WEBVTT 00:00:07.269 --> 00:00:10.330 We come today to the book of First Corinthians 00:00:10.330 --> 00:00:16.109 chapter 4, picking up in verse 18, where we left 00:00:16.109 --> 00:00:20.949 off in verse 17 two weeks ago. Thank you, Brother 00:00:20.949 --> 00:00:23.289 Ty, for filling in for me last Sunday when I 00:00:23.289 --> 00:00:26.329 was not doing well. Appreciate that so much. 00:00:26.489 --> 00:00:31.920 And it was wonderful and edifying. Let's hear 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:35.439 the word of the Lord from verse 18 of chapter 00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:40.520 4 through verse 5 of chapter 5 we're talking 00:00:40.520 --> 00:00:43.920 today about the necessity of church discipline 00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:51.219 and introduction and procedure For this reason 00:00:51.219 --> 00:00:56.079 I have sent Timothy to you Who is my beloved 00:00:56.079 --> 00:00:58.600 and faithful son in the Lord who will remind 00:00:58.600 --> 00:01:01.869 you of my ways in Christ? as I teach everywhere 00:01:01.869 --> 00:01:06.870 in every church. Now, some are puffed up as though 00:01:06.870 --> 00:01:09.969 I were not coming to you, but I will come to 00:01:09.969 --> 00:01:14.030 you shortly if the Lord wills, and I will know 00:01:14.030 --> 00:01:16.569 not the word of those who are puffed up, but 00:01:16.569 --> 00:01:19.709 the power, for the kingdom of God is not in word, 00:01:20.129 --> 00:01:24.010 but in power. What do you want? Shall I come 00:01:24.010 --> 00:01:28.010 to you with a rod or in love and a spirit of 00:01:28.010 --> 00:01:31.939 gentleness? It is actually reported that there 00:01:31.939 --> 00:01:36.120 is sexual immorality among you. And such sexual 00:01:36.120 --> 00:01:39.659 immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, 00:01:40.159 --> 00:01:44.159 that a man has his father's wife. And you are 00:01:44.159 --> 00:01:46.939 puffed up and have not rather mourned that he 00:01:46.939 --> 00:01:50.379 who has done this deed might be taken away from 00:01:50.379 --> 00:01:54.280 among you. For indeed, as absent in body but 00:01:54.280 --> 00:01:58.590 present in spirit, I have already judged as though 00:01:58.590 --> 00:02:01.909 I were present him who has so done this deed 00:02:01.909 --> 00:02:05.629 in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ When you 00:02:05.629 --> 00:02:09.030 are gathered together along with my spirit with 00:02:09.030 --> 00:02:12.930 the power of our Lord Jesus Christ Deliver such 00:02:12.930 --> 00:02:16.590 a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh 00:02:16.590 --> 00:02:20.789 That his spirit may be saved in the day of our 00:02:20.789 --> 00:02:26.439 Lord Jesus Let's pray Father, we come to you 00:02:26.439 --> 00:02:28.960 this morning with this weighty passage before 00:02:28.960 --> 00:02:32.560 us. Lord, we need the presence and the power 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:35.060 of the Holy Spirit to be able to preach it and 00:02:35.060 --> 00:02:38.139 to be able to hear it, Lord. Please open it up 00:02:38.139 --> 00:02:41.180 to us. Guide our thoughts, Lord, as we think 00:02:41.180 --> 00:02:44.699 and meditate on this. And I pray, Lord, that 00:02:44.699 --> 00:02:47.719 you by your Spirit would speak to us today. We 00:02:47.719 --> 00:02:55.439 pray in Jesus' name, amen. This passage begins 00:02:55.439 --> 00:03:00.460 a new section on ethics in the Christian church 00:03:00.460 --> 00:03:04.699 at Corinth. Paul will tie this together to the 00:03:04.699 --> 00:03:08.120 previous subject in that he admonishes the church 00:03:08.120 --> 00:03:10.539 for being puffed up instead of mourning about 00:03:10.539 --> 00:03:15.060 this situation. But from here to the end of chapter 00:03:15.060 --> 00:03:20.099 7, the apostle teaches a good bit on the biblical 00:03:20.099 --> 00:03:25.900 view and the ethics. of sexuality, of marriage 00:03:25.900 --> 00:03:32.520 and of going to law against brethren. I mentioned 00:03:32.520 --> 00:03:37.139 sexuality and indeed the subject of Christian 00:03:37.139 --> 00:03:41.800 sexual behavior both inside and outside of marriage 00:03:41.800 --> 00:03:46.539 will be a major portion of this study. These 00:03:46.539 --> 00:03:52.129 chapters speak directly and frankly about the 00:03:52.129 --> 00:03:56.090 sinful incestuous relationship of a likely prominent 00:03:56.090 --> 00:03:59.449 man in the church. They speak of how to relate 00:03:59.449 --> 00:04:02.930 to immoral people in the world. They speak of 00:04:02.930 --> 00:04:05.650 the fact that our bodies are members of Christ 00:04:05.650 --> 00:04:09.189 and should not be joined to a harlot, and then 00:04:09.189 --> 00:04:11.590 to the sexual relationship between a man and 00:04:11.590 --> 00:04:15.030 his wife, and of the differences between a wife 00:04:15.030 --> 00:04:19.959 and a virgin in their service to Christ. I remind 00:04:19.959 --> 00:04:23.079 you that this is part of the Holy Ghost inspired 00:04:23.079 --> 00:04:28.120 word of God and it must be taught in the public 00:04:28.120 --> 00:04:32.620 assembly of the church. It was a letter written 00:04:32.620 --> 00:04:35.660 to the whole church in Corinth and it is for 00:04:35.660 --> 00:04:40.160 the whole church of all time. Therefore as I 00:04:40.160 --> 00:04:43.680 go through this text I will attempt to do so, 00:04:43.779 --> 00:04:46.980 to treat this subject properly, in a way that 00:04:46.980 --> 00:04:51.220 is suitable for all ages, and yet, in a way that 00:04:51.220 --> 00:04:55.160 is not ashamed of the way God made us, and of 00:04:55.160 --> 00:04:59.019 His design, and of how we live. Too often these 00:04:59.019 --> 00:05:02.199 matters are discussed in a hush -hush kind of 00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:05.120 a way, and that is to our detriment. The Bible 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:09.620 speaks directly, and so must we, but not... in 00:05:09.620 --> 00:05:15.920 a crass or a crude way. Now the subject in this 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:18.839 first section is that of church discipline. It 00:05:18.839 --> 00:05:22.439 is the sanctions and the actions to be taken 00:05:22.439 --> 00:05:27.139 on unrepentant church members who choose to yield 00:05:27.139 --> 00:05:31.800 to sin and rebel against Christ and his church. 00:05:32.680 --> 00:05:36.250 Jeremy Kimball puts it this way. He says, church 00:05:36.250 --> 00:05:40.850 discipline is the correction of persistently 00:05:40.850 --> 00:05:44.490 sinning church members for the good of those 00:05:44.490 --> 00:05:47.990 caught in sin, for the purity of the church, 00:05:48.269 --> 00:05:53.509 and the glory of God. The need to administer 00:05:53.509 --> 00:05:56.850 church discipline and sanctions is one of those 00:05:56.850 --> 00:06:00.110 subjects on which many have strong opinions both 00:06:00.110 --> 00:06:04.920 for and against. And I will confess It is a subject 00:06:04.920 --> 00:06:08.560 on which there has, it is a fact of which, not 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:12.939 just a subject, that has been at times abused 00:06:12.939 --> 00:06:21.540 or misused and in many cases disused. Abused, 00:06:21.920 --> 00:06:26.850 misused or disused. So we need to walk through 00:06:26.850 --> 00:06:30.449 this very carefully and look at it in order to 00:06:30.449 --> 00:06:33.930 get what the scripture is teaching and conform 00:06:33.930 --> 00:06:40.649 ourselves to its understanding. This is one of 00:06:40.649 --> 00:06:45.029 the marks of a true church. Our understanding 00:06:45.029 --> 00:06:48.110 is that there are at least three essential outward 00:06:48.110 --> 00:06:51.689 marks by which any discerning person can determine 00:06:51.980 --> 00:06:55.220 whether any given congregation was truly a church. 00:06:55.959 --> 00:06:58.300 The Belgian Confession states it well when it 00:06:58.300 --> 00:07:02.220 says, the marks by which the true church is known 00:07:02.220 --> 00:07:06.339 are these. Number one, if the pure doctrine of 00:07:06.339 --> 00:07:09.899 the gospel is preached there. Number two, if 00:07:09.899 --> 00:07:13.420 it maintains the pure administration of the sacraments 00:07:13.420 --> 00:07:17.399 as instituted by Christ. And number three, if 00:07:17.399 --> 00:07:22.100 church discipline is exercised. punishing sin. 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:26.839 Church discipline is needed to hold each other 00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:31.639 accountable to the terms of the covenant with 00:07:31.639 --> 00:07:36.199 God and with each other by purging out the old 00:07:36.199 --> 00:07:41.040 leaven, as Paul calls it, of damnable sins. It 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:45.980 is a means of grace or as some call it a severe 00:07:45.980 --> 00:07:50.949 mercy, a severe mercy. It protects the holiness 00:07:50.949 --> 00:07:54.589 of the church, but it also seeks the restoration 00:07:54.589 --> 00:08:00.250 of a wandering believer. It is not vindictive, 00:08:00.670 --> 00:08:04.230 and though it might be called a punishment, its 00:08:04.230 --> 00:08:09.129 end goal is not that, but it is a tool of pastoral 00:08:09.129 --> 00:08:13.990 love. of keeping the congregation pure by addressing 00:08:13.990 --> 00:08:18.569 persistent, unrepentant sin that, as we will 00:08:18.569 --> 00:08:22.170 see in the following passage, will act like a 00:08:22.170 --> 00:08:25.290 yeast or a leaven that corrupts the whole loaf. 00:08:26.649 --> 00:08:29.170 Paul speaks about this in verses 6 to 8, which 00:08:29.170 --> 00:08:32.990 I'm not going to be addressing today. But ultimately, 00:08:34.370 --> 00:08:37.409 this is all about the glory of Christ and of 00:08:37.409 --> 00:08:40.970 His Church. This is about fervent love for Him 00:08:40.970 --> 00:08:44.750 and love for the sinner that he or she might 00:08:44.750 --> 00:08:48.470 repent, might be restored to fellowship, and 00:08:48.470 --> 00:08:52.230 that their spirit might be saved on the day of 00:08:52.230 --> 00:08:55.750 judgment. Today, we're going to consider the 00:08:55.750 --> 00:08:58.629 first part. That is, the warning given in chapter 00:08:58.629 --> 00:09:02.990 4 verse 18 to 21, the problem stated in chapter 00:09:02.990 --> 00:09:07.389 5 verse 1 and 2, and then the procedure. chapter 00:09:07.389 --> 00:09:12.049 5 verse 3 and 5 and for that we will also consider 00:09:12.049 --> 00:09:16.049 the passage in Matthew chapter 18. So let's look 00:09:16.049 --> 00:09:18.950 first of all today at the warning from in verse 00:09:18.950 --> 00:09:22.429 18 to 21. Now some are puffed up as though I 00:09:22.429 --> 00:09:25.350 were not coming to you but I will come to you 00:09:25.350 --> 00:09:28.970 shortly if the Lord wills and I will know not 00:09:28.970 --> 00:09:31.490 the word of those who are puffed up but the power. 00:09:31.769 --> 00:09:34.210 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in 00:09:34.210 --> 00:09:36.669 power. What do you want? Shall I come to you 00:09:36.669 --> 00:09:40.769 with a rod or in love and the spirit of gentleness? 00:09:41.730 --> 00:09:43.690 Some in the Corinthian church were puffed up. 00:09:43.909 --> 00:09:46.309 They had an inflated view of themselves as though 00:09:46.309 --> 00:09:48.909 they were better or more spiritual than Paul. 00:09:49.049 --> 00:09:51.809 In their arrogance and pretension to possess 00:09:51.809 --> 00:09:55.809 wisdom, it seems that some of them openly repudiated 00:09:55.809 --> 00:09:58.409 Paul's authority, perhaps thinking that other 00:09:58.409 --> 00:10:00.629 leaders were better suited because they were 00:10:00.629 --> 00:10:04.570 more polished, more, they used more wisdom, worldly 00:10:04.570 --> 00:10:08.889 wisdom in what, in how they spoke. This passage 00:10:08.889 --> 00:10:12.970 is very directed on compromising and Paul threatens 00:10:12.970 --> 00:10:17.350 to administer harsh discipline if they will not... 00:10:17.850 --> 00:10:20.850 deal with the disgraceful behavior that he will 00:10:20.850 --> 00:10:23.230 write? to them about in the next two chapters, 00:10:23.370 --> 00:10:26.389 chapter five and six. They are acting in a way 00:10:26.389 --> 00:10:29.870 that denies Paul's coming to them and thus they 00:10:29.870 --> 00:10:32.250 are no longer accountable to him. But he sets 00:10:32.250 --> 00:10:35.190 them straight on this. I will come to you shortly 00:10:35.190 --> 00:10:37.889 if the Lord wills. He called them to account 00:10:37.889 --> 00:10:41.210 in a fatherly, in an apostolic way which shows 00:10:41.210 --> 00:10:44.490 us how that sometimes we need to hear strong 00:10:44.490 --> 00:10:49.340 words when we act in an unaccountable way. Sometimes 00:10:49.340 --> 00:10:52.740 they need to be spoken. He states this though 00:10:52.740 --> 00:10:56.440 with humility even as James writes in James chapter 00:10:56.440 --> 00:10:59.919 4 verse 13 and 16 that because we do not know 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:02.639 what will happen tomorrow but God does and so 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:06.200 we ought to say if the Lord wills we shall live 00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:09.539 and do this or that. Paul says this if the Lord 00:11:09.539 --> 00:11:15.929 wills I will come to you. He is living a life 00:11:15.929 --> 00:11:18.730 of plans and direction But with the understanding 00:11:18.730 --> 00:11:21.529 that it will happen only if the Lord wills it 00:11:21.529 --> 00:11:25.049 and so also ought we to live we make plans We 00:11:25.049 --> 00:11:28.250 do things we set things out we look forward to 00:11:28.250 --> 00:11:31.289 things But it's on the context that God is the 00:11:31.289 --> 00:11:34.769 supreme one and we will do this if the Lord so 00:11:34.769 --> 00:11:38.409 wills it Now he says I will not know not the 00:11:38.409 --> 00:11:41.700 puffed -up words, but the power Do they really 00:11:41.700 --> 00:11:43.919 have the ability, the power, and the influence 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:46.259 from God in this, or are they putting on a show? 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:49.019 Do they have the goods? Given the current state 00:11:49.019 --> 00:11:51.740 of the church and of God in Corinth, Paul does 00:11:51.740 --> 00:11:54.840 not anticipate a laudatory visit in when he comes, 00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:57.659 but rather one in which his purpose will not 00:11:57.659 --> 00:12:00.720 be to admire the Christians' fine speech, but 00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:03.720 to inspect their effectiveness in life, to find 00:12:03.720 --> 00:12:06.840 out not only how the arrogant people are talking, 00:12:07.019 --> 00:12:10.980 but what power they have. So states the pillar 00:12:10.980 --> 00:12:14.799 commentary. This power refers to lasting and 00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:17.919 solid effects instead of a passing shadow or 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:20.639 shallow and lacking substance. He tells them 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:23.820 that the kingdom of God is not in word but in 00:12:23.820 --> 00:12:27.159 power. Now the word word there is the word logos 00:12:27.159 --> 00:12:29.879 which is also used for Christ. In the beginning 00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:33.139 was the word John chapter 1 which certainly refers 00:12:33.139 --> 00:12:35.259 to the word of God and to Christ himself who 00:12:35.259 --> 00:12:37.799 is the word but it also can mean in the Greek 00:12:37.799 --> 00:12:41.389 just simply words. something that someone has 00:12:41.389 --> 00:12:44.309 said. And I take this to be the latter meaning. 00:12:44.669 --> 00:12:46.769 Paul simply means here that the kingdom of God 00:12:46.769 --> 00:12:49.929 is not in speaking of words. It's not in talking, 00:12:50.309 --> 00:12:53.610 but rather in the ability to do good deeds, to 00:12:53.610 --> 00:12:56.950 show forth good works in reality. rather than 00:12:56.950 --> 00:12:59.870 just being saying puffed up words. The kingdom 00:12:59.870 --> 00:13:03.730 of God is not in great and soaring rhetoric, 00:13:04.070 --> 00:13:07.070 or in empty platitudes, or in fancy words and 00:13:07.070 --> 00:13:10.570 boasts, or in worldly wisdom, but it is in rather 00:13:10.570 --> 00:13:14.149 the actual working of the power of God in the 00:13:14.149 --> 00:13:17.090 word and deeds that are real and identifiable, 00:13:17.289 --> 00:13:20.230 and they're a testimony to the reality of God 00:13:20.230 --> 00:13:24.899 and of His glory and His power. What counts now 00:13:24.899 --> 00:13:28.100 is not how impressive you sound, but whether 00:13:28.100 --> 00:13:33.659 your deeds are actually done. Paul again confounds 00:13:33.659 --> 00:13:37.940 their inflated self -esteem and loftiness with 00:13:37.940 --> 00:13:41.179 arrogance, and he counters them with plain and 00:13:41.179 --> 00:13:43.379 simple words, basically saying, as we would put 00:13:43.379 --> 00:13:48.799 it today, put up or shut up. The kingdom of God 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:52.610 is not a word, but is in power. Then in essence 00:13:52.610 --> 00:13:55.730 he asked him, what do you want? The choice is 00:13:55.730 --> 00:13:58.490 yours. Are you going to take care of these issues? 00:13:58.789 --> 00:14:02.230 Are you going to expel the incestuous man, stop 00:14:02.230 --> 00:14:04.950 making lawsuits against each other, and stop 00:14:04.950 --> 00:14:08.889 visiting prostitutes? If so, I can come in love 00:14:08.889 --> 00:14:11.950 in a spirit of gentleness. But if not, I will 00:14:11.950 --> 00:14:16.269 come with a rod. The rod of a father who drives 00:14:16.269 --> 00:14:19.169 out folly from the heart of his children, like 00:14:19.169 --> 00:14:22.710 Proverbs 22 verse 15 says, Remember that Paul 00:14:22.710 --> 00:14:25.490 calls himself their father in chapter 4 verse 00:14:25.490 --> 00:14:28.649 15. I have begotten you, he says, through the 00:14:28.649 --> 00:14:32.070 gospel. Whether he comes boldly with correction 00:14:32.070 --> 00:14:35.190 or with a spirit of gentleness, the face -to 00:14:35.190 --> 00:14:40.210 -face visit will involve correction. Either strong 00:14:40.210 --> 00:14:43.350 or gentle. There's a time for bold strong words 00:14:43.350 --> 00:14:46.070 of correction and there are times for soft and 00:14:46.070 --> 00:14:48.769 gentle correction. In fact, most times, correction 00:14:48.769 --> 00:14:52.110 comes this way. Paul speaks for example to the 00:14:52.110 --> 00:14:55.730 Galatians and to Timothy Galatians 6 1 he says 00:14:55.730 --> 00:14:59.029 Brethren if a man is overtaken in any trespass 00:14:59.029 --> 00:15:03.110 you who are spiritual Restore such a one in a 00:15:03.110 --> 00:15:08.389 spirit of gentleness Considering yourself lest 00:15:08.389 --> 00:15:12.269 you also be tempted But then also in 2nd Timothy 00:15:12.269 --> 00:15:17.070 2 verse 24 to 26 Speaking of the minister a servant 00:15:17.070 --> 00:15:20.940 of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to 00:15:20.940 --> 00:15:25.379 all, able to teach, patient, in humility, correcting 00:15:25.379 --> 00:15:28.700 those who are in opposition if God perhaps will 00:15:28.700 --> 00:15:31.759 grant them repentance so that they may know the 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:34.700 truth and they may come to their senses and escape 00:15:34.700 --> 00:15:37.259 the snare of the devil having been taken captive 00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:41.639 by him according to his or to do his will. And 00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:44.399 so Paul lays it out here and this is the warning 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:47.059 that he has given to them. That he is giving 00:15:47.059 --> 00:15:51.000 to them before he actually gets on to the first 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:53.100 problem Which is at the beginning of chapter 00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:56.840 5 to which we now turn. This is the problem stated 00:15:56.840 --> 00:16:01.139 He writes here very clearly and succinctly it 00:16:01.139 --> 00:16:05.299 is actually reported that there is sexual immorality 00:16:05.299 --> 00:16:09.600 among you and such sexual immorality as is not 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:14.259 even named among the Gentiles that a man has 00:16:14.259 --> 00:16:19.450 his father's wife And you are puffed up and had 00:16:19.450 --> 00:16:22.990 not rather mourned that he who has done this 00:16:22.990 --> 00:16:27.370 deed might be taken away from among you. Someone 00:16:27.370 --> 00:16:30.490 whether by letter or in person reported to Paul 00:16:30.490 --> 00:16:35.789 that there was a problem of blatant immorality. 00:16:36.059 --> 00:16:39.759 in the church. And it was one that is so uncommon 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:43.620 and so egregious that even the ancient world 00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:47.200 in the Greek and Roman Empire recoiled in horror. 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:51.019 Paul says, it's not even named among the Gentiles. 00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:54.580 This is quite a statement. For the Romans and 00:16:54.580 --> 00:16:57.620 the Greeks were well known for their illicit 00:16:57.620 --> 00:17:00.940 sexual behavior. regularly worshiping at temples 00:17:00.940 --> 00:17:04.119 where temple prostitutes were employed, and where 00:17:04.119 --> 00:17:07.799 many men throughout the realm employed the principle 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:11.359 articulated by one Demosthenes the Greek who 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:14.980 wrote these words. He said, mistresses we keep 00:17:14.980 --> 00:17:17.819 for the sake of pleasure, concubines for the 00:17:17.819 --> 00:17:20.779 daily care of our persons, but wives to bear 00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:23.299 us legitimate children and to be faithful guardians 00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:26.160 of our household. In other words, it was all 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:30.579 game, except for... certain things like this. 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:36.160 So, by no means were they the standard of the 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:39.519 age, but Paul is simply driving the point home 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:45.279 saying, even your culture, even those of the 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:49.279 Gentiles say, this is not to be named among us. 00:17:49.779 --> 00:17:53.059 Now, the Greek word describing this sin is the 00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:57.190 word pornea. from which we get our word porn 00:17:57.190 --> 00:18:00.710 or pornography. It's derived from that. He uses 00:18:00.710 --> 00:18:05.490 this twice in verse one. This word refers to 00:18:05.490 --> 00:18:10.089 any kind of prohibited sexual relationship. That 00:18:10.089 --> 00:18:13.890 is any and all kinds of illicit sexual intercourse, 00:18:14.329 --> 00:18:19.390 adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, 00:18:19.789 --> 00:18:23.779 bestiality, or incest. which is a sexual relationship 00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:27.759 between people closely related by blood or marriage. 00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:31.900 This man's sin is that he had his father's wife. 00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:35.940 The use of the word has means that he took her 00:18:35.940 --> 00:18:38.700 and he was having a sexual relationship with 00:18:38.700 --> 00:18:42.619 her and this was an ongoing current relationship 00:18:42.619 --> 00:18:45.900 for so the verb indicates. It is thought that 00:18:45.900 --> 00:18:49.319 the man was likely a prominent person in the 00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:52.000 church but that the woman was not a believer 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:57.319 because nothing is addressed to her. This was 00:18:57.319 --> 00:19:00.359 not the man's mother but rather was the wife 00:19:00.359 --> 00:19:03.319 of his father who could have either remarried 00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:08.920 or had multiple wives. This is therefore an incestuous 00:19:08.920 --> 00:19:12.019 relationship. It might have been that both he 00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:15.539 and his father were cohabiting with her or that 00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:18.160 she might have left his father and came to him, 00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:21.460 or that his father had died and he took her to 00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:25.000 himself. In any case, this sexual relationship 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:29.339 was explicitly forbidden in the books of Leviticus 00:19:29.339 --> 00:19:33.460 and Deuteronomy. Paul takes it as a matter of 00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:36.640 course that the Old Testament law on this was 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:40.059 in effect. Hear these commandments. Leviticus 00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:43.920 18 verse 8. The nakedness of your father's wife 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:48.940 you shall not uncover. It is your father's nakedness. 00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:53.180 Deuteronomy 22 verse 30 is even more clear. A 00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:57.400 man shall not take his father's wife nor uncover 00:19:57.400 --> 00:20:00.859 his father's bed. And then in Deuteronomy 27 00:20:00.859 --> 00:20:03.799 there's a curse pronounced on this, verse 20. 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:07.579 Cursed is the one who lies with his father's 00:20:07.579 --> 00:20:10.900 wife because he has uncovered his father's bed. 00:20:11.099 --> 00:20:16.079 and all the people shall say amen. Now further 00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:19.140 compounding this situation was that the fact 00:20:19.140 --> 00:20:24.440 is that the church did nothing about it. Whether 00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:28.980 they simply tolerated it or actually condoned 00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:32.900 it, we do not know. Very likely they simply tolerated 00:20:32.900 --> 00:20:37.009 it, but it is not told us. Either way, Paul called 00:20:37.009 --> 00:20:39.990 on them telling them that instead of being puffed 00:20:39.990 --> 00:20:42.549 up about this, they should have been mourning 00:20:42.549 --> 00:20:45.849 about this. And the word mourning is that of 00:20:45.849 --> 00:20:48.789 mourning the loss of a loved one at a funeral. 00:20:49.069 --> 00:20:51.670 They should have been weeping and mourning about 00:20:51.670 --> 00:20:55.059 this situation and then dealing with it. They 00:20:55.059 --> 00:20:58.380 should have had a deep sorrow about this sin 00:20:58.380 --> 00:21:03.380 that led to a firm resolve by the church to expel 00:21:03.380 --> 00:21:05.579 this person from membership in the church and 00:21:05.579 --> 00:21:08.259 from the Lord's table and Christian fellowship. 00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:12.539 Paul says that he who has done this thing might 00:21:12.539 --> 00:21:16.640 be taken away from among you. Paul is shocked 00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:19.559 at their complacency about this. Not only had 00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:22.299 their pride and their arrogance led to their 00:21:22.299 --> 00:21:26.400 divisions and to envy, but it had blinded them 00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:31.039 to this sin. Thus, their pride led to a callous 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:35.920 insensitivity to sin. Paul, after addressing 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:39.420 the violation of God's law, he amplifies their 00:21:39.420 --> 00:21:42.299 guilt by showing that they were also violating 00:21:42.299 --> 00:21:46.299 the understanding the unsaved Gentiles it is 00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:50.759 not named among them Now we move to the procedure 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:53.259 point number three and this is from verses three 00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:57.019 to five For I indeed is absent in body But present 00:21:57.019 --> 00:22:00.359 in spirit have already judged as though I were 00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:03.859 present him who has so done this deed in the 00:22:03.859 --> 00:22:07.359 name of our Lord Jesus Christ When you are gathered 00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:11.259 together along with my spirit with the power 00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:17.420 of our Lord Jesus Christ deliver such a one to 00:22:17.420 --> 00:22:22.200 Satan for the destruction of the flesh that his 00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:26.339 spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:29.920 Paul speaks here as one who is absent in body 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:33.660 by being but present in spirit. But he has already 00:22:33.660 --> 00:22:36.380 judged this matter as though he were present. 00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:39.819 This is not a case of fact -finding, of coming 00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:43.759 to trial, or of an investigation. The facts were 00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:47.160 known. The case was clear. The judgment should 00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:50.640 have been rendered and action taken. And since 00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:53.119 he had already judged it, he tells them what 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:57.059 they must do. He commands them with apostolic 00:22:57.059 --> 00:23:00.460 authority. There is to be no more investigation, 00:23:00.920 --> 00:23:03.579 no more approaches to try to persuade this man. 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:08.559 They are now to act decisively. But before we 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:12.099 examine this action closely, I want to take a 00:23:12.099 --> 00:23:15.700 few minutes to consider Jesus' words in Matthew 00:23:15.700 --> 00:23:21.339 chapter 18 in verse 15 through 20. What Paul 00:23:21.339 --> 00:23:25.900 commands them to do is actually step number four 00:23:25.900 --> 00:23:31.059 of what Jesus says in Matthew 18 in the process 00:23:31.059 --> 00:23:34.180 that is outlined there. Now I will say before 00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:38.880 we look at this process there are times when 00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:42.980 each one of these steps may not need to be followed 00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:48.339 in the case of public unrepentant sin like this 00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:51.569 man in the passage. What he had done was well 00:23:51.569 --> 00:23:54.569 known and established. And so Paul goes immediately 00:23:54.569 --> 00:23:57.789 to the fourth step of expulsion. But here's what 00:23:57.789 --> 00:24:01.750 Jesus says. Step number one. He says, moreover, 00:24:01.750 --> 00:24:04.670 if your brother sins against you, go and tell 00:24:04.670 --> 00:24:07.930 him his fault between you and him alone. If he 00:24:07.930 --> 00:24:10.869 hears you, you have gained your brother. So the 00:24:10.869 --> 00:24:15.029 first step is go to him and confront him with 00:24:15.029 --> 00:24:20.140 his sin. Confrontation. You are sinning in this 00:24:20.140 --> 00:24:23.019 matter. It's just between you and this person. 00:24:23.839 --> 00:24:27.039 Step number two then. You take two or three witnesses 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:30.059 if you will not hear for 16. But if you will 00:24:30.059 --> 00:24:34.579 not hear, take with you one or two more, that 00:24:34.579 --> 00:24:37.640 by the mouth of two or three witnesses, every 00:24:37.640 --> 00:24:40.119 word may be established. This is a principle 00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:42.160 throughout the whole scriptures. It's repeated 00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:44.720 multiple times in the Old Testament and the New 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:47.759 Testament. No one was to be judged. No one was 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:51.200 to be arraigned in court and given a final punishment 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:54.910 without two or three witnesses. And Paul repeats 00:24:54.910 --> 00:24:57.170 that again in the New Testament. Jesus repeats 00:24:57.170 --> 00:25:00.670 it as well in a couple of times. Paul says, for 00:25:00.670 --> 00:25:03.089 example, in the case of an accusation against 00:25:03.089 --> 00:25:05.789 an elder, there must be two or three witnesses. 00:25:06.470 --> 00:25:10.430 So this is a pattern of justice. And so take 00:25:10.430 --> 00:25:13.150 two or three witnesses if you will not hear it. 00:25:13.589 --> 00:25:18.390 Take these. Step number three then is if he refuses 00:25:18.390 --> 00:25:22.069 to hear them, then you tell it to the church. 00:25:22.829 --> 00:25:25.269 So you tell it to the church step number three 00:25:25.269 --> 00:25:28.670 this may include a public censure or a rebuke 00:25:28.670 --> 00:25:31.130 Calling for repentance and for turning away from 00:25:31.130 --> 00:25:33.349 this sin now There was this is still in a case 00:25:33.349 --> 00:25:35.730 where the person is a brother or a sister in 00:25:35.730 --> 00:25:38.309 the church But they're being persistent in this 00:25:38.309 --> 00:25:40.990 sin and so the church is to be told about it 00:25:40.990 --> 00:25:44.609 so that all can speak to this in in more of a 00:25:44.609 --> 00:25:48.309 direct and public way and finally then Jesus 00:25:48.309 --> 00:25:52.299 says in verse 17 in the latter part, but if He 00:25:52.299 --> 00:25:56.220 refuses even to hear the church. Let him be to 00:25:56.220 --> 00:26:01.980 you like a heathen or a tax collector. This is 00:26:01.980 --> 00:26:04.599 the step of expelling him from the church which 00:26:04.599 --> 00:26:09.200 we call excommunication, excommunication. Now 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:13.180 this is an act that carries great power and authority 00:26:13.180 --> 00:26:17.529 for Jesus goes on to say, In this context, in 00:26:17.529 --> 00:26:22.690 verse 18, he says, assuredly, I say to you, whatever 00:26:22.690 --> 00:26:25.250 you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and 00:26:25.250 --> 00:26:27.829 whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in 00:26:27.829 --> 00:26:30.789 heaven. Again, I say to you that if two of you 00:26:30.789 --> 00:26:33.269 agree on earth concerning anything that they 00:26:33.269 --> 00:26:36.430 ask, it will be done for them by my Father in 00:26:36.430 --> 00:26:39.269 heaven. For where two or three are gathered together 00:26:39.269 --> 00:26:41.789 in my name, I am there in the midst of them. 00:26:42.670 --> 00:26:46.289 Now many times those verses are used in a completely 00:26:46.289 --> 00:26:48.609 different context and certainly they do apply 00:26:48.609 --> 00:26:52.049 in other contexts But the context in which Jesus 00:26:52.049 --> 00:26:56.250 gives it is regarding this It is regarding this 00:26:56.250 --> 00:27:00.029 and you compare this with what Paul says in verse 00:27:00.029 --> 00:27:03.309 4 of chapter 5 He says in the name of our Lord 00:27:03.309 --> 00:27:06.089 Jesus Christ when you are gathered together with 00:27:06.089 --> 00:27:09.170 the power of the Lord Jesus Christ You deliver 00:27:09.170 --> 00:27:14.500 this one to Satan The power of Jesus is there 00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:18.339 when this is done rightly and properly according 00:27:18.339 --> 00:27:21.519 to the Word of God. And it's in that context 00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:24.200 where he says, where two or three are gathered 00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:27.579 together in my name, I am there in the midst 00:27:27.579 --> 00:27:31.059 of them. This is weighty. This is very serious. 00:27:32.430 --> 00:27:34.630 So we're going to look at the spiritual power 00:27:34.630 --> 00:27:36.789 of this act further as we go back now to the 00:27:36.789 --> 00:27:39.750 main passage But there are first before we do 00:27:39.750 --> 00:27:42.029 that. There are also some other passages of scripture 00:27:42.029 --> 00:27:44.390 that give some additional measures I'm trying 00:27:44.390 --> 00:27:48.109 to give you kind of a full overview here on this 00:27:48.109 --> 00:27:50.930 subject from the scripture Depending on the severity 00:27:50.930 --> 00:27:54.349 and the seriousness of the sin for example second 00:27:54.349 --> 00:27:58.710 Thessalonians 3 verses 6 and then 14 and 15 Paul 00:27:58.710 --> 00:28:01.549 says, but we command you, brethren, in the name 00:28:01.549 --> 00:28:05.589 of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from 00:28:05.589 --> 00:28:09.509 every brother who walks disorderly and not according 00:28:09.509 --> 00:28:12.609 to the tradition which he received from us. And 00:28:12.609 --> 00:28:15.609 if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, 00:28:15.970 --> 00:28:18.690 note that person and do not keep company with 00:28:18.690 --> 00:28:22.210 him that he may be ashamed, yet do not count 00:28:22.210 --> 00:28:25.789 him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 00:28:26.250 --> 00:28:28.630 Very interesting here. So this is like a form 00:28:28.630 --> 00:28:31.529 here where the sin does not rise to the level 00:28:31.529 --> 00:28:34.150 of excommunication and yet it's something here 00:28:34.150 --> 00:28:36.849 that is persistent and so here's an action that 00:28:36.849 --> 00:28:39.630 needs to be done. You withdraw from that person. 00:28:39.690 --> 00:28:42.329 You note that person so that he might be ashamed 00:28:42.329 --> 00:28:45.130 yet he's still to be admonished as a brother. 00:28:45.990 --> 00:28:49.769 And then the point that he brings in 1st Timothy 00:28:49.769 --> 00:28:54.309 chapter 5 that even elders when they sin are 00:28:54.309 --> 00:28:58.519 to be rebuked. before all, if there are multiple 00:28:58.519 --> 00:29:02.140 witnesses who can bring an accusation. Do not 00:29:02.140 --> 00:29:04.799 receive an accusation against an elder except 00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:08.279 from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning 00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:12.140 rebuke in the presence of all that the rest also 00:29:12.140 --> 00:29:15.839 may fear. Now going back now to the first Corinthians 00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:18.779 five passage, we want to look carefully at the 00:29:18.779 --> 00:29:20.819 commandment of Paul to the Corinthian church. 00:29:21.079 --> 00:29:24.640 In this, he is following the sage council given 00:29:24.640 --> 00:29:28.460 in Proverbs 22 verse 10. Cast off the scornor 00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:31.819 and contention will leave, yet strife and reproach 00:29:31.819 --> 00:29:35.339 will cease. He says, in the name of our Lord 00:29:35.339 --> 00:29:38.039 Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together. 00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:42.319 What is about to be done is done under the Lordship 00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:45.660 of Christ and in His name, for it is the Lord's 00:29:45.660 --> 00:29:48.700 name that is at stake and we must hold the glory 00:29:48.700 --> 00:29:52.480 of the name and of His church. And it is to be 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:57.779 done together as a church when you are gathered 00:29:57.779 --> 00:30:01.690 together. When the congregation is gathered together, 00:30:01.990 --> 00:30:04.349 this is not something that is to be done secretly 00:30:04.349 --> 00:30:07.309 or even just in a gathering of the elders. It 00:30:07.309 --> 00:30:11.150 is publicly in the assembly so that all may witness, 00:30:11.529 --> 00:30:14.569 all may have their minds engaged at the seriousness 00:30:14.569 --> 00:30:17.869 of this procedure and that all may fear the Lord 00:30:17.869 --> 00:30:21.150 and be more zealous to avoid the entrapment of 00:30:21.150 --> 00:30:24.859 sin. Now in this historical case Paul says that 00:30:24.859 --> 00:30:28.119 the testimony in the spirit of him would be there 00:30:28.119 --> 00:30:31.420 as their father in their faith and with as apostolic 00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:34.819 authority as they carry this out according to 00:30:34.819 --> 00:30:39.859 his instructions. He says, I indeed as absent 00:30:39.859 --> 00:30:42.519 in body but present in spirit have already judged 00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:44.480 this and so that when you're gathered together 00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:48.460 verse 4 along with my spirit with the power of 00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:50.180 our Lord Jesus Christ and I think that's what 00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:54.230 he's referring to. The power though of the Lord 00:30:54.230 --> 00:30:58.869 Jesus Christ is there who has given authority 00:30:58.869 --> 00:31:04.160 and power to his church. to do this. It is his 00:31:04.160 --> 00:31:08.920 expressed will and his command as we saw in Matthew 00:31:08.920 --> 00:31:13.079 chapter 18. This procedure is not to be abused 00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:17.400 or misused as has happened far too often and 00:31:17.400 --> 00:31:19.460 we'll get into some of that a little bit later. 00:31:19.640 --> 00:31:22.460 So I just want to stress that again but it must 00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:26.160 be done in the name of the Lord Jesus and in 00:31:26.160 --> 00:31:30.430 the power of the Lord Jesus and guided by the 00:31:30.430 --> 00:31:33.869 instructions given to us by the Holy Spirit through 00:31:33.869 --> 00:31:38.269 the Apostle Paul. I'd like to note some important 00:31:38.269 --> 00:31:40.930 points which were followed in this account and 00:31:40.930 --> 00:31:43.329 just kind of gather us together. Number one, 00:31:43.630 --> 00:31:47.410 the sin must be properly identified. It must 00:31:47.410 --> 00:31:50.849 be clearly and properly identified. It cannot 00:31:50.849 --> 00:31:54.910 be vague. It must be clear. The word parnea is 00:31:54.910 --> 00:31:58.210 used in this case and it referred to all types 00:31:58.210 --> 00:32:01.349 of illicit sexual activity and the man was guilty 00:32:01.349 --> 00:32:04.609 and he knew whereof they were bringing judgment 00:32:04.609 --> 00:32:08.529 on him. It was properly identified. Secondly, 00:32:08.910 --> 00:32:12.829 excommunication is the last step of church discipline 00:32:12.829 --> 00:32:17.210 and it must only be used for an egregious violation 00:32:17.210 --> 00:32:22.589 of God's law and truth. An egregious violation. 00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:26.799 It is for the types of sins that are listed later 00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:29.660 in this chapter in verse 11 and others like them. 00:32:29.920 --> 00:32:35.079 One who is sexually immoral, covetous, an idolater, 00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:39.509 a reviler, a drunkard, or an extortioner. It 00:32:39.509 --> 00:32:42.910 also includes blasphemy and heresies. That is 00:32:42.910 --> 00:32:46.509 blatant disregard of the foundational truths 00:32:46.509 --> 00:32:48.970 of the Christian faith. We have an example of 00:32:48.970 --> 00:32:52.089 this in 1st Timothy chapter 1 verse 18 where 00:32:52.089 --> 00:33:04.420 Paul says, Having faith in a good conscience 00:33:04.420 --> 00:33:08.619 which some having rejected Concerning the faith 00:33:08.619 --> 00:33:12.259 have suffered shipwreck of whom are high manias 00:33:12.259 --> 00:33:15.900 and Alexander What did he say whom I delivered 00:33:15.900 --> 00:33:20.099 to Satan so that they may learn not to blaspheme? 00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:24.039 So there's a very clear example of blasphemy 00:33:24.039 --> 00:33:27.519 the sins enlisted in Galatians chapter 5 verse 00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:32.140 19 through 21 are also a guide as these are sins 00:33:32.140 --> 00:33:35.960 that if one lives in them they will not inherit 00:33:35.960 --> 00:33:39.539 the kingdom of God. Hear these words now the 00:33:39.539 --> 00:33:43.519 works of the flesh are evident which are adultery, 00:33:43.980 --> 00:33:49.599 fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, 00:33:50.140 --> 00:33:57.059 sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts 00:33:57.059 --> 00:34:03.099 of wrath. selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 00:34:03.619 --> 00:34:08.739 envy, murders, drunkenness, reveries, and the 00:34:08.739 --> 00:34:12.800 like, of which I tell you beforehand, just as 00:34:12.800 --> 00:34:16.539 I also told you in time past, that those who 00:34:16.539 --> 00:34:20.579 practice these things, such things, will not 00:34:20.579 --> 00:34:24.010 inherit the kingdom of God. These things are 00:34:24.010 --> 00:34:28.050 very clear. These are sins of the flesh and of 00:34:28.050 --> 00:34:33.789 the mind This it is only these kinds of these 00:34:33.789 --> 00:34:39.610 kinds of sins that come to the level of excommunication 00:34:39.610 --> 00:34:44.929 things like this Excommunication is not for disagreement 00:34:44.929 --> 00:34:47.650 with church doctrine. That is not fundamental 00:34:47.650 --> 00:34:51.380 to the Christian faith We may have disagreements 00:34:51.380 --> 00:34:53.739 on various things. We might understand the Word 00:34:53.739 --> 00:34:56.880 of God differently regarding various things. 00:34:57.239 --> 00:34:59.579 And later in 1st Corinthians, as we go through 00:34:59.579 --> 00:35:02.099 our study, we're going to be looking at the whole 00:35:02.099 --> 00:35:04.400 understanding of Christian liberty and liberty 00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:06.880 of conscience, where you will simply believe 00:35:06.880 --> 00:35:09.780 the Word of God in a different way, but it's 00:35:09.780 --> 00:35:12.900 not a fundamental matter. This is the difference, 00:35:12.900 --> 00:35:17.829 for example, between error and heresy. Not all 00:35:17.829 --> 00:35:21.250 wrong beliefs fall into damnable heresies, which 00:35:21.250 --> 00:35:23.630 is a term that's used in the New Testament. There 00:35:23.630 --> 00:35:26.650 are some where simply they are in error on something. 00:35:27.150 --> 00:35:30.449 And sometimes I might be in something that is 00:35:30.449 --> 00:35:33.670 on error and I need to be corrected. And so as 00:35:33.670 --> 00:35:37.730 the Lord works in me and or works in you, we're 00:35:37.730 --> 00:35:40.030 not talking about those kinds of things, but 00:35:40.030 --> 00:35:44.829 rather that of damnable heresies that are fundamental 00:35:44.829 --> 00:35:49.380 to the Christian faith. Ultimately, the excommunication 00:35:49.380 --> 00:35:52.480 is not only because of the sin, but also for 00:35:52.480 --> 00:35:55.440 the failure to hear the church and the rebuke 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:59.860 of that sin. The failure to hear on the matter. 00:36:01.019 --> 00:36:03.579 All right. Wanted to get to go through those 00:36:03.579 --> 00:36:06.760 before we get now to actually the procedure what 00:36:06.760 --> 00:36:09.539 is to be done So what is to be done the church 00:36:09.539 --> 00:36:11.719 then when they are gathered together in the name 00:36:11.719 --> 00:36:14.840 and the power of the Lord Jesus They are to deliver 00:36:14.840 --> 00:36:18.659 such a one to Satan for the destruction of the 00:36:18.659 --> 00:36:21.690 flesh that his spirit may be saved in the day 00:36:21.690 --> 00:36:25.969 of the Lord Jesus. There is a handing over of 00:36:25.969 --> 00:36:30.170 the person to Satan. The person is consigned 00:36:30.170 --> 00:36:34.269 to Satan's dominion, which indicates the removal 00:36:34.269 --> 00:36:38.630 of him outside of the edifying and caring environment 00:36:38.630 --> 00:36:42.730 of the church. He is excluded from the community 00:36:42.730 --> 00:36:46.050 of faith. This means that there is a loss of 00:36:46.050 --> 00:36:48.980 protection. There's no longer feeding at the 00:36:48.980 --> 00:36:53.139 Lord's table. And why is this? So that it becomes 00:36:53.139 --> 00:36:56.719 evident to him. So that the... It is so that 00:36:56.719 --> 00:36:59.860 his sinful nature might be destroyed. That the 00:36:59.860 --> 00:37:03.440 old man would be mortified. That is put to death. 00:37:03.599 --> 00:37:08.480 And that he would be brought to repentance. And 00:37:08.480 --> 00:37:12.420 that his spirit might be saved on the judgment 00:37:12.420 --> 00:37:17.420 day. Thus this act is not vindictive. It's not, 00:37:17.760 --> 00:37:20.639 we're gonna get you now. No, no, it's not that 00:37:20.639 --> 00:37:25.739 way at all. It is about love for the airing one 00:37:25.739 --> 00:37:30.420 with the goal of restoration. Now, by the way, 00:37:30.460 --> 00:37:33.340 and I'll get into this later, but... That is 00:37:33.340 --> 00:37:35.920 exactly what happened to this man. When we will 00:37:35.920 --> 00:37:39.179 read, we read it in 2nd Corinthians. This man 00:37:39.179 --> 00:37:43.079 became so sorrowful. He dealt with his sin. He, 00:37:43.079 --> 00:37:47.019 he with a great zealous. In fact, Paul said that 00:37:47.019 --> 00:37:49.780 you now need to comfort him because he is being 00:37:49.780 --> 00:37:53.320 swallowed up with over much sorrow. That's what 00:37:53.320 --> 00:37:58.829 happened. This very thing. He would be brought 00:37:58.829 --> 00:38:01.289 he was brought to repentance and his spirit saved 00:38:01.289 --> 00:38:05.949 on Judgment Day So this is done so that the sinner 00:38:05.949 --> 00:38:09.010 might repent and be restored to fellowship. This 00:38:09.010 --> 00:38:13.989 is a key point therefore to withhold excommunication 00:38:13.989 --> 00:38:19.989 when it is due is to do harm to the individual 00:38:19.989 --> 00:38:23.860 now That's completely contrary to so much of 00:38:23.860 --> 00:38:25.699 what has been taught or thought or practiced 00:38:25.699 --> 00:38:30.400 on this matter. To withhold it is to do harm. 00:38:31.340 --> 00:38:34.980 To withhold it. To not do it. Because it allows 00:38:34.980 --> 00:38:38.940 him to just continue on going down his way. It 00:38:38.940 --> 00:38:41.960 holds back the blessing of God that leads to 00:38:41.960 --> 00:38:45.599 repentance and restoration. I think of so many 00:38:45.599 --> 00:38:49.489 churches. that do not practice this, where those 00:38:49.489 --> 00:38:53.289 who live in these kinds of sins are either tolerated 00:38:53.289 --> 00:38:57.030 or accepted or ignored, and they continue to 00:38:57.030 --> 00:39:00.309 live in the sins of the flesh, of which God's 00:39:00.309 --> 00:39:03.389 Word says so clearly, those who practice such 00:39:03.389 --> 00:39:07.309 things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. This 00:39:07.309 --> 00:39:10.289 is an incredible dereliction of duty by Christian 00:39:10.289 --> 00:39:13.409 churches and their leaders. And I'll deal with 00:39:13.409 --> 00:39:16.150 this more when we look at the rest of the chapter 00:39:16.150 --> 00:39:18.989 on the necessity of church discipline and how 00:39:18.989 --> 00:39:22.250 Paul talks about the yeast and the loaf and all 00:39:22.250 --> 00:39:24.730 of the things regarding that. I'm not going to 00:39:24.730 --> 00:39:26.949 get into all of that today because I don't have 00:39:26.949 --> 00:39:31.070 time. I'd like to conclude with a few applications. 00:39:32.090 --> 00:39:36.789 First of all, this passage assumes formal church 00:39:36.789 --> 00:39:39.969 membership in that this person is not merely 00:39:39.969 --> 00:39:44.780 an onlooker, or a casual attendee, but he is 00:39:44.780 --> 00:39:47.300 a member of the covenant. He's one who was receiving 00:39:47.300 --> 00:39:50.679 the means of grace. And because he was defiling 00:39:50.679 --> 00:39:53.260 the holiness of God's temple and God's house, 00:39:53.679 --> 00:39:56.619 the church, he must be expelled from the covenant 00:39:56.619 --> 00:39:59.230 body. This is not just somebody who was coming. 00:39:59.230 --> 00:40:02.170 We invite others and yes, they're living in their 00:40:02.170 --> 00:40:04.389 sin and they come and they hear the gospel. That's 00:40:04.389 --> 00:40:07.590 not the case with this man. He was part of the 00:40:07.590 --> 00:40:11.230 covenant body. He was tied together and he needed 00:40:11.230 --> 00:40:16.489 to be expelled. So this passage assumes a type 00:40:16.489 --> 00:40:20.909 of formal church covenanting or membership together. 00:40:21.590 --> 00:40:25.829 Secondly, the need to deal with issues like this 00:40:25.980 --> 00:40:29.780 is one of the reasons why many home churches 00:40:29.780 --> 00:40:33.539 or fellowships fail. Now I'm not speaking here 00:40:33.539 --> 00:40:35.739 of a fully constituted church that meets in a 00:40:35.739 --> 00:40:38.219 home, for certainly that needs to happen sometimes, 00:40:38.719 --> 00:40:40.980 but I'll give you a few examples. So years ago, 00:40:41.460 --> 00:40:43.500 during the rise of homeschooling in the Christian 00:40:43.500 --> 00:40:48.500 community, Many families felt alienated at the 00:40:48.500 --> 00:40:50.699 churches, and they were not supported by the 00:40:50.699 --> 00:40:53.219 church in their desire to teach and to raise 00:40:53.219 --> 00:40:56.159 godly families. Therefore, many home churches 00:40:56.159 --> 00:40:58.960 started during that time period with only a few 00:40:58.960 --> 00:41:00.780 families with a common interest, and often it 00:41:00.780 --> 00:41:03.099 was homeschooling, which was not really a good 00:41:03.099 --> 00:41:07.699 foundation for a church. But it happened a lot. 00:41:07.800 --> 00:41:10.960 And it still happens today. Something happens 00:41:10.960 --> 00:41:13.059 at a church, and the family leaves, and they 00:41:13.059 --> 00:41:15.639 home church, or just have Bible studies together. 00:41:16.840 --> 00:41:20.559 Similar to this, and even more common, is just 00:41:20.559 --> 00:41:22.940 live streaming. Live streaming from home. Oh, 00:41:22.940 --> 00:41:24.840 I'm not going to church. I'm not part of the 00:41:24.840 --> 00:41:27.440 Fellowship of the Saints. I just watch the service. 00:41:27.980 --> 00:41:29.960 Sometimes it's this one, or sometimes it's this 00:41:29.960 --> 00:41:32.320 one, and I sit at home in my couch, in my casual 00:41:32.320 --> 00:41:37.000 way, and I simply listen to the sermon. With 00:41:37.000 --> 00:41:39.119 all the streaming technology, it's very easy 00:41:39.119 --> 00:41:41.679 to do this, to listen or to watch it, to enjoy 00:41:41.679 --> 00:41:44.000 the music and hear the preaching and all from 00:41:44.000 --> 00:41:47.119 our couch. But in both of these cases, the God 00:41:47.119 --> 00:41:49.780 ordained structure of a church with elders and 00:41:49.780 --> 00:41:52.139 deacons, with the Lord's Supper and with the 00:41:52.139 --> 00:41:54.280 fellowship of the saints is either diminished 00:41:54.280 --> 00:41:58.190 or it's missing. And certainly, the accountability 00:41:58.190 --> 00:42:02.530 and the possibility of church discipline is gone. 00:42:02.769 --> 00:42:06.170 It is not there. This is one of the dangers of 00:42:06.170 --> 00:42:08.650 doing things like this. Brothers and sisters, 00:42:08.909 --> 00:42:12.250 we need the gathering together of God's people, 00:42:12.730 --> 00:42:16.150 covenanted together by faith in the one true 00:42:16.150 --> 00:42:19.610 God where we have sound doctrine and we love 00:42:19.610 --> 00:42:24.250 one another and we are bound to each other and... 00:42:24.039 --> 00:42:27.659 we hold each other accountable. We need the bond 00:42:27.659 --> 00:42:31.019 of fellowship, the covenant, the gathering together, 00:42:31.380 --> 00:42:35.380 the Lord's Supper and the accountability. Lastly 00:42:35.380 --> 00:42:43.059 then, if you are flirting with one of these sins, 00:42:43.539 --> 00:42:47.559 if you are being tempted sorely with the sins 00:42:47.559 --> 00:42:51.460 of the flesh, or with damnable heresies, or if 00:42:51.460 --> 00:42:55.130 you are harboring deep anger, or wrath, or bitterness, 00:42:55.389 --> 00:42:58.869 or envy, or if you are giving in to lying, or 00:42:58.869 --> 00:43:01.230 stealing, or coveting, or if you are thinking 00:43:01.230 --> 00:43:03.789 of yielding to the temptation of a one -night 00:43:03.789 --> 00:43:07.710 fling, or of leaving your spouse, or giving yourself 00:43:07.710 --> 00:43:13.789 over to pornography, or to sexual lust. I implore 00:43:13.789 --> 00:43:20.309 you, repent! Turn away from it! Do not give place 00:43:20.309 --> 00:43:25.760 to the devil! Do not go down that path. If you're 00:43:25.760 --> 00:43:29.199 harboring secret sins from the Lord, holding 00:43:29.199 --> 00:43:32.280 back an area of your life from the Lordship of 00:43:32.280 --> 00:43:34.880 Christ and you're resisting the Holy Spirit, 00:43:35.119 --> 00:43:39.199 I urge you, repent of this. Turn away from it. 00:43:39.500 --> 00:43:45.019 Confess it to the Lord and turn. Repent and turn 00:43:45.019 --> 00:43:49.440 to the Lord. Go to the Lord and confess your 00:43:49.440 --> 00:43:52.199 sins, your struggles, and your temptations. Ask 00:43:52.199 --> 00:43:55.039 for His help to overcome these temptations and 00:43:55.039 --> 00:43:58.360 get help. Go to someone who could hold you accountable 00:43:58.360 --> 00:44:01.360 and point you to Christ. Come to one of the elders 00:44:01.360 --> 00:44:04.000 of the church or to an older man or to a woman 00:44:04.000 --> 00:44:07.760 who is faithful. But by all means, do not succumb 00:44:07.760 --> 00:44:11.420 to it. Do not yield to it. Do not go down this 00:44:11.420 --> 00:44:15.679 path and needing to be turned over to Satan. 00:44:16.329 --> 00:44:18.550 This is something that's just very sobering. 00:44:18.550 --> 00:44:22.190 I know this is this kind of a heavy message It's 00:44:22.190 --> 00:44:26.050 a it's it's a hard one as we go through But it's 00:44:26.050 --> 00:44:29.889 part of the Word of God and I must be faithful 00:44:29.889 --> 00:44:33.690 in proclaiming it to you so let the seriousness 00:44:33.690 --> 00:44:38.969 of it come down over your soul and turn from 00:44:38.969 --> 00:44:45.329 sin and embrace the gospel embrace the gospel 00:44:45.389 --> 00:44:49.929 For it is the glorious gospel that sets us free 00:44:49.929 --> 00:44:53.010 when we come and we run to Christ and we confess 00:44:53.010 --> 00:44:57.150 our sins and we are cleansed One of the ways 00:44:57.150 --> 00:44:59.210 that this happens and I've mentioned this before 00:44:59.210 --> 00:45:02.469 but I'm going to say it again Keep short accounts 00:45:02.469 --> 00:45:07.119 when you fail in an area Don't let it fester 00:45:07.119 --> 00:45:10.360 and continue to grow and you become entrenched 00:45:10.360 --> 00:45:13.119 in it. Keep short accounts. When it happens, 00:45:13.320 --> 00:45:16.159 go to the Lord. Deal with it. Fight against it. 00:45:16.320 --> 00:45:19.639 Stride with all of your heart against it and 00:45:19.639 --> 00:45:23.699 get help from your brothers or your sisters. 00:45:24.860 --> 00:45:29.840 For you belong to Christ. Hear these words from 00:45:29.840 --> 00:45:35.139 Galatians 5 verse 24 and 25. Those who are Christ, 00:45:35.719 --> 00:45:38.199 that's who I'm speaking to you today, right here. 00:45:39.019 --> 00:45:44.619 Those who are Christ have crucified the flesh 00:45:44.619 --> 00:45:48.079 with its passions and desires. If we live in 00:45:48.079 --> 00:45:55.199 the spirit, let us also walk in the spirit. May 00:45:55.199 --> 00:45:57.079 it be so, and let's pray.