 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

 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

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

 Twofold purpose: 1) Instructive, and 2) Corrective  Corrective: Chastising or penal in nature: Importance: Eph. 5:25-27; 2 Cor. 11:2; 1 Cor. 5:6 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 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 6 Discipline of the Church

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

 Immoral brother: worldliness  1 Corinthians 5:1 Church subject to the influence of society in which they live. 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 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 To ignore immorality is a disservice to the sinner and a danger to the church: Jas. 5:19-20; 1 Cor. 5:7, 13 8 Discipline of the Church

 Disorderly brother:  2 Thessalonians 3:6 Very similar to instructions given to church at Corinth. 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 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 Paul said three things are to be done: 1 Thess. 3: Discipline of the Church

 Factious brother:  Romans 16:17-18 Factious men endanger the church and must be clearly identified. 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.” 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 If unrepentant such people must be dealt with firmly: Titus 3: Discipline of the Church

 False teacher:  1 Timothy 1:3, Paul set the example of identifying false teachers by name: 1 Tim. 1:19-20; 2 Tim. 2:17-18 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 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 Unfortunately false teachers are common; therefore, we must mark, avoid, and expose them: 1 Jn. 4:1, 6; Eph. 5:11; 2 Jn Discipline of the Church

 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 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 Main purpose is to restore to faithfulness: Gal. 6:1-3; 2 Thess. 3:15 12 Discipline of the Church

 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