Church Discipline
I Corinthians 5:6 – 8
By: Pastor J. B. Hall
1. I Corinthians 5:6 – 8 (Read) – Purging out the leaven, i.e. old lifestyle, malice, and wickedness, is essential for the spiritual health and testimony of a church.
A. Leaven – def. 2. Any thing which makes a general change in the mass. It generally means something which corrupts or depraves that with which it is mixed. 2. To excite fermentation in; to raise and make light, as dough or paste.
B. Malice – def. n. L.malitia, from malus, evil. Extreme enmity of heart, or malevolence; a disposition to injure others without cause, from mere personal gratification or from a spirit of revenge; unprovoked malignity or spite.
C. Wickedness – def. n. Departure from the rules of the divine law; evil disposition or practices; immorality; crime; sin; sinfulness; corrupt manners; Wickedness generally signifies evil practices.
D. We are instructed to keep the feast – Proverbs 15:15b says, “…but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
E. Here, feast is most likely speaking of the whole course of Christian living, spent in the exercise of spiritual joy and faith in Christ.
F. But, instead of keeping the feast of the Christian life with the old leaven, or lifestyle, or with malice (ill will toward others, or with wickedness (commonly known, open sin), we are to keep it with sincerity (2. Freedom from hypocrisy, disguise or false pretense), and truth (True state of facts or things).
2. Church Discipline begins with making an attempt to restore the wayward saint.
A. Galatians 6:1 says, “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.”
B. Here, the word of God, speaking of someone being “…overtaken in a fault…” is speaking of someone who has fallen into sin.
C. The church is instructed to restore such an one; meaning it is to attempt to recover the erring one from his sin; to seek his repentance, to forgive, and to return and reinstate him to his original standing in the church.
D. Notice, only those who are spiritual are qualified to complete this task.
E. This does not mean someone who has superior spiritual gifts, or superior spiritual knowledge, but someone who is walking in the Spirit.
F. If we want to distinguish between someone who is walking in the Spirit and someone who is not, Galatians 5:16, 22, & 23 give us the criteria for making that judgment.
G. They say:
(1) Galatians 5:16 – “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
(2) Galatians 5:22 & 23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” “Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
H. So, one whose life is marked by these characteristics is qualified to seek to restore one that has fallen into sin.
I. But, one whose life does not exhibit these characteristics, is not qualified to approach one who has fallen into sin to attempt to restore him.
J. One who is walking in the Spirit is sensitive to the Spirit’s leading; and is concerned about the welfare of the fallen one; when one who is walking in the flesh is not sensitive to the Spirit’s leading, and will probably be more interested in amplifying the sin of the fallen one than in his restoration.
K. Even one who is spiritual must be careful to consider himself, because he too is vulnerable to temptation.
L. One who is spiritual recognizes the vulnerability of frail humans; while one who is self-righteous thinks himself to be above falling; and in having too high an opinion of his spiritual strength, exposes himself to personal weaknesses which he either does not realize he has; or, pretends he does not have.
M. So, Church Discipline begins with those who are spiritual making an attempt to restore the wayward saint.
1. There are benefits to restoring a sinner.
A. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
B. I John 5:16b says, “…There is a sin unto death…”
C. The scriptures are clear that persisting in one’s sin will eventually end in the sinner’s untimely death.
D. James 5:19 & 20 say this, “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;” “Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”
E. Converting and restoring a sinner from his sin will save him from an early death.
F. Also, the one who converteth the sinner from his way will hide a multitude of sins.
G. He will allow the sinner to have his sins placed under the blood of Jesus Christ which will prevent them from coming into judgment; either with God or man; for man must forgive when someone repents, just as God forgives him.
H. In Matthew 18:35 Jesus said, “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”
I. So, the benefit of restoring a sinner is that you will prevent his untimely death; and will allow him to hide his sins from judgment under the blood of Jesus Christ.
2. When one refuses to repent, the church must take action.
A. In I Corinthians, Chapter 5 we are given an example of someone who is in unrepentant sin; and then we are given the corrective action that must be taken by the church in such a case.
B. Verse 1a says, “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you…”
C. Notice the word ‘commonly’.
D. This fornication was not just an isolated incident; or an incident that the fornicator had repented of and had abandoned.
E. This was an ongoing, open, well-known sin, which the man in question was unwilling to give up.
F. It being ‘commonly reported’ means that it was common knowledge among people in the neighborhood.
G. This one’s sin was well known.
H. The word of God in Verses 4 & 5 gives us the prescription for the church to follow in handling such unrepentant sin.
I. Notice, it does not just talk about ‘taking his name off the church roll’; but says “To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh…”
J. So, when one is so rebellious and unrepentant that the church has to take action against him/her, as they vote to excommunicate him/her, they are in fact turning such an one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh.
K. This is a serious act that the church is instructed to perform when one is in unrepentant sin, and unwilling to give it up and be restored.
L. In Verse 2 we find that the church at Corinth was unwilling to take action up to this point.
M. In Verse 6 the apostle reprimands them for their inaction against this unrepentant sinner.
N. He reminds them that a little leaven (sin) will leaven, or infect, the whole lump (church).
O. According to Verse 7, the church is commanded to “Purge out therefore the old leaven…”
3. The church has no jurisdiction over those who are not members, or not saved.
A. In Verses 9 & 10 (Read) we are reminded that not keeping company with fornicators does not mean that we are to distance ourselves from the fornicators of this world.
B. We are told that if we did this, we would have to leave this world; for they are plentiful; usually all around us.
C. Verses 12 & 13 (Read) inform us that we are not to judge them that are without; that that is God’s responsibility.
4. The church does have jurisdiction over its own members; and we are accountable to one another.
A. Verses 12 & 13 (Read) remind us that judging (evaluating the actions of) those within (church members) is our responsibility.
B. This does not mean we are to be 24-hour-a-day private investigators, stealthily scouting out other people’s lives to attempt to find dirt on them.
C. Remember, if you attempt to do this, God may send someone your way to monitor your every move.
D. If, however, someone is found to be in open, commonly known sin, and is unwilling to repent and abandon it when restoration is attempted, then, according to Verse 13, the church is to take action, putting away from itself that wicked person.
E. Notice, Verse 11 says if any man “…that is called a brother”; again, not giving us jurisdiction to take such action against outsiders.
F. Notice also, it says if any man which is called a brother – be…
G. This word ‘be’ indicates that the sin being considered is a current, ongoing reality; not an isolated past sin.
H. Verse 11 gives a specific list of violations that, found in the life of someone who is unwilling to let them go, must be acted upon by the church:
(1) Fornicator – from the Greek word porneia
(A) illicit sexual intercourse
(B) adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals, etc.
(C) sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18
(D) sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mk. 10:11 & 12
(2) Covetous - Inordinately desirous; excessively eager to obtain and possess; directed to money or goods, avaricious.
(3) Idolater - A worshiper of idols; one who pays divine honors to images, statues, or representations of any thing made by hands; one who worships as a deity that which is not God; a pagan. An adorer; a great admirer.
(4) Railer - One who scoffs, insults, censures or reproaches with opprobrious language.
(5) Drunkard – Self explanatory.
(6) Extortioner – One who acts or practices wresting any thing from a person by force, duress, menaces, authority, or by any undue exercise of power; illegal exaction; illegal compulsion to pay money, or some other act.
I. Those who are current, unrepentant practicers of these sins; after attempts to restore them have failed; must be brought before the church for collective action “To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh…” (Verse 5a)
J. In other words, to “…put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” (Verse 13b)
5. How do we treat someone who has been excommunicated?
A. I Corinthians 5:11b says, “…with such an one no not to eat.”
B. Verse 13b says, “…Therefore, put away from among yourselves that wicked person.”
C. It’s clear that Christians were to expect Christian behavior from their fellow Christians, and should not have “winked” at the notorious sinner in their midst, and they should not have considered themselves “loving” for doing so.
D. In practical terms, how then are we supposed to treat someone who is unrepentant in their sin; and whose name the church has had to remove from its membership role?
E. Dr. David Guzik says, “In the culture of that day (and in many cultures today), eating with someone is an expression of friendship and partnership. In some cultures, if a man eats at your table, you are bound to regard him as a friend and a partner. Paul is warning the Corinthian Christians they cannot continue in Christian fellowship with a notorious sinner who calls himself a Christian.”
F. The goal is still the offender’s repentance; but in order to pursue this goal, we must deal severely with his insistence upon remaining in his sin.
G. John Gill says that the reason for this action is “…partly for vindicating the honour of religion, and preventing the stumbling of the weak; and partly to make such offenders ashamed, and bring them to repentance.”
H. Therefore, we are not to have intimate fellowship with such an offender; meaning, though we are still to love them and pray for them, we are not to associate with them as we formerly have, in intimate fellowship.
I. How do we treat someone who has been excommunicated?
J. We are not to treat them with contempt; but we are not to have close fellowship with them as if we were still ‘in fellowship’ with them.
K. We should treat them much like we would anyone else outside the church; as we would someone who is lost; with love and concern, and a desire to see them repent and recover from their error; but not as one who is part of our church fellowship.
L. There must be a clear distinction drawn between the way we fellowship with those that are in fellowship with the rest of the body, and those who are clearly not in fellowship with the rest of the body because of their unrepentant behavior.
6. II Corinthians 2:5 – 11 (Read) – Do we receive someone back into fellowship after they have been excommunicated, if they repent?
A. Yes!
B. In II Corinthians 2:7 the apostle Paul instructs the Corinthian believers to “…forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.”
C. While there are disagreements between Bible scholars of whether or not this is the same offender mentioned in I Corinthians, Chapter 5; whether it is or not, the same principle applies.
D. I tend to think this is probably the same man Paul is speaking of in Chapter 5.
E. The description of “…this punishment, which was inflicted of many.” in Verse 6 is the same the apostle instructed them to do to the offender in Chapter 5.
F. In Verse 10 he instructs them to forgive him first, and then he would forgive him; and if this was a personal offense against Paul by this man, it would have been the other way around.
G. Also, the similar wording describing the one who had committed the offense is used in Verse 7 “…such a one…” as it was in I Corinthians 5:5, “…such an one…”
H. The point here, though, is that when the church has inflicted punishment (excommunication), and the sinner has repented, he is to be forgiven, comforted, and restored to fellowship.
I. Paul says the reasons are, first of all in Verse 7, “…lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.” and in Verse 11, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us…”
J. God’s goal for the sinner, whether he is lost or is a saint, is for him to repent so that he will not have to perish because of his sin.
K. II Peter 3:9 says the Lord “…is longsuffering to us ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
L. Even church discipline (excommunication) is intended to solicit the sinner’s repentance.
M. We must be willing to address open, ongoing, unrepentant sin by excommunicating the offender; but we must also be ready and willing to forgive, comfort, and restore him to fellowship, if he repents and abandons his sin.
N. Just as Paul rebuked them for their leniency in I Corinthians, Chapter 5 because they were refusing to take action against the offender; now he rebukes them for their harshness in not being willing to restore the offender once he has repented.
O. Do we receive someone back into fellowship after they have been excommunicated, if they repent? Yes!
In Summary: Only after attempts have been made to restore the sinner, and he has refused those attempts, is church disciplinary action warranted; but is commanded in such cases. Specific violations that require disciplinary action are listed.
But, if the offender repents even after the excommunication has taken place, he is to be forgiven, comforted, and restored to full fellowship.
