Our Duty Toward the Disorderly

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

Restore the FallenRestore the Fallen• Those who are spiritual have a work to

do, Gal 6:1-2; Jas 5: 19-20• Individual and congregational:– Sin between individuals, Matt 18:15-17– Public sin, 1 Cor 5:1-5 (9-13)– False teachers: Mark and avoid, Rom 16:17– Factious: Warn and reject, Titus 3:10-11

• Duties toward the disorderly, 2 Ths 3:6-15

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Who are the Who are the Disorderly?Disorderly?

2 Ths 3:62 Ths 3:6•Unruly Christian, living in sin…LOST!–atakos: “out of ranks (often so of soldiers)… deviating from the prescribed order or rule”

•“Not according to the tradition..from us”–Not following the apostles, 3:7, 9–What they commanded, 2:15; 3:4, 14–Walking: Course of conduct, 3:11 (Col 3:7)• Context: Idle busybodies, 3:11; Disobedient, 3:12, 14; 1 Ths 4:11-12 3

What are we to do?What are we to do?2 Ths 3:62 Ths 3:6

•“Withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly”–Avoid: Cease familiar interaction with–Note: Distinguish, mark for avoidance, 3:14

•“Do not keep company with”, 3:14 1 Cor 5:11 (remove social relations)

•Reason: “That he may be ashamed” (of sin and repent), 2 Ths 3:144

Before and AfterBefore and AfterWithdrawing from Withdrawing from

DisorderlyDisorderly•BEFORE: Warn them, 1 Ths 5:14–Reprove and rebuke using the word of God, 2 Tim 4:2–Warn them of sin and death, Jas 5:19-20

•AFTER: Continue to warn, 2 Ths 3:15–Admonish as a brother, not an enemy 5

What about Family What about Family Members?Members?

• If walking disorderly, they also need corrective discipline, 2 Ths 3:6–End our social relations –Your best chance to make an

impression on them that they need to repent–Removes something valuable in

an attempt to bring the disorderly to godly sorrow and repentance

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What about Family What about Family Members?Members?

•Concurrent responsibilities are not abandoned, but the change is made clear–Wife toward her husband (1 Pet 3:1-2)–Child toward a sinning parent (Eph 6:1-2)

•Make it clear to our loved one that their sin prevents social contact, 1 Cor 5:11, 13–Do we have the faith to obey the Lord’s command? 2 Ths 3:6–Would Paul be confident in us? 2 Ths 3:4

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When Corrective When Corrective Discipline is Not Discipline is Not

Scripturally AppliedScripturally Applied• Without congregational action, sin

infiltrates the church, 1 Cor 5:6-7 (2)• Without individual action, no

immediate pressure is brought to bear on the sinner, 2 Ths 3:14-15–No urgency…Sinner the emboldened–No distinction is made between the

holy and the profane, Acts 5:11-13; Eph 5:11 8

Our Duty Toward the Our Duty Toward the DisorderlyDisorderly

• It is heart-rending when we must withdraw ourselves from brethren who refuse to repent of their sins

• Necessary to use God’s discipline to try to bring them to repentance

• Disciplining the disorderly in God’s way is a mark of faith and mature obedience, 2 Cor 2:9

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