Church Discipline

1 Corinthians 5:6–13 “6 O orgulho de vocês não é bom. Vocês não sabem que um pouco de fermento faz toda a massa ficar fermentada? 7 Livrem-se do fermento velho, para que sejam massa nova e sem fermento, como realmente são. Pois Cristo, nosso Cordeiro pascal, foi sacrificado. 8 Por isso, celebremos a festa, não com o fermento velho, nem com o fermento da maldade e da perversidade, mas com os pães sem fermento, os pães da sinceridade e da verdade. 9 Já lhes disse por carta que vocês não devem associar-se com pessoas imorais. 10 Com isso não me refiro aos imorais deste mundo, nem aos avarentos, aos ladrões ou aos idólatras. Se assim fosse, vocês precisariam sair deste mundo. 11 Mas agora estou lhes escrevendo que não devem associar-se com qualquer que, dizendo-se irmão, seja imoral, avarento, idólatra, caluniador, alcoólatra ou ladrão. Com tais pessoas vocês nem devem comer. 12 Pois, como haveria eu de julgar os de fora da igreja? Não devem vocês julgar os que estão dentro? 13 Deus julgará os de fora. “Expulse…”

Introduction:

What is the church to do when shameful sin is found in the life of a member?

1. The church must learn something: a little leaven (sin) leavens the whole (v.6).

2. The church must purge out the leaven (sin) (v.7).

3. The church must keep the feast; that is, it must clean itself out (v.8).

4. The church must separate itself from the world, but not entirely (v.9-10).

5. The church must separate itself from sinners who call themselves brothers (v.11).

6. The church must judge only those "within" the church; God judges those "without" the church (v.12-13).

1. (5:6) Church Problems: a igreja precisa saber que um pouco de fermento (pecado) leveda toda a massa.

Muitas vezes, uma igreja ignora o pecado e o estilo de vida pecaminoso de um homem porque ele é um líder na comunidade, no governo ou nos negócios. Na verdade, muitas vezes uma igreja se vangloria do fato de que o homem é membro da sua irmandade. Como declaram as Escrituras: “Irmãos, estas coisas não deveriam acontecer”.

Portanto, se o homem e seu pecado vergonhoso são autorizados a permanecer na igreja, o pecado do homem vai se espalhar. Se a Igreja aceita o homem que está vivendo em pecado claro, os outros vão começar a sentir que eles, também, podem ser aceitável, mesmo vivendo em pecado. Se não houver nenhuma restrição sobre o pecado, então o pecado vai crescer. Se o pecado for aceito, então o pecado, não a justiça, que vai ditar as regras.

Se a justiça não é a base de aceitação, então a justiça não reina, mas reina o pecado. Se a Igreja aceita a pessoa que vive no pecado claro, então o pecado vai se espalhar. O homem que vive para o pecado influencia outros a viver para o pecado.

Observe o que diz a Escritura: é preciso apenas um pouco de fermento, não muito, para o pecado crescer. Aceitar apenas um homem que vive para o mundo e pelo pecado fará com que os outros a comecem a viver vidas mundanas e pecaminosas.

If righteousness is not the basis of acceptance, then righteousness does not reign, but sin reigns. If the church accepts the person who lives in clear sin, then the church is letting sin rule, and sin will spread. The man who lives for sin influences others to live for sin.

Note what Scripture says: it takes only a little leaven, not much, for sin to grow. Accepting just one man who lives for the world and for sin will cause others to begin living worldly and sinful lives. (Gal.5:9)

2. (5:7) Church, Duty: A igreja deve eliminar o fermento (pecado).

There are two reasons why the church and its believers must purge all sin out of their lives.

1. Believers are new creatures.

The picture is that of the Jewish Passover Feast. The Jewish family was required by law to remove all leaven out of the house before celebrating the Passover. They were even required to light candles and search throughout the house for crumbs of leaven that might have fallen on the floor and under tables and other furniture. The purging of all leaven was symbolic of the people purging the corrupting influence of sin out of their lives.

Note the statement: "Ye are unleavened." The believers of the church were already unleavened; they were new lumps, new creatures; therefore, they must not run outside the family into the world and bring the old leaven back into the family.

The believer has become a "new creature" in Christ. His old sins and old man have been cast out of the house; therefore, he is not to let the old sins back into his life nor back into the family of God, that is, the church.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17).

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature" (Galatians 6:15).

"That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephes. 4:22-24).

"Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Colossians 3:9–10 “Não mintam uns aos outros, visto que vocês já se despiram do velho homem com suas práticas 10 e se revestiram do novo, o qual está sendo renovado em conhecimento, à imagem do seu Criador.”

2. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us and for the church.

This, too, is a picture of the Passover Feast. In the Jewish Passover Feast, every family slew a Passover lamb and its blood was painted on the door framing above the main entrance into the house.

This symbolized that the family believed the Word of God, that God would save the family from judgment when God saw that the blood of the Passover lamb covered its house.

The point is striking: the Passover lamb of the feast and of the Old Testament symbolized God's great Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; therefore, we must purge the leaven, the sin and its corrupting influence, out of our lives. We must purge all sin out and take the blood of Jesus Christ and cover ourselves and our houses if we wish God's judgment to pass over us.

Now note the point: if we continue to practice and to accept sin, it proves that we do not really believe that the blood of Christ cleanses us. Accepting and living in sin proves that we have no interest in being free from sin. Accepting and living in sin proves that we love sin—that we like what sin can do for us so much that we are unwilling to purge it out of our lives and church. If we allow the old leaven, the old sin in our lives and churches, it shows that we have little interest in a clean and pure life. It shows God that we care little for the cleansing power of the blood of Christ our Passover. The point is forceful, and it is a warning. Therefore, we must purge out the old leaven, the old sins from both our lives and our church.

"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, And saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).

"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us" (1 Cor. 5:7).

"Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father" (Galatians 1:4).

"And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour" (Ephes. 5:2).

"Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14).

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:18-19).

"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren" (1 John 3:16).

"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood" (Rev. 1:5).

3. (5:8) Church, Duty: the church must keep the feast, that is, it must clean itself out. The point is as clearly stated as possible: the church must keep itself clean and pure. It must not allow malice and wickedness into its fellowship. It must live a life of sincerity and truth. Note five points.

1. The word "malice" (kakias PWS: 2520) indicates that some in the church were apparently opposing the shameful man's presence in the church. But those who supported the man stood their ground, and malice set in between the two groups.

2. The word "wickedness" (ponērias PWS: 4343) means more than just sin and coming short. It means taking pleasure in evil. The church must purge itself of its pride in prestigious men who were living in shameful sin. Such wickedness must be purged out.

3. The word "sincerity" (eilikrineias) means pure, clear, transparent. It is something through which the sunlight can pass indicating a flawless purity.

4. The word "truth" (alētheias PWS: 4084) means unadulterated, conformed to the nature of whatever is true. God is truth; therefore, it means to be like God. It means to live and do the truth; therefore, the church must do precisely what is right. It must discipline both itself and the shameful man. The church must purge out the sin within itself.

5. The words "let us keep" are in the present tense, which means continuous action. The church must continue to keep the feast (heortazōmen PWS: 1458), continue to purge out the old leaven of sin and its corrupting influences. It must not only discipline itself and the man who is living in shameful sin, it must continue to keep itself pure, to continue celebrating the feast of purity before God.

"For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation [behavior] in the world" (2 Cor. 1:12).

"For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ" (2 Cor. 2:17).

"This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ" (Phil. 1:9-10).

"In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity" (Titus 2:7).

"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:18).

4. (5:9-10) Church, Duty: the church must separate itself from the world, but not entirely. Paul had apparently written an earlier epistle or letter to the Corinthians. He had charged them to do exactly what he was now saying: do not keep close company with those who live for sin and this world. The word "company" (sunanamignusthai PWS: 667) means to mix up. Paul had mentioned four types of shameful sins that were to be kept out of the church and separate from believers.

1. The church was not to become mixed with the fornicators of this world. The word "fornication" (pornois PWS: 1595) means all kinds of immoral sexual acts. It includes adultery, premarital sex, homosexuality, and all forms of sexual deviation. Those who practice immorality are not to be part of the fellowship of the church. Believers are not to keep close fellowship with them.

"And likewise also the man, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet" (Romans 1:27).

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate [homosexuals], nor abusers of themselves with mankind" (1 Cor. 6:9).

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness....they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19, 21).

"Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness" (Ephes. 4:19).

"But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints" (Ephes. 5:3).

"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication" (1 Thes. 4:3).

"For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ....Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire" (Jude 4, 7).

2. The church was not to become mixed up with the covetous (pleonektais PWS: 822) of this world. The word means those who seek for more and more while millions within the world are dying from sin, hunger, disease, and poverty. This is a sin that is especially despised by God (see outline—• Matthew 19:16-22 and note—• Matthew 19:16-22; note—• Matthew 19:23-26; note—• Luke 16:19-31).

"And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Luke 12:15).

"But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints" (Ephes. 5:3).

"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Col. 3:5).

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5).

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's" (Exodus 20:17).

"For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth" (Psalm 10:3).

"For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely" (Jeremiah 6:13).

"And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness" (Ezekiel 33:31).

"And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage" (Micah 2:2).

"Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!" (Habakkuk 2:9).

3. The church was not to become mixed up with the extortioners (harpaxin PWS: 1407) of the world. These are the thieves, hijackers, grafters, and those who take advantage of the poor in order to get more gain for themselves. Again, these are especially despised by God because of their unreal view of the world, a world that reels under the weight of so many gripped by poverty, disease, sin, and death.

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess" (Matthew 23:25).

"And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you" (Luke 3:13).

"How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked?" (Psalm 82:2).

"He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor" (Proverbs 14:31).

"An unjust man is an abomination to the just" (Proverbs 29:27).

"Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; to turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!" (Isaiah 10:1-2).

"In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbors by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord God" (Ezekiel 22:12).

"Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat; ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them" (Amos 5:11).

4. The church was not to become mixed up with the idolaters (eidōlolatrai) of the world. The word means those who either worship false gods or do not have a right relationship with God. Idolatry, of course, includes all unbelievers; for any person who does not truly worship God is worshipping something else, some idol, even if the idol is self and the possessions of this world.

"Little children, keep yourselves from idols" (1 John 5:21).

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth" (Exodus 20:4).

"Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them" (Deut. 11:16).

"There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god" (Psalm 81:9).

"I am the Lord; that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another [not even to self], neither my praise to graven images" (Isaiah 42:8).

Now, note the point. The church and its believers cannot go out of the world; therefore, some contact with the unbelievers of the world is necessary. This is understandable to any thinking and honest person. However, it is also understandable that the church must not become mixed up with the shameful sinners of the world. The church and its believers must be separate in their behavior and fellowship. The church and the believers are to be holy and pure and righteous before God and to hold up the banner of holiness and purity and righteousness before the people of the world. Believers are in the world, but they must not be of the world.

"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you" (John 15:19).

"And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2:40).

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (2 Cor. 6:17-18).

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Ephes. 5:11).

"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" (2 Thes. 3:6).

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 John 2:15-16).

5. (5:11) Church, Duty: the church must separate itself even from shameful sinners who call themselves "brothers." Note the difference between this charge and the former command. The former charge has to do with the sinner out in the world. This charge has to do with the sinner in the church. Sometimes a professing believer returns to the shameful sins of the world and stays there, refusing to repent. Of course, the church is to seek to restore the man; the church is to take the steps spelled out by Christ (see outline—• Matthew 18:15-20 and notes—• Matthew 18:15-20 for a clear discussion of what a church should do when a professing brother sins). However, if the man refuses to respond and repent after the gracious attempts at restoration have been made, the church has no choice but to separate itself from the man.

Note that two sins are added in this verse.

⇒ The railer (loidoros PWS: 3156) is a person who rants and scolds; reviles and abuses; uses insolent, abusive, and slanderous language.

⇒ The drunkard is a person who intoxicates himself with alcoholic beverages and drugs, a person who deadens his faculties through alcohol and drugs.

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).

"He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me" (Mark 7:6).

"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate" (Titus 1:16).

"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:18).

"And they remembered that God was their Rock, and the high God their Redeemer. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues" (Psalm 78:35-36).

"Fervent lips and a wicked heart are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross" (Proverbs 26:23).

"And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not" (Ezekiel 33:31-32).

6. (5:12-13) Church, Duty: the church must judge only those "within" the church; God judges those who are "without," that is, the unbelievers. No believer and no church is to try to exercise discipline upon unbelievers out in the world. Judgment of unbelievers is in God's hands. However, the church is to exercise discipline within the church. Therefore, the shameful sinner who refuses to repent must be dismissed from the church. (See note—• Matthew 18:15-20; note—•1 Cor. 5:3-5 for detailed discussion of what the church is to do with offending believers.)

"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" (Matthew 18:15-17).

"Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him" (Luke 17:1-3).

"And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem" (Acts 16:4).

"Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear" (1 Tim. 5:20).

"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" (2 Tim. 4:2).

"This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith" (Titus 1:13).

"These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee" (Titus 2:15).

"A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject" (Titus 3:10).

"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you" (Hebrews 13:17).

—Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary