God Saves Bad People

Biblical Church Discipline

Situations:

1. Private or Personal sins

2. Public sins

   

  

Matthew 18:15-17 - 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. 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. 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. ¹

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

Galatians 6:1-2 - 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. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15 - 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…. 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. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

2 Corinthians 2:1-11 - But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 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. But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Discipline Process: 

A. Private or Personal Sins

1. The Biblical example of Matthew 18:15-17 is to be followed¹. The sinning person should be confronted in love², allowed to explain the situation and if any sin is present, that sin should be brought to the light, in order that the individual may be brought to the light.
   
   1. If the person is repentant, there should be no excommunication. The church’s desire is to have sanctified lifestyles in its members. To help in this, a mentor can be assigned to the individual for encouragement, prayer, accountability, suggestions, guidance, friendship, and fellowship.
   2. If the person is not repentant, the steps of Matthew 18 should be carried out until the conclusion in verse 17, excommunication.
   10. To help the individual see his sin and repent, a mentor can be assigned to him.
   11. If the individual repents, he is to be fully restored and give a public testimony (due to public excommunication) to glorify God by testifying what He has done in his life.

B. Public Sins

1. The Biblical example of Matthew 18:15-17 is to be followed. The sinning person should be confronted in love, allowed to explain the situation and if any sin is present, that sin should be brought to the light, in order that the individual may be brought to the light.
1. If the person is repentant, there should be no excommunication. The church’s desire is to have sanctified lifestyles in its members. To help in this, a mentor can be assigned to the individual for encouragement, prayer, accountability, suggestions, guidance, friendship, and fellowship. The public needs to know that the church does not condone sin and is working towards holiness/sanctification, so the individual is to give a public testimony (due to public sin) to glorify God’s work in his life.
2. If the person is not repentant, the steps of Matthew 18 should be carried out until the conclusion in verse 17, excommunication.
10. To help the individual see his sin and repent, a mentor can be assigned to him.
11. If the individual repents, he is to be fully restored and give a public testimony (due to public excommunication) to glorify God by testifying what He has done in his life.

The Public Testimony:

1. Accounts for the church’s acknowledgement of the sin.
2. Accounts for church’s action toward a public sin.
3. Accounts for church’s action to help the individual who has sinned, overcome sin.
4. Unifies the church with proper understanding of what discipline is biblically, how it is carried out, and points towards a common goal of having a sanctified church body.
5. Encourages other unrepentant to confess and seek help.
6. Eliminates congregational confusion and lack of knowledge about the individual’s salvation.
7. Builds a stronger defense against sin by the church body working against sin, and not working against the individual who has sinned.
8. Should be done in a manner that brings glory to God for His work in the individual’s life and not in a manner that brings shame to the individual, because the goal in discipline is not shame but restoration.

The Mentor: (should be a mature/sanctified believer)

1. Monitors Christian development and progress.
2. Teaches, corrects ideas, and instructs in a sanctified lifestyle.
3. Mentor reports to church elder of progress.
4. Encouragement
5. Prayer
6. Accountability
7. Suggestions
8. Guidance
9. Friendship/Fellowship

The purpose of excommunication is to bring about restoration.

1. 1 Corinthians 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.
2. 2 Corinthians 2:6-11 - Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
3. 1 Timothy 2:4-6 - Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
4. Matthew 18:14 - Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Notes:

¹ - It is important to note that a common claim of why Matthew 18 does not effect church discipline is that:

1. “Matthew 18:15 states ‘If your brother sins against you’ (in some versions) and therefore Matthew 18 is only addressing minor sins that are against (or hurt) your fellow brother/sister and not major sins against God.”

Here are two reasons why that is not a valid claim:

1. A sin against your fellow brother/sister is first, and formost, a sin against God, since sin (by definition) is a deviation from the standard of God’s holiness and character. This is why David said:
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psa 51:1-5)
2. Late manuscripts add “against you” according to the manuscript history. Early manuscripts, that are closer to the time of Christ, do not contain “against you”. The period of "Late Manuscript Culture" dates from roughly the mid-fourteenth century to the fifteenth century, the time when the Roman Catholic monks created copies of the manuscripts. From: The Lockman Foundation, Zondervan Publishing, NASB

² - The manner and attitude in which a sinner is confronted should follow the patterns found in scripture.

1. Restoration/Salvation as the Goal. James 5:19-20 – My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
2. Not condemingly, nor in inappropriate judging. James 4:11-12 – Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?
3. But rather, after self-reflection and correction. Matt 7:1-5 – "Do not judge so that you will not be judged. "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.