made to these same Corinthians about partaking of the Lord’s Supper ,while still partaking in unconfessed sin in their lives.

Paul told these same Corinthians this:

1Co 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, “and many sleep”.

That that sleep are those that had died in their unconfessed sin!

It is obvious that God will sometimes remove His hand of protection, even from the child of God, during times of unconfessed sin!

This is not ever to come as a threat from any Pastor or church leader or any church member, but it is truly a fact of the Scriptures!

What is the job of the church in discipline?

*****1Co 5:7 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:
1Co 5:8 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.

To purge out all leaven!

What is the truth of all open sin in the church or of it’s members?

Even if only one member in the church is involved in open sin, his conduct will rapidly influence the rest of the congregation!

The truth is, this may have been the only member who was involved in open sin in the church but we all are sinners saved by the “Grace of God” and we all still have some sin in our lives because we all are still in this sinful flesh!

Certainly this man was to be denied the fellowship of the church unless he repent but we all must search out any sin in our lives and purge out that sin also!

We must also remove and purge all false doctrine, all false practices and anything else that goes against the pure Word of God!

The “Feast of the Unleavened Bread” symbolized the deliverance and freedom from sin, which was obtained only through the offering of the Passover Lamb.

The Passover Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, had no sin in His life!

When we accept the Lord Jesus Christ “as our Passover”, then we to are to purge out all the sin in our lives all our remaining days!

The most essential requirement of this feast was the absolute putting away and even the destruction of every trace of leaven and this leaven was to be diligently sought for on the day before the Passover began!

The purging out of all leaven is another way of saying “Sanctification”!

Psa 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
Psa 139:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

The congregation of the church is made up of all these who have purged themselves from all sin and to allow some one to commit open sin and not repent of that sin, will destroy the intent of the “Body of Christ”, and the New Testament Church!

The modern day church is ignoring these things of God!

It is a waste of time to keep the Christian Feast “of Christ’s resurrection” in a spirit of unholiness if we cannot purge away the sin from the midst of us God will not honor our sacrifice!

If we are now in Christ, then we are a “new creation” but leaven is hypocrisy and this will be what the world will see!

Luk 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, “which is hypocrisy”.

When we confess to know the Lord and commit open sin we become nothing but hypocrites!

This is what the world thinks of the Church today!

Harsh as it is, this is the truth of the Scriptures!

If the church is that ship sailing through this world, then the world cannot be allowed into the ship or that ship will sink!

What are the marks of the Christian?

“Sincerity and truth” before God and before the world!

Tit 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Tit 2:8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

We will never reach that ultimate goal of “sanctification” without these things!

Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

*****1Co 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
1Co 5:10 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.

It is evident that Paul had written another epistle that has not been preserved but we can still be sure that we have the entire Word of God because God has preserved the Words that we need.

It is also clear that this letter may have caused some confusion in this church and God is not the author of confusion.

1Co 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

We are expected to take the Word of God as literal and Paul understood that if his words in a previous letter, that has not been preserved, were followed literal then Christians would become isolationist and this was not his intent, nor God’s intent!

We must take the Word of God out into the world, keeping in mind that only God can save those when they come under Holy Ghost conviction.

Certainly we all will have some friends who are not of the church and we are to certainly to avoid all the sin in which they partake but we are still to be friendly to all people!

Pro 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Our testimony begins with our own actions that can be seen by the lost!

Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

All those works of darkness will never produce works of righteousness and they will never be satisfying!

Joy is never obtained through immorality but maybe for a season but will soon turn to misery and lost hope!

The testimony of the Christian must be lifted up against these shameful things which will ultimately bring the wrath of God!

Jesus said this:

Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

This our only means of leading the lost to the Lord!

Then Paul explains the intent of this other letter!

*****1Co 5:11 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 idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

Paul says this is what I meant in that other letter.

We know that Paul never forbade the Body of Christ to be unfriendly to the lost people of this world because that would go against the command of Jesus Christ!

Jesus said this:

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Paul was clearing up this confusion:

1Co 10:26 For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.
1Co 10:27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
1Co 10:28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:
1Co 10:29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?

Jesus also said this:

Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

Those we are not to keep company with, are those that are brothers and sisters in Christ who fall back into the sin of this world!

They may call themselves Christian but in reality are they “fornicators, or covetous, or idolators or any of these other things that Paul mentions.

Those that do such things should not be allowed the privileges of the “Body of Christ” and certainly not be allowed to partake of Holy Communion!

In fact God says this:

2Th 3:6 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.

We should follow the many places in the Word of God on how to restore such a brother or sister, if that is possible.

Gal 6:1 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.
Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

That word “judge” takes on a whole new meaning when we obey the Word of God!

*****Co 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
1Co 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

The intent of Paul’s message is this. If we remain “Babes In Christ” and do not take the time to learn the entire Word of God and grow daily in the Lord, the Church cannot properly function to do the work of the Lord!

We will end being judges to those outside the Church, when we should friendly and show the characteristics of Jesus!

We will allow those that say they are Christian to act like they are still in the world, with no rebuke of the truth and the Church will appear as it does today!

Christianity is not designed to drive us “out of the world”!

We are to live among those of the world but we are to live righteously!

We cannot escape all the evil in this world!

What did Jesus pray?

Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, “but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil”.

The work of the Lord may call on us to to mix with those of the world, but we must always be aware of the danger of doing this!

That’s why we must put on the entire armour of God, when we go out into the world:

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

When we are dressed in the armor of God, we are going into battle with evil!

We are to mix with the world but only as a witness for Jesus Christ, and our actions as Christians is our greatest witnessing tool.

If we look like the world looks, then the lost will see no reason to change their ways!

We must walk in this world while being separate from this world!

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

The Lord will judge those outside the Church, but the Church must judge those on the inside, not to rid the Church of that wicked one but to restore them to the family of God!

They must remove themselves from all sin, that’s called repentance!

If we are to rate the quality of a church, then we can judge a church not on what happens on the inside, but what those on the inside do when they are on the outside!

It is when we walk outside the doors on the House of God that we all walk into our assigned missionary field!

Jesus said:

Luk 10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
Luk 10:3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

We must remain “a lamb” while we walk “amongst wolves” while depending upon the true Shepherd to take care of us!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!