Introduction God has always required His people to

Introduction �God has always required His people to be holy: Lev. 19: 19; Deut. 22: 9 -11 �God wanted His people to be distinct from the heathen nations: Lev. 20: 22 -26 �The concept of “cleanness” were “types” of spiritual cleanness, e. g. , purifying by the blood of Christ: Heb. 9: 11 -15; Eph. 5: 25 -27 �The theme of holiness is repeated in the New Testament: 1 Pet. 1: 15 -16; 2 Cor. 6: 14 2

Introduction �The Lord’s church must be ever vigilant that unholiness does not arise within its ranks: Lev. 19: 19; Deut. 22: 9 -11 �Impenitent brethren, factious men, immoral or disorderly disciples, and false teachers are not to be tolerated in the church: 1 Cor. 5: 6 -7 �Fellowship and company with unclean brethren defiles the entire church. �The leaven of iniquity must be purged if the church is to be pure. 3

The New Testament Church Part 9: Discipline of the Church Matthew 18: 15 -17

Purpose �Twofold purpose: 2) Corrective �Instructive: 1) Instructive, and Preventive in nature: Prov. 22: 6 Work of the elders: Acts 20: 28; 1 Pet. 5: 2; 1 Tim. 5: 17; Heb. 13: 17 The attitude of the church: 1 Thess. 5: 12 -13; Heb. 13: 17; 1 Tim. 5: 17; Heb. 13: 7 Discipline of the Church 5

Purpose �Twofold purpose: 2) Corrective �Corrective: 1) Instructive, and Chastising or penal in nature: Importance: Eph. 5: 25 -27; 2 Cor. 11: 2; 1 Cor. 5: 6 Three-fold purpose 1) Message to the world: 1 Cor. 5: 1; 2) To purify the church: 1 Cor. 5: 7; and 3) To save the guilty party: 1 Cor. 5: 5 Discipline of the Church 6

Objects of church discipline �Impenitent brother: refuses to repent �Matthew 18: 15 -17 Specific procedure to follow. Punishment would have been crystal clear to a Jewish audience. Unrepentant brother is “unclean, ” and not worthy of the company of faithful brethren. Not applicable to “public” sins; only private matters. Discipline of the Church 7

Objects of church discipline �Immoral brother: worldliness � 1 Corinthians 5: 1 Church subject to the influence of society in which they live. Church cannot ignore immorality in its ranks, but must deal with it: 1 Cor. 5: 2, 4 -5 To ignore immorality is a disservice to the sinner and a danger to the church: Jas. 5: 19 -20; 1 Cor. 5: 7, 13 Discipline of the Church 8

Objects of church discipline �Disorderly brother: � 2 Thessalonians 3: 6 Very similar to instructions given to church at Corinth. Disorderly is to “march out of rank, out of step and denotes insubordinate behavior”: 1 Thess. 3: 6 Paul said three things are to be done: 1 Thess. 3: 14 -15 Discipline of the Church 9

Objects of church discipline �Factious brother: �Romans 16: 17 -18 Factious men endanger the church and must be clearly identified. Factious men create division, cause offenses, and teach “contrary to the doctrine which you learned. ” If unrepentant such people must be dealt with firmly: Titus 3: 9 -11 Discipline of the Church 10

Objects of church discipline �False teacher: � 1 Timothy 1: 3, 19 -20 Paul set the example of identifying false teachers by name: 1 Tim. 1: 19 -20; 2 Tim. 2: 17 -18 False teaching is “gangrene” or “cancer”: cf. 1 Cor. 5: 5 Unfortunately false teachers are common; therefore, we must mark, avoid, and expose them: 1 Jn. 4: 1, 6; Eph. 5: 11; 2 Jn. 10 -11 Discipline of the Church 11

Scriptural pattern for discipline �Pray for them: 1 Jn. 5: 16 �Try to convert: Matt. 18: 15 -18; Jas. 5: 19 -20 �Last resort withdraw fellowship: 1 Cor. 5: 4 -5, 13; 2 Thess. 3: 6 Must be supported by every member of the congregation: 1 Cor. 5: 9 -11; 2 Jn. 9 -11; Matt. 18: 17 Main purpose is to restore to faithfulness: Gal. 6: 1 -3; 2 Thess. 3: 15 Discipline of the Church 12

Conclusion �Discipline is not pleasant but it is as much a part of God’s revelation as baptism or the Lord’s supper. �If we will follow the New Testament pattern we will practice discipline as revealed in God’s word: 1 Pet. 4: 11 �To fail in this regard is to fail the sinner, to fail the church and to fail our Lord and Savior. 13