1Cor. 5:1-13 Church Discipline How & Why
Intro
We left off in Ch. 4 w/ Paul addressing the Corinthian Church as a Father -
Paul started the church & led many in the Church to Christ
A) He says in v. 15 - many
teachers or instructors but only one father
B) We have noted that in 1 Cor.
He is addressing many of the Problems that were in the church there.
1) Divisions / Immorality /
Marriage problems / Lawsuits/ / Abuse of
gifts /
abuse of Lords supper!
C)
The way Paul ends Ch. 4 is interesting - 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord
wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.
20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.
21 What do you want? Shall I to you with a rod, or in love and a
spirit of gentleness?
D) Paul says I can come to you
in one of two ways - I can come in Love or w/ a rod. How He came was up to them.
1) It would be based on how
they responded to the correction that he was going to give in this epistle.
E) If they repented and made
the necessary corrections he would come in love. If they didn’t he would come
w/ the rod.
1st
Problem Paul deals w/ in chapters 1-4 is the problem of Divisions
In
Ch. 5 - Problem of sexual immorality in the Church.
A) It seems that a man in the
congregation in Corinth had taken up w/ and was committing sexual immorality w/
his “ Fathers wife “ stepmother
B) What did the church do about
this? Answer is nothing - they took a position of tolerance - & were
actually proud of their stance.
1) Paul writes to rebuke them
& to instruct them on how this matter should be dealt w/!
V.1,2
5:1 It is
actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual
immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles; that a man has his father's
wife!
2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who
has done this deed might be taken away from among you.
The church at Corinth was
not only a divided church, but it was also a disgraced church.
A) There was sin in the
assembly and, sad to say, everybody knew about it.
B) Immorality is the Greek porneia, from which we get pornography, and refers to any illicit
sexual activity.
1) In this case it was a form
of incest, because a man was living with his father’s wife, that is, his
stepmother.
C)
The term father’s wife indicates
that the woman was not his natural mother but had married his father after his
mother had died or been divorced.
D) What is really interesting
is that Paul says this was a sin that was
not even named among the Gentiles
1) Corinth was a Pagan city
& sexual immorality was one of its worst problems - but even the heathen
gentiles would stoop this low.
Now there are couple things
to note here:
God considers such a relationship incestuous
is clear from the Old Testament.
A) Sexual relations between a
man and his stepmother was in the same category as relations between him and
his natural mother.
B) Anyone guilty of those or other sexual “abominations” was to be
cut off from his people (Lev. 18:7–8, 29; cf. Deut. 22:30),
1) a reference to capital
punishment.
C) It is also interesting to
note that From Cicero and others we know that such incest was also strictly
forbidden under Roman law.
D) The fact that everyone knew
about it - seems to indicate that it had been going on for a long time!
1) Paul says it is reported that
a man has his father's wife!
E) That tells us this was no
one time affair but a continuous affair that was
being done out in the open.
1) They may have been living
together as if man and wife. ( Not married
Since
adultery is not charged, the relationship between the son and his stepmother
probably had caused her to be divorced from the father
Also worth noting that
because Paul calls for no discipline of the woman, she was probably not a Christian.
A) So The man, being a
believer, was not only living immorally but he was unequally yoked to the woman
WHAT WAS EVEN MORE SHOCKING TO PAUL THAN THE SIN ITSELF WAS THE
CHURCHES TOLERATION OF IT !!!!
A) In fact the church not only tolerated this sin but they prided
themselves in their toleration.
B) We see that same problem
today - Church denominations that are Ordaining Homosexuals as ministers
1) Sanctioning homosexual
marriages in their churches
C) Acts which are clearly an
abomination in Scripture - there is no getting around it! - Yet at the heart of such toleration is a
denial of absolute truth.
D) PROBLEM IS OUR NATION -
PROBLEM IN THE CHURCH.
According
to a study reported by George Barna in 1991, 67% of the US population did not
believe in absolute truth.
In
1994, that figure rose to 75%. In 1991, 52% of Evangelicals said they did not
believe in absolute truth. In 1994, that figure rose to 62%.
A) There are those in the
Christian Church today who in the name of Love want to overlook sin.
B) We are supposed to be loving - they suggest the world will know us by
our love - they say Jesus loved us
when we were his enemies
1) That is true - Jesus loved
us - when we were his enemies
C) But repentance is still a
Criteria for forgiveness & restoration.
1) Jesus loves those who choose
to go to Hell - but He only forgives & restores those who repent
c) Jesus came full of Grace & Truth.
1) Came to give man - what He
didn’t deserve -
D) But He also instilled truth & justice.
1) In no way shape or form did
- Jesus ever tolerate - sinful behavior
JESUS WROTE TO THE CHURCH OF
THYRATIRA Rev.2
A) In many ways Thyatira was a
model church. It was strong in “love and faith and service and perseverance”
and was growing in good deeds.
B) But it was tolerating “the
woman Jezebel, who called her self a prophetess, and she was teaching and
leading the people astray, - into immorality.
C) Jez. Was rebuked but refused to repent.
1) Consequently she, and all
who participated in immorality with her, became subject to God’s severe
judgment.
D) The punishment was to be a
warning to all Christians and a reminder of God’s righteous standards for His
people
1) God takes the purity of His
church seriously and He commands His
children
to take it equally seriously.
Christians are not to
tolerate sin within the church any more than they are to tolerate it within
their own lives.
A) (Eph. 5:3, 11 “But do not let immorality or any impurity
or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints. … And do not
participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them”
PAUL REVEALS WHAT THEIR
ATTITUDE SHOULD HAVE BEEN
V.2 And you are puffed up, and have not
rather mourned,
A) Paul says instead of your
attitude being tolerance - it ought to be grief - it ought to be one of
mourning
B) There ought to be shock and
hurt, not only for the persons involved in this, but also for the church, and for the Lord himself,
1)that the cause of Christ is damaged in the eyes of
the community by
these
deeds.
C) Paul proceeds to give them
some specific instructions on how to deal w/ this issue v. 3
3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have
already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed.
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered
together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the
destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord
Jesus.
6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven
leavens the whole lump?
7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump,
since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed
for us.
8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with
the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity
and truth.
Paul’s counsel is to deal w/
the situation strongly & severely by putting this sinning brother out of
the congregation.
A) deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, 2
reasons
1st dealt w/ the individual in sin / 2nd
the church itself
B) For the individual it
was RESTORATION -That his soul may be saved! That
is always the goal of Church Discipline.
C)
Paul said in
Gal. 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken
in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of
gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
D) That is the goal of all
Church discipline but the Criteria for that to happen has to be repentance! Turn to Matt. 18
In Matthew 18 the Lord Jesus
tells us what to do in cases like this:
1.v.15
15
"Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his
fault between you and him alone.
A) That is step number one. Do
not spread it around; do not ask for prayer about it; do not talk about it; go
to the one who is doing the wrong.
B)
This is not something that is a matter of personal injury; this is not
something that you have been offended by or that they have not acted the way
you think they ought to act.
C) Here Jesus is talking about
things that the Word of God has already said are definitely wrong; certain
actions that the Word of God has already judged.
You
are to "go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone." If he hears you, "you have
gained your brother," {Matt 18:15b RSV}. That is enough; it does not need
to go any further; no one else needs to
know about it.
2."And if he does not hear you,"
Jesus says, V.16"take one or two
others and go and tell him his fault again, and discuss it among
yourselves," {cf, Matt 18:16a}.
A)
The Purpose of having two or three - to be witnesses - make sure things are
communicated properly and that - it is done in Love.
3.But
the Lord goes on to step three. He says, "If he refuses to listen to them
[the small group that has come to him], then tell it to the church,"
A) I think this can mean -
Church leadership -
B) Often times people want to
tell me something about another person - always ask - wait - have you shared
this w/ them.
1) If they haven’t - they need
to!
C)
It is only after they have done step - 1,2 that such a situation should be
brought to the Church.
4.Step four is the final one: If he will not hear the church then
"Change your attitude toward him," the Lord is saying, "let him
be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector, as a sinner," {cf, Matt
18:17b}.
A) In other words, let him be
unto you as though he is not a Christian at all.
B) He has declared himself not
to be a Christian by his actions -- even though he claims yet to be a Christian
by his words.
1) You are to treat him as one
who is not yet a Christian, Recognize that he has deceived himself, and he is
not really born again.
THE
BASIS OF RESTORATION IN EACH EXAMPLE IS REPENTENCE
Wiersbe
:
CAN DAMAGED CHARACTER BE
RESTORED & broken ministry be repaired?
A) No, if the offender offers
excuses instead of confession, shows regret instead repentance, resists
authority and runs around looking for second and third opinions.
B) No, if the offender rushes
into the arms of the nearest false prophet who says "Peace, peace" where there is no peace.
1) No, if the offender enrolls
in a thirty‑day, surefire rehab program that is neither costly nor
painful, supervised by somebody who prefers to whitewash instead of letting God
wash white.
C) But, yes, if the offender is
willing to confess sin humbly, judge it severely, turn from it completely,
submit obediently, and cooperate patiently as the Potter and his assistants
seek to make the vessel again.
Now If that Person is not
willing to repent - Paul & Jesus say - Cast them out so that their flesh
might be destroyed
Now,
just what involves turning them over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh,
we’re not quite certain.
A) Paul, in writing to Timothy,
speaks of a couple of fellows, Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom he
delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
B) The idea is that of putting
them outside of the umbrella, the covering of the church, that Satan might take
them down
1) and so they can see the end
result of this kind of sin in their life so that they might come to the destruction of the flesh.
C)
I like what Pastor Chuck says
You know, sometimes the best
cure for adultery is for the person to marry the person they're involved with.
You know, Satan can so delude you, you think, "Oh, I can't live without
them. Oh, this is the love of my life. This is the love of the ages. Oh,
my." Just let them get married and they find out that they could have
lived very well without each other.
D) It was just a big lie that
Satan had build up in their minds.
So turning them over to this
so oftentimes brings the destruction of the flesh, the excitement, the glamour,
the allure of the whole thing.
A) So Paul gives the admonition
to "Deliver such a one unto Satan
for the destruction of the flesh in order that the spirit might be saved in
that day of judgment."
B) Again salvation is the
ultimate desire and goal here,/ flesh - ruined/ saved
SO THE FIRST REASON TO DEAL
W/ THIS IN THIS WAY IS FOR THE INDIVDUAL INVOLVED
2ND FOR THE BODY
ITSELF 6
Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens
the whole lump?
A) In a more modern figure he
was saying, “Don’t you know that one rotten apple can spoil the whole barrel?”
B)God
diagnoses spiritual health only by the standards of His righteousness.
1) We can be highly gifted,
highly blessed, highly successful, and highly respected—and also be highly
sinful.
C) That was the condition of
the Corinthian church. The believers there had been under the ministry of Paul,
Apollos, and Peter.
1) They were “enriched in
[Christ], in all speech and all knowledge,” the “and they were “not lacking in
any gift” (1:5–7).
D) Yet they were proud,
arrogant, boastful, and immoral—even tolerant of
sins, including a sin that pagans
condemned.[1]
THEIR SIN WAS LIKE LEAVEN
A) Leaven or yeast was what women used in making their bread - the
yeast would be allowed to ferment in water
1) After which it was added to
fresh batch of dough in order to make it
rise
! A little leaven would spread to
whole batch
B) And leaven is used in the
scripture always in an evil sense. Because like sin little starter into the new batch of dough will work its way
through the whole batch of dough.
C)
A little leaven will leaven the whole lump. Sin in a Church that is tolerated
can eventually effect the whole - body !
7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly
are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with
the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity
and truth.
PAUL BRINGS THEM BACK TO THE
CROSS - PASSOVER
A) Paul’s solution for every
problem that the Church - had was to take them back to the cross ! Does so here analogy / Picture of Passover.
B) In preparing for the
Passover, the 14th of April, the Jews would go through their whole house in a
search for leaven.
1) To remove from the house any
leaven that may exist. It was done in remembrance of 1st Passover -
deliverance from Egypt.
C)
Ex. 12: 15
'Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall
remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first
day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.
D) There removing of the Leaven
was for Preparation - it symbolized their readiness in the leaving of Egypt - leaving of the World
behind !
E) We are to remove the leaven
- the Sin out of our lives - out of the church as a PROCLAMATION that we belong
to Christ !!!!
1) That we have left the world
behind & have given our hearts to Christ
F) To continue in sin is to
make a mockery of what Christ did for us and to live a life of Hypocrisy
instead of one marked by sincerity & truth.
So 2nd reason we
are to deal w/ sin severely is for the Church. - We need to do so to keep the
Leaven from spreading
A) Problem today - In Cor. Only
one Church - today - person who is disciplined - most likely go to church down
the Street
1) Bad mouth where he came from
!!!!
B) Makes discipline for the
sake of Restoration hard -
Finish
up V.9 9 I
wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral
people. ( Another letter - shared some
insights on immorality)
10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of
this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you
would need to go out of the world.
Paul wants to make sure they
realize he is not talking about unbelievers -
Only
way to not associate w/ the immoral people of the World- taken heaven
A) Jesus Prayed JN. 17- not
take us out of the world - keep us from the evil one
B) Our Lord has left us in the
world - purpose of being salt & light - rub shoulders w/ those who don’t
know Him !
1) Love them - share Christ w/
them - so they can be saved .
C) In the World but not of the
World for the Purpose of winning the world!
1) Sad that many Christians
fail to realize this - want to isolate themselves from the very people God
wants to use them to reach
11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone
named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a
reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; not even to eat with such a person.
12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do
you not judge those who are inside?
13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away
from yourselves the evil person."
"Those
that are on the outside God will judge."
But
we should have a certain judgment within the church.
"Therefore put away
from among you that wicked person."
Referring
back to this fellow who was having an incestuous relationship with his
stepmother.