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IntroductionGod has always required His people

to be holy: Lev. 19:19; Deut. 22:9-11God 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

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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.

Part 9: Discipline of the ChurchMatthew 18:15-17

The New Testament

Church

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Purpose

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 The attitude of the church: 1

Thess. 5:12-13; Heb. 13:17; 1 Tim. 5:17; Heb. 13:7

Discipline of the Church

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Purpose

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 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

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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

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Objects of church discipline

Immoral brother: worldliness1 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, 13Discipline of the

Church

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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. 3:14-15Discipline of the

Church

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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

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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

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Scriptural pattern for discipline

Pray for them: 1 Jn. 5:16Try to convert: Matt. 18:15-18; Jas.

5:19-20Last 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

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ConclusionDiscipline 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.