The Importance of Church Discipline to the Church and World, Rev Dr John Kwasi Fosu

Amazing Grace Baptist Church, Hamburg Bible Study Material on 1 Cor. 5:6-13

Introduction

Paul gives three reasons why the church had to exercise loving but firm discipline. In our previous lesson on 1 Cor 5:1-5, we learnt that Church discipline is good for the offending person.

The background of 1 Cor. 5 reveals that some members of the Corinthian church were boasting about their sins in the name of liberty. From Paul’s argumentation, it seems unwise for a church to say it is “open-minded” and willing to accept any and all members, no matter how they live! The fact that we would not open the door of our home to all who want to enter implies that the church should not allow any and all who want to enter to come into the fellowship of the church. Paul warns that “your glorying is not good,” “Don’t you realise that one member living in open sin can defile the entire church?” This lesson on 1 Cor 5:6-13 focuses on the need for church discipline for the good of the church and the world.

The Importance of Church Discipline for the Good of the Church (1 Cor. 5.6-8)

Paul applied the concept of “expelling” or “purging” the wicked from their midst found in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 17:17, 19:19, 21:21 and 22:21-24). He was, nevertheless, embarking on church discipline employing God’s love. Paul furthered his argument using the Passover meal as an example. Hebrews were instructed to cook bread without yeast since they didn’t have time to wait for it to rise as they were ready for their departure from Egyptian enslavement. They were told to remove all of the yeast from the house since it was also a symbol of sin (Exodus 12:15 and 13:7).  In the New Testament, Jesus served as the ideal atonement for our sins during the Passover. “Old yeast” refers to our involvement with past transgressions.

Believers today must have the same attitude. We are called upon not to allow the yeast of sin to grow quietly in our lives and the church and produce trouble and shame. Jesus died for us, not to make us like the world, but to make us like God. “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).

Each church member must see to it that the yeast of sin is not growing in his or her life. And, if sin becomes known, the leaders must take steps to protect the spiritual welfare of the church.

There are several kinds of believers that we are warned about in the Bible. These are believers who should not be permitted fellowship in the local church:

1. The member who will not settle personal differences (Matthew 18:15-17).
2. The member who has a reputation for being a flagrant sinner (1 Corinthians 5:9-11).
3. Those who hold false doctrine  (1 Timothy 1:18-20 and 2 Timothy 2:17-18).
4. Those who cause divisions (Titus 3:10-11).
5. Believers who refuse to work for a living  (2 Thessalonians 3:6-12).

Paul, however, encourages believers that, for those who are suddenly overtaken sin, we should lovingly seek to restore them  (Galatians 6:1).

The importance of Church Discipline for the Good of the World (1 Cor. 5:9-13)

The saying that “The church cannot change the world if the church is like the world,” holds much water. Reading through 1 Cor 5:9-13 brings out the idea that Paul makes a distinction between sin in the lives of believers and sin in the lives of unbelievers. To Paul, sin in the lives of believers is worse. For that reason, he had commanded them in a previous letter not to fellowship with church members who had sinful reputations as fornicators, covetous, or idolaters. Paul did not tell them to stay away from all sinners of this kind.  Otherwise, they would have to leave the world!  We expect the unsaved to live in sin, but even the world expects the believer to be different. It could be observed that one reason the church today has, so little influence in the world is that the world has too much influence on the church.

Paul seems to suggest that faithful believers are not even to eat with church members who have ruined their testimony open sin and have never made things right with the church and the Lord. This is a part of the discipline outlined in verse 5. If a faithful church member fellowships in a friendly way with a believer living in sin, that member is approving of his sin and disobeying the Word of God. Some believers become unhappy when they realise that God expects us to exercise spiritual judgement in the church. We are not to judge outsiders. God will do that. But we are to expel from church fellowship any believer who will not confess sin and make things right. This is not to be done hastily.  All parties involved must be permitted to state their case. There must be prayer and the ministry of the Word. There must be sincere godly love. The very act of church discipline is a testimony to the world and a warning to the church, and especially to new believers, that God expects His children to be different from the world. To approve sin is to deny the very sacrifice of the Messiah on the cross!

Conclusion

Studying 1 Cor 5 has shed light on the fact that exercising church discipline is good for the offending sinner, the church, and those in the world. The local church should therefore exercise discipline toward its members who have sinned.  It needs to be pointed out that, however, church discipline must be handled carefully, honestly, and lovingly. Before exercising church discipline, the person should have been confronted scripturally. Sometimes rebuke is necessary, but it must be used with caution. The purpose of any rebuke, confrontation, or discipline is to help people, not hurt them.

Questions

1. Give examples of some cases where the world has influenced the church.
2. What are the 3 reasons for exercising loving discipline?
3. Describe the steps in church discipline.
4. Give some Old Testament references Paul used to support his argument in favour of “expelling the sinner from the group.”