We come today to the book of First Corinthians
chapter 4, picking up in verse 18, where we left
off in verse 17 two weeks ago. Thank you, Brother
Ty, for filling in for me last Sunday when I
was not doing well. Appreciate that so much.
And it was wonderful and edifying. Let's hear
the word of the Lord from verse 18 of chapter
4 through verse 5 of chapter 5 we're talking
today about the necessity of church discipline
and introduction and procedure For this reason
I have sent Timothy to you Who is my beloved
and faithful son in the Lord who will remind
you of my ways in Christ? as I teach everywhere
in every church. Now, some are puffed up as though
I were not coming to you, but I will come to
you shortly if the Lord wills, and I will know
not the word of those who are puffed up, but
the power, for the kingdom of God is not in word,
but in power. What do you want? Shall I come
to you with a rod or in love and a spirit of
gentleness? It is actually reported that there
is sexual immorality among you. And such sexual
immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles,
that a man has his father's wife. And you are
puffed up and have not rather mourned that he
who has done this deed might be taken away from
among you. For indeed, as absent in body but
present in spirit, I have already judged as though
I were present him who has so done this deed
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ When you
are gathered together along with my spirit with
the power of our Lord Jesus Christ Deliver such
a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh
That his spirit may be saved in the day of our
Lord Jesus Let's pray Father, we come to you
this morning with this weighty passage before
us. Lord, we need the presence and the power
of the Holy Spirit to be able to preach it and
to be able to hear it, Lord. Please open it up
to us. Guide our thoughts, Lord, as we think
and meditate on this. And I pray, Lord, that
you by your Spirit would speak to us today. We
pray in Jesus' name, amen. This passage begins
a new section on ethics in the Christian church
at Corinth. Paul will tie this together to the
previous subject in that he admonishes the church
for being puffed up instead of mourning about
this situation. But from here to the end of chapter
7, the apostle teaches a good bit on the biblical
view and the ethics. of sexuality, of marriage
and of going to law against brethren. I mentioned
sexuality and indeed the subject of Christian
sexual behavior both inside and outside of marriage
will be a major portion of this study. These
chapters speak directly and frankly about the
sinful incestuous relationship of a likely prominent
man in the church. They speak of how to relate
to immoral people in the world. They speak of
the fact that our bodies are members of Christ
and should not be joined to a harlot, and then
to the sexual relationship between a man and
his wife, and of the differences between a wife
and a virgin in their service to Christ. I remind
you that this is part of the Holy Ghost inspired
word of God and it must be taught in the public
assembly of the church. It was a letter written
to the whole church in Corinth and it is for
the whole church of all time. Therefore as I
go through this text I will attempt to do so,
to treat this subject properly, in a way that
is suitable for all ages, and yet, in a way that
is not ashamed of the way God made us, and of
His design, and of how we live. Too often these
matters are discussed in a hush -hush kind of
a way, and that is to our detriment. The Bible
speaks directly, and so must we, but not... in
a crass or a crude way. Now the subject in this
first section is that of church discipline. It
is the sanctions and the actions to be taken
on unrepentant church members who choose to yield
to sin and rebel against Christ and his church.
Jeremy Kimball puts it this way. He says, church
discipline is the correction of persistently
sinning church members for the good of those
caught in sin, for the purity of the church,
and the glory of God. The need to administer
church discipline and sanctions is one of those
subjects on which many have strong opinions both
for and against. And I will confess It is a subject
on which there has, it is a fact of which, not
just a subject, that has been at times abused
or misused and in many cases disused. Abused,
misused or disused. So we need to walk through
this very carefully and look at it in order to
get what the scripture is teaching and conform
ourselves to its understanding. This is one of
the marks of a true church. Our understanding
is that there are at least three essential outward
marks by which any discerning person can determine
whether any given congregation was truly a church.
The Belgian Confession states it well when it
says, the marks by which the true church is known
are these. Number one, if the pure doctrine of
the gospel is preached there. Number two, if
it maintains the pure administration of the sacraments
as instituted by Christ. And number three, if
church discipline is exercised. punishing sin.
Church discipline is needed to hold each other
accountable to the terms of the covenant with
God and with each other by purging out the old
leaven, as Paul calls it, of damnable sins. It
is a means of grace or as some call it a severe
mercy, a severe mercy. It protects the holiness
of the church, but it also seeks the restoration
of a wandering believer. It is not vindictive,
and though it might be called a punishment, its
end goal is not that, but it is a tool of pastoral
love. of keeping the congregation pure by addressing
persistent, unrepentant sin that, as we will
see in the following passage, will act like a
yeast or a leaven that corrupts the whole loaf.
Paul speaks about this in verses 6 to 8, which
I'm not going to be addressing today. But ultimately,
this is all about the glory of Christ and of
His Church. This is about fervent love for Him
and love for the sinner that he or she might
repent, might be restored to fellowship, and
that their spirit might be saved on the day of
judgment. Today, we're going to consider the
first part. That is, the warning given in chapter
4 verse 18 to 21, the problem stated in chapter
5 verse 1 and 2, and then the procedure. chapter
5 verse 3 and 5 and for that we will also consider
the passage in Matthew chapter 18. So let's look
first of all today at the warning from in verse
18 to 21. Now some are puffed up as though I
were not coming to you but I will come to you
shortly if the Lord wills and I will know not
the word of those who are puffed up but the power.
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in
power. What do you want? Shall I come to you
with a rod or in love and the spirit of gentleness?
Some in the Corinthian church were puffed up.
They had an inflated view of themselves as though
they were better or more spiritual than Paul.
In their arrogance and pretension to possess
wisdom, it seems that some of them openly repudiated
Paul's authority, perhaps thinking that other
leaders were better suited because they were
more polished, more, they used more wisdom, worldly
wisdom in what, in how they spoke. This passage
is very directed on compromising and Paul threatens
to administer harsh discipline if they will not...
deal with the disgraceful behavior that he will
write? to them about in the next two chapters,
chapter five and six. They are acting in a way
that denies Paul's coming to them and thus they
are no longer accountable to him. But he sets
them straight on this. I will come to you shortly
if the Lord wills. He called them to account
in a fatherly, in an apostolic way which shows
us how that sometimes we need to hear strong
words when we act in an unaccountable way. Sometimes
they need to be spoken. He states this though
with humility even as James writes in James chapter
4 verse 13 and 16 that because we do not know
what will happen tomorrow but God does and so
we ought to say if the Lord wills we shall live
and do this or that. Paul says this if the Lord
wills I will come to you. He is living a life
of plans and direction But with the understanding
that it will happen only if the Lord wills it
and so also ought we to live we make plans We
do things we set things out we look forward to
things But it's on the context that God is the
supreme one and we will do this if the Lord so
wills it Now he says I will not know not the
puffed -up words, but the power Do they really
have the ability, the power, and the influence
from God in this, or are they putting on a show?
Do they have the goods? Given the current state
of the church and of God in Corinth, Paul does
not anticipate a laudatory visit in when he comes,
but rather one in which his purpose will not
be to admire the Christians' fine speech, but
to inspect their effectiveness in life, to find
out not only how the arrogant people are talking,
but what power they have. So states the pillar
commentary. This power refers to lasting and
solid effects instead of a passing shadow or
shallow and lacking substance. He tells them
that the kingdom of God is not in word but in
power. Now the word word there is the word logos
which is also used for Christ. In the beginning
was the word John chapter 1 which certainly refers
to the word of God and to Christ himself who
is the word but it also can mean in the Greek
just simply words. something that someone has
said. And I take this to be the latter meaning.
Paul simply means here that the kingdom of God
is not in speaking of words. It's not in talking,
but rather in the ability to do good deeds, to
show forth good works in reality. rather than
just being saying puffed up words. The kingdom
of God is not in great and soaring rhetoric,
or in empty platitudes, or in fancy words and
boasts, or in worldly wisdom, but it is in rather
the actual working of the power of God in the
word and deeds that are real and identifiable,
and they're a testimony to the reality of God
and of His glory and His power. What counts now
is not how impressive you sound, but whether
your deeds are actually done. Paul again confounds
their inflated self -esteem and loftiness with
arrogance, and he counters them with plain and
simple words, basically saying, as we would put
it today, put up or shut up. The kingdom of God
is not a word, but is in power. Then in essence
he asked him, what do you want? The choice is
yours. Are you going to take care of these issues?
Are you going to expel the incestuous man, stop
making lawsuits against each other, and stop
visiting prostitutes? If so, I can come in love
in a spirit of gentleness. But if not, I will
come with a rod. The rod of a father who drives
out folly from the heart of his children, like
Proverbs 22 verse 15 says, Remember that Paul
calls himself their father in chapter 4 verse
15. I have begotten you, he says, through the
gospel. Whether he comes boldly with correction
or with a spirit of gentleness, the face -to
-face visit will involve correction. Either strong
or gentle. There's a time for bold strong words
of correction and there are times for soft and
gentle correction. In fact, most times, correction
comes this way. Paul speaks for example to the
Galatians and to Timothy Galatians 6 1 he says
Brethren if a man is overtaken in any trespass
you who are spiritual Restore such a one in a
spirit of gentleness Considering yourself lest
you also be tempted But then also in 2nd Timothy
2 verse 24 to 26 Speaking of the minister a servant
of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to
all, able to teach, patient, in humility, correcting
those who are in opposition if God perhaps will
grant them repentance so that they may know the
truth and they may come to their senses and escape
the snare of the devil having been taken captive
by him according to his or to do his will. And
so Paul lays it out here and this is the warning
that he has given to them. That he is giving
to them before he actually gets on to the first
problem Which is at the beginning of chapter
5 to which we now turn. This is the problem stated
He writes here very clearly and succinctly it
is actually reported that there is sexual immorality
among you and such sexual immorality as is not
even named among the Gentiles that a man has
his father's wife And you are puffed up and had
not rather mourned that he who has done this
deed might be taken away from among you. Someone
whether by letter or in person reported to Paul
that there was a problem of blatant immorality.
in the church. And it was one that is so uncommon
and so egregious that even the ancient world
in the Greek and Roman Empire recoiled in horror.
Paul says, it's not even named among the Gentiles.
This is quite a statement. For the Romans and
the Greeks were well known for their illicit
sexual behavior. regularly worshiping at temples
where temple prostitutes were employed, and where
many men throughout the realm employed the principle
articulated by one Demosthenes the Greek who
wrote these words. He said, mistresses we keep
for the sake of pleasure, concubines for the
daily care of our persons, but wives to bear
us legitimate children and to be faithful guardians
of our household. In other words, it was all
game, except for... certain things like this.
So, by no means were they the standard of the
age, but Paul is simply driving the point home
saying, even your culture, even those of the
Gentiles say, this is not to be named among us.
Now, the Greek word describing this sin is the
word pornea. from which we get our word porn
or pornography. It's derived from that. He uses
this twice in verse one. This word refers to
any kind of prohibited sexual relationship. That
is any and all kinds of illicit sexual intercourse,
adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism,
bestiality, or incest. which is a sexual relationship
between people closely related by blood or marriage.
This man's sin is that he had his father's wife.
The use of the word has means that he took her
and he was having a sexual relationship with
her and this was an ongoing current relationship
for so the verb indicates. It is thought that
the man was likely a prominent person in the
church but that the woman was not a believer
because nothing is addressed to her. This was
not the man's mother but rather was the wife
of his father who could have either remarried
or had multiple wives. This is therefore an incestuous
relationship. It might have been that both he
and his father were cohabiting with her or that
she might have left his father and came to him,
or that his father had died and he took her to
himself. In any case, this sexual relationship
was explicitly forbidden in the books of Leviticus
and Deuteronomy. Paul takes it as a matter of
course that the Old Testament law on this was
in effect. Hear these commandments. Leviticus
18 verse 8. The nakedness of your father's wife
you shall not uncover. It is your father's nakedness.
Deuteronomy 22 verse 30 is even more clear. A
man shall not take his father's wife nor uncover
his father's bed. And then in Deuteronomy 27
there's a curse pronounced on this, verse 20.
Cursed is the one who lies with his father's
wife because he has uncovered his father's bed.
and all the people shall say amen. Now further
compounding this situation was that the fact
is that the church did nothing about it. Whether
they simply tolerated it or actually condoned
it, we do not know. Very likely they simply tolerated
it, but it is not told us. Either way, Paul called
on them telling them that instead of being puffed
up about this, they should have been mourning
about this. And the word mourning is that of
mourning the loss of a loved one at a funeral.
They should have been weeping and mourning about
this situation and then dealing with it. They
should have had a deep sorrow about this sin
that led to a firm resolve by the church to expel
this person from membership in the church and
from the Lord's table and Christian fellowship.
Paul says that he who has done this thing might
be taken away from among you. Paul is shocked
at their complacency about this. Not only had
their pride and their arrogance led to their
divisions and to envy, but it had blinded them
to this sin. Thus, their pride led to a callous
insensitivity to sin. Paul, after addressing
the violation of God's law, he amplifies their
guilt by showing that they were also violating
the understanding the unsaved Gentiles it is
not named among them Now we move to the procedure
point number three and this is from verses three
to five For I indeed is absent in body But present
in spirit have already judged as though I were
present him who has so done this deed in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ When you are gathered
together along with my spirit with the power
of our Lord Jesus Christ deliver such a one to
Satan for the destruction of the flesh that his
spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Paul speaks here as one who is absent in body
by being but present in spirit. But he has already
judged this matter as though he were present.
This is not a case of fact -finding, of coming
to trial, or of an investigation. The facts were
known. The case was clear. The judgment should
have been rendered and action taken. And since
he had already judged it, he tells them what
they must do. He commands them with apostolic
authority. There is to be no more investigation,
no more approaches to try to persuade this man.
They are now to act decisively. But before we
examine this action closely, I want to take a
few minutes to consider Jesus' words in Matthew
chapter 18 in verse 15 through 20. What Paul
commands them to do is actually step number four
of what Jesus says in Matthew 18 in the process
that is outlined there. Now I will say before
we look at this process there are times when
each one of these steps may not need to be followed
in the case of public unrepentant sin like this
man in the passage. What he had done was well
known and established. And so Paul goes immediately
to the fourth step of expulsion. But here's what
Jesus says. Step number one. He says, moreover,
if your brother sins against you, go and tell
him his fault between you and him alone. If he
hears you, you have gained your brother. So the
first step is go to him and confront him with
his sin. Confrontation. You are sinning in this
matter. It's just between you and this person.
Step number two then. You take two or three witnesses
if you will not hear for 16. But if you will
not hear, take with you one or two more, that
by the mouth of two or three witnesses, every
word may be established. This is a principle
throughout the whole scriptures. It's repeated
multiple times in the Old Testament and the New
Testament. No one was to be judged. No one was
to be arraigned in court and given a final punishment
without two or three witnesses. And Paul repeats
that again in the New Testament. Jesus repeats
it as well in a couple of times. Paul says, for
example, in the case of an accusation against
an elder, there must be two or three witnesses.
So this is a pattern of justice. And so take
two or three witnesses if you will not hear it.
Take these. Step number three then is if he refuses
to hear them, then you tell it to the church.
So you tell it to the church step number three
this may include a public censure or a rebuke
Calling for repentance and for turning away from
this sin now There was this is still in a case
where the person is a brother or a sister in
the church But they're being persistent in this
sin and so the church is to be told about it
so that all can speak to this in in more of a
direct and public way and finally then Jesus
says in verse 17 in the latter part, but if He
refuses even to hear the church. Let him be to
you like a heathen or a tax collector. This is
the step of expelling him from the church which
we call excommunication, excommunication. Now
this is an act that carries great power and authority
for Jesus goes on to say, In this context, in
verse 18, he says, assuredly, I say to you, whatever
you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and
whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in
heaven. Again, I say to you that if two of you
agree on earth concerning anything that they
ask, it will be done for them by my Father in
heaven. For where two or three are gathered together
in my name, I am there in the midst of them.
Now many times those verses are used in a completely
different context and certainly they do apply
in other contexts But the context in which Jesus
gives it is regarding this It is regarding this
and you compare this with what Paul says in verse
4 of chapter 5 He says in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ when you are gathered together with
the power of the Lord Jesus Christ You deliver
this one to Satan The power of Jesus is there
when this is done rightly and properly according
to the Word of God. And it's in that context
where he says, where two or three are gathered
together in my name, I am there in the midst
of them. This is weighty. This is very serious.
So we're going to look at the spiritual power
of this act further as we go back now to the
main passage But there are first before we do
that. There are also some other passages of scripture
that give some additional measures I'm trying
to give you kind of a full overview here on this
subject from the scripture Depending on the severity
and the seriousness of the sin for example second
Thessalonians 3 verses 6 and then 14 and 15 Paul
says, but we command you, brethren, in the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from
every brother who walks disorderly and not according
to the tradition which he received from us. And
if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle,
note that person and do not keep company with
him that he may be ashamed, yet do not count
him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Very interesting here. So this is like a form
here where the sin does not rise to the level
of excommunication and yet it's something here
that is persistent and so here's an action that
needs to be done. You withdraw from that person.
You note that person so that he might be ashamed
yet he's still to be admonished as a brother.
And then the point that he brings in 1st Timothy
chapter 5 that even elders when they sin are
to be rebuked. before all, if there are multiple
witnesses who can bring an accusation. Do not
receive an accusation against an elder except
from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning
rebuke in the presence of all that the rest also
may fear. Now going back now to the first Corinthians
five passage, we want to look carefully at the
commandment of Paul to the Corinthian church.
In this, he is following the sage council given
in Proverbs 22 verse 10. Cast off the scornor
and contention will leave, yet strife and reproach
will cease. He says, in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together.
What is about to be done is done under the Lordship
of Christ and in His name, for it is the Lord's
name that is at stake and we must hold the glory
of the name and of His church. And it is to be
done together as a church when you are gathered
together. When the congregation is gathered together,
this is not something that is to be done secretly
or even just in a gathering of the elders. It
is publicly in the assembly so that all may witness,
all may have their minds engaged at the seriousness
of this procedure and that all may fear the Lord
and be more zealous to avoid the entrapment of
sin. Now in this historical case Paul says that
the testimony in the spirit of him would be there
as their father in their faith and with as apostolic
authority as they carry this out according to
his instructions. He says, I indeed as absent
in body but present in spirit have already judged
this and so that when you're gathered together
verse 4 along with my spirit with the power of
our Lord Jesus Christ and I think that's what
he's referring to. The power though of the Lord
Jesus Christ is there who has given authority
and power to his church. to do this. It is his
expressed will and his command as we saw in Matthew
chapter 18. This procedure is not to be abused
or misused as has happened far too often and
we'll get into some of that a little bit later.
So I just want to stress that again but it must
be done in the name of the Lord Jesus and in
the power of the Lord Jesus and guided by the
instructions given to us by the Holy Spirit through
the Apostle Paul. I'd like to note some important
points which were followed in this account and
just kind of gather us together. Number one,
the sin must be properly identified. It must
be clearly and properly identified. It cannot
be vague. It must be clear. The word parnea is
used in this case and it referred to all types
of illicit sexual activity and the man was guilty
and he knew whereof they were bringing judgment
on him. It was properly identified. Secondly,
excommunication is the last step of church discipline
and it must only be used for an egregious violation
of God's law and truth. An egregious violation.
It is for the types of sins that are listed later
in this chapter in verse 11 and others like them.
One who is sexually immoral, covetous, an idolater,
a reviler, a drunkard, or an extortioner. It
also includes blasphemy and heresies. That is
blatant disregard of the foundational truths
of the Christian faith. We have an example of
this in 1st Timothy chapter 1 verse 18 where
Paul says, Having faith in a good conscience
which some having rejected Concerning the faith
have suffered shipwreck of whom are high manias
and Alexander What did he say whom I delivered
to Satan so that they may learn not to blaspheme?
So there's a very clear example of blasphemy
the sins enlisted in Galatians chapter 5 verse
19 through 21 are also a guide as these are sins
that if one lives in them they will not inherit
the kingdom of God. Hear these words now the
works of the flesh are evident which are adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry,
sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts
of wrath. selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
envy, murders, drunkenness, reveries, and the
like, of which I tell you beforehand, just as
I also told you in time past, that those who
practice these things, such things, will not
inherit the kingdom of God. These things are
very clear. These are sins of the flesh and of
the mind This it is only these kinds of these
kinds of sins that come to the level of excommunication
things like this Excommunication is not for disagreement
with church doctrine. That is not fundamental
to the Christian faith We may have disagreements
on various things. We might understand the Word
of God differently regarding various things.
And later in 1st Corinthians, as we go through
our study, we're going to be looking at the whole
understanding of Christian liberty and liberty
of conscience, where you will simply believe
the Word of God in a different way, but it's
not a fundamental matter. This is the difference,
for example, between error and heresy. Not all
wrong beliefs fall into damnable heresies, which
is a term that's used in the New Testament. There
are some where simply they are in error on something.
And sometimes I might be in something that is
on error and I need to be corrected. And so as
the Lord works in me and or works in you, we're
not talking about those kinds of things, but
rather that of damnable heresies that are fundamental
to the Christian faith. Ultimately, the excommunication
is not only because of the sin, but also for
the failure to hear the church and the rebuke
of that sin. The failure to hear on the matter.
All right. Wanted to get to go through those
before we get now to actually the procedure what
is to be done So what is to be done the church
then when they are gathered together in the name
and the power of the Lord Jesus They are to deliver
such a one to Satan for the destruction of the
flesh that his spirit may be saved in the day
of the Lord Jesus. There is a handing over of
the person to Satan. The person is consigned
to Satan's dominion, which indicates the removal
of him outside of the edifying and caring environment
of the church. He is excluded from the community
of faith. This means that there is a loss of
protection. There's no longer feeding at the
Lord's table. And why is this? So that it becomes
evident to him. So that the... It is so that
his sinful nature might be destroyed. That the
old man would be mortified. That is put to death.
And that he would be brought to repentance. And
that his spirit might be saved on the judgment
day. Thus this act is not vindictive. It's not,
we're gonna get you now. No, no, it's not that
way at all. It is about love for the airing one
with the goal of restoration. Now, by the way,
and I'll get into this later, but... That is
exactly what happened to this man. When we will
read, we read it in 2nd Corinthians. This man
became so sorrowful. He dealt with his sin. He,
he with a great zealous. In fact, Paul said that
you now need to comfort him because he is being
swallowed up with over much sorrow. That's what
happened. This very thing. He would be brought
he was brought to repentance and his spirit saved
on Judgment Day So this is done so that the sinner
might repent and be restored to fellowship. This
is a key point therefore to withhold excommunication
when it is due is to do harm to the individual
now That's completely contrary to so much of
what has been taught or thought or practiced
on this matter. To withhold it is to do harm.
To withhold it. To not do it. Because it allows
him to just continue on going down his way. It
holds back the blessing of God that leads to
repentance and restoration. I think of so many
churches. that do not practice this, where those
who live in these kinds of sins are either tolerated
or accepted or ignored, and they continue to
live in the sins of the flesh, of which God's
Word says so clearly, those who practice such
things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. This
is an incredible dereliction of duty by Christian
churches and their leaders. And I'll deal with
this more when we look at the rest of the chapter
on the necessity of church discipline and how
Paul talks about the yeast and the loaf and all
of the things regarding that. I'm not going to
get into all of that today because I don't have
time. I'd like to conclude with a few applications.
First of all, this passage assumes formal church
membership in that this person is not merely
an onlooker, or a casual attendee, but he is
a member of the covenant. He's one who was receiving
the means of grace. And because he was defiling
the holiness of God's temple and God's house,
the church, he must be expelled from the covenant
body. This is not just somebody who was coming.
We invite others and yes, they're living in their
sin and they come and they hear the gospel. That's
not the case with this man. He was part of the
covenant body. He was tied together and he needed
to be expelled. So this passage assumes a type
of formal church covenanting or membership together.
Secondly, the need to deal with issues like this
is one of the reasons why many home churches
or fellowships fail. Now I'm not speaking here
of a fully constituted church that meets in a
home, for certainly that needs to happen sometimes,
but I'll give you a few examples. So years ago,
during the rise of homeschooling in the Christian
community, Many families felt alienated at the
churches, and they were not supported by the
church in their desire to teach and to raise
godly families. Therefore, many home churches
started during that time period with only a few
families with a common interest, and often it
was homeschooling, which was not really a good
foundation for a church. But it happened a lot.
And it still happens today. Something happens
at a church, and the family leaves, and they
home church, or just have Bible studies together.
Similar to this, and even more common, is just
live streaming. Live streaming from home. Oh,
I'm not going to church. I'm not part of the
Fellowship of the Saints. I just watch the service.
Sometimes it's this one, or sometimes it's this
one, and I sit at home in my couch, in my casual
way, and I simply listen to the sermon. With
all the streaming technology, it's very easy
to do this, to listen or to watch it, to enjoy
the music and hear the preaching and all from
our couch. But in both of these cases, the God
ordained structure of a church with elders and
deacons, with the Lord's Supper and with the
fellowship of the saints is either diminished
or it's missing. And certainly, the accountability
and the possibility of church discipline is gone.
It is not there. This is one of the dangers of
doing things like this. Brothers and sisters,
we need the gathering together of God's people,
covenanted together by faith in the one true
God where we have sound doctrine and we love
one another and we are bound to each other and...
we hold each other accountable. We need the bond
of fellowship, the covenant, the gathering together,
the Lord's Supper and the accountability. Lastly
then, if you are flirting with one of these sins,
if you are being tempted sorely with the sins
of the flesh, or with damnable heresies, or if
you are harboring deep anger, or wrath, or bitterness,
or envy, or if you are giving in to lying, or
stealing, or coveting, or if you are thinking
of yielding to the temptation of a one -night
fling, or of leaving your spouse, or giving yourself
over to pornography, or to sexual lust. I implore
you, repent! Turn away from it! Do not give place
to the devil! Do not go down that path. If you're
harboring secret sins from the Lord, holding
back an area of your life from the Lordship of
Christ and you're resisting the Holy Spirit,
I urge you, repent of this. Turn away from it.
Confess it to the Lord and turn. Repent and turn
to the Lord. Go to the Lord and confess your
sins, your struggles, and your temptations. Ask
for His help to overcome these temptations and
get help. Go to someone who could hold you accountable
and point you to Christ. Come to one of the elders
of the church or to an older man or to a woman
who is faithful. But by all means, do not succumb
to it. Do not yield to it. Do not go down this
path and needing to be turned over to Satan.
This is something that's just very sobering.
I know this is this kind of a heavy message It's
a it's it's a hard one as we go through But it's
part of the Word of God and I must be faithful
in proclaiming it to you so let the seriousness
of it come down over your soul and turn from
sin and embrace the gospel embrace the gospel
For it is the glorious gospel that sets us free
when we come and we run to Christ and we confess
our sins and we are cleansed One of the ways
that this happens and I've mentioned this before
but I'm going to say it again Keep short accounts
when you fail in an area Don't let it fester
and continue to grow and you become entrenched
in it. Keep short accounts. When it happens,
go to the Lord. Deal with it. Fight against it.
Stride with all of your heart against it and
get help from your brothers or your sisters.
For you belong to Christ. Hear these words from
Galatians 5 verse 24 and 25. Those who are Christ,
that's who I'm speaking to you today, right here.
Those who are Christ have crucified the flesh
with its passions and desires. If we live in
the spirit, let us also walk in the spirit. May
it be so, and let's pray.