MILLIONS OF PEOPLE PROFESS TO LOVE JESUS CHRIST, 
BUT IN REALITY THEY MAY PROVE THEY DON'T WHEN 
THEY STAND AGAINST GOD'S WILL FOR PERSONAL & CONGREGATIONAL DISCIPLINE.

 I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about the most difficult task the Church of Jesus Christ has in this world. Stay tuned…

… Today when people hear the word "discipline," many bristle, become resistive and angry at even the word being mentioned. Why is that? Well, we live in a society today that has come to believe that we are all free to do as we please, and that no one should have the right to tell us what to do. This secularized thinking unfortunately has permeated even the church of Jesus Christ .  However one cannot read the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments without seeing repeatedly, that God pursues with zeal the holiness of His people. Yet today in our 21^st century the one thing that continues to characterize today’s churches in America , is a lack of integrity in the matter of holiness. Today I want to help you understand why this action of discipline in the life of a believer in Jesus Christ is so vital and important, but before I get down to sharing with you about this from a biblical perspective, let’s pause and listen to this…

… Today, let's talk about discipline from a Christian's perspective. Basically, in the Bible we find there are three types of discipline for the believer in Jesus Christ to honor and practice. They are as follows:

1. Self discipline - 

This is the ongoing personal process of “fashioning” yourself into the image of Jesus Christ, who you love and worship, as He has revealed Himself to us in the New Testament. To do this, requires much self-examination, frequent confession and absolute repentance when we fail to do this. In 1 Corinthians 11:28-32, Paul the apostle points out that dealing with sin in our lives starts with self-judgment. God’s Word declares,

1 Cor 11:28-32 (NLT) "That is why you should examine yourself …. 31 if we examine ourselves, we will not be examined by God and judged in this way. 32 But when we are judged and disciplined by the Lord, we will not be condemned with the world."

Self-discipline then is the first work of each individual who is born again; to be sure their lives are progressing and moving toward biblical changes to align oneself with God's will. Now in addition to “self discipline,” there is secondly,

2. Preventative discipline - 

This is another way to describe the process of discipleship. Through fellowship, modeling, teaching, preaching and practicing the truths of God, we keep God's people from sin and its damaging effects. Preventative discipline serves to equip and encourage believers to practice self-discipline so that corrective discipline never becomes necessary. Along the way of the Christian life every believer finds out that there are certain things in the world that he or she cannot and should not do or be engaged in. Therefore certain steps are taken to avoid falling into the "consequences" such things will bring in the light of God's holiness and presence. Every believer in Christ is to be actively engaged in self-control, character modeling, and striving for orderliness and efficiency with a goal toward unity of purpose with the body of Christ. Then thirdly we discover there is the most problematic of all disciplines we are to be engaged in. It is,

3. Corrective discipline - 

This is the function of forcefully steering a believer in Christ back towards holiness and righteousness when he or she fails to exercise the previous two disciplines in their lives and sin becomes their habit. This ministry is to be accomplished only by God’s local churches, through teaching, rebuke, and in the extreme case through the divinely sanctioned act called "Excommunication."

Unfortunately this last one is the area where the lack of it seems paramount in our 21st century churches these days. Admittedly, the church does a much better job with preventative discipline than it does with corrective discipline, but both are essential aspects of New Testament Christianity.

Now today I want to zero in on this last form of discipline for exactly that reason. Corrective discipline is vital to the ongoing blessing of God in the churches of our nation and the world. However, sadly it is it is almost non-existent today, and where it does it exist, often it is carried far apart from God’s directives in His Word the bible. So let's "cut to the chase" as the hunter would say and get down to business. First of all, let's ask, what is the basis of any "CORRECTIVE CHURCH DISCIPLINE?" The answer again is three-fold,

1. THE PRIMARY BASIS OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE IS TO PRESERVE THE HOLINESS OF GOD - We read in of this in,

Heb 12:10 (NIV) "Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness."

In other passages of Scripture, we are reminded that believers are the temple of God , the place of holiness for His dwelling (1 Cor. 3:16 -17;Ps. 93:5). Yes, God expects those who are born again and gathered together in His name, to maintain a sure place of difference from the world lost in sin and rebellion. This is clearly brought out in an epistle of Peter, where the command for us all is "Be holy for I am holy."(1 Pet. 1:16). Now in addition to maintaining “holiness,” the second reason for every congregation of believers to exercise corrective discipline when necessary is,

2. THE CHURCH IS GOD'S "WITNESS" TO THE WORLD - 

We as Christians are to continuously reflect the light and beauty of Christ and His righteousness to our world that rejects Him. (1 Pet. 2:11-12). What the world sees in us formulates for others, a picture of our God. Sin and indiscipline in the Church, is like a mirror that has mud, and filth on it or like graffiti on a wall. Our image of Christ must be His image in all its purity, holiness, and beauty. Therefore, it is the obligation of every gathered local assembly to keep their mirrors clean, sparkling and beautiful as God intends, so the lost sinner can see the beauty and perfection of God in and through us. Now the third major reason for practicing corrective church discipline within an assembly of God’s people is,

3. GOD COMMANDS IT! - We specifically read in the Bible in,

Mat 18:15-18 (NLT) ""If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the fault. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If that person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. If the church decides you are right, but the other person won’t accept it, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.”

This command for the Church to deal with unrestrained disobedience to the divinely revealed will of God, is further brought out in various other Scriptures such as (Romans 16:16, 17; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Corinthians 2:5-11; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; 1 Timothy 1:18-20; Titus 3:10, 11; Revelation 2:20). Yet today, in spite of the numerous teachings of God's Word for the church to "preserve" itself and its image before the world, vast majorities of local assemblies refuse to honor God's command to exercise discipline within its ranks on those who flaunt their sins before them and the world. But now let's ask, what "sins" really call for a church to act upon the lifestyle of an individual Christian? Well here in a nutshell is a list taken from the Bible for you to consider and remember,

WHAT SINS CALL FOR CONGREGATIONAL DISCIPLINE?

First, it must be understood that “congregational discipline” is never to be viewed as an attempt to remove all sin from the congregation. Rather, church discipline is a program for correction, not a penalty for a crime. There will never be a sinless church until the Lord comes! But there are specific cases where disciplinary action is prescribed. The Bible teaches that church discipline must be practiced when…

1.  A Christian refuses to settle interpersonal disputes, and carries this on in the fellowship of the saints (Matthew 18:15 -17; 1 Corinthians 5:5,6).

2.  A Christian is found in bondage to continually evidenced sexual sins, from which he or she will not repent (1 Corinthians 5:1-5).

3.  A member continues to be a factious, troublemaker in the assembly of God’s people and will not stop or change (Romans 16:17 ; Titus 3:10 ,11; Jude 15-19).

4.  A Christian who openly confesses that he will continue to disobey truth when he or she knows it is truth (2 Thessalonians 3:14 ,15).

5.  A Christian who refuses to work for support when he or she is able to work and employment is available (2 Thessalonians 3:15 ,16).

6.  A Christian who embraces and practices doctrinal error and false teaching and will not turn from it (1 Timothy 1:20 ; 2 Timothy 2:17 ,18; Revelation 2:14 -16).

These are the six basic areas, every church that names the name of Christ, is commanded by God to deal with such rebellion and disobedience. Now saying all that, what are the procedures every church and individual is to follow when such sin and disorder is manifested? Again, here is another simple outline of God’s commanded procedures,

PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED IN CHURCH DISCIPLINE

In Matthew 18:15-17, we discover God’ gives four disciplinary steps for individuals and their churches to take: First we are told to,

1. seek private correction and or reconciliation with the offender – 

This is first step which only involves an individual Christian who has experienced sin at the hand of another. It is private reproof (v.15). The evangelist Charles Finney said that, "if you see your neighbor sin, and you pass by and neglect to reprove him, it is just as cruel as if you should see his house on fire and pass by and not warn him of it." Notice first, "a brother" is in view here. We have specific responsibilities toward our "fellow Christians" we don't have towards those who are outside of Christ. If the brother or sister listens and confesses their sin(s),  you have gained them back.

Mat 18:15 (NIV) ""If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over."

The second step is found to be,

2.  INITIATE A Private Conference of Select Believers (v.16) - 

Bible scholars conclude that this purpose is to address the sinner again, but this time with a select group of witnesses is to strengthen the reproof you have previously given, by representing the church. As the church developed in biblical days, the spiritual leaders were charged to fulfill this obligation (Galatians 6:1). The goals are the same as they were in verse 15. We read of this in.

Mat 18:16 (NIV) "But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’"

Now if these two ways of addressing sin in the life of a fellow believer fails to gain their sorrow and repentance, the bible commands a third step be taken. It is:

 3.  public announcement (v. 17a) - 

You see, if the sinning brother rejects the leadership representatives who have come to him, the spiritual leaders are to inform the church family of his or her sin and unrepentant attitude toward it. In 1 Corinthians 12:14-20 we are reminded that believers are members of one spiritual Body and that members have the responsibility to care for one another. That loving care must at times take the form of corrective church discipline. Yet at each stage of this discipline, the offender must be given time and opportunity to repent. We read again in,

Mat 18:17 (NIV) "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church…

Now barring all these things, there is a fourth step to be taken which God commands. It is,

4.  public exclusion (v. 17b) - 

When the church leaders and the congregation have prayed and made every effort to bring the offender to repentance, yet without results, they must tangibly remove the offender from their active fellowship. This is done as a final act to again not punish a sinning believer, but enable then to see the depth and loss sin brings, and hopefully restore them, We see this in a number of Bible passages on the subject:

Mat 18:17 (NIV) "… and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector."

1 Cor 5:11 (NIV) "But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat."

Titus 3:10-11 (NIV) "Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. 11 You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned."

God's Word tells us that the sinning brother who refuses to repent of his sin must be removed from the circle of fellowship with God's people. We commonly refer to this as “excommunication.”  Excommunication involves cutting a person off from membership, fellowship, and communion. No longer is the unrepentant brother (if he is truly a brother or sister) to share in the activities and privileges of the congregation. In short, the unrepentant believer is to be treated like a non-believer, because of his or her refusal to walk like a believer. As strong as this measure may seem, it's designed to bring the erring brother to full repentance and restoration, provided the congregation obeys and follows.

Now these things, I've just shared with you are taken from my local churches guide called the  IFCA International’s "CHURCH & MINISTER'S HANDBOOK, a compilation of Biblical teachings, from many seasoned pastors, scholars, and teachers knowledgeable of God's Word on almost every matter of church polity.

Yet, here we are in the 21st century, and what do we see? We see the church in America is almost void of any form of congregational disciplines, not to mention personal disciplines as well. Why is that? The answer is we have fallen far from the holy standard God has set for His people to live, walk and worship by.

Often today when godly leadership moves to set up disciplined goals for growth in holiness and purpose in Christ, violent reaction can be experienced. What's worse, when sin breaks out among God's people in a local church, many within the congregation will rebel against the leadership that deals with the sins I've outline before you. Ironically, such people would rather swiftly deal with the leadership for bringing about any "church discipline" of a sinning brother, than deal with sin in the midst. How sad, and how grieved God must be. 

Yet there you have it my friend, God's principles for handling sin, disobedience and rebellion in the Church of Jesus Christ. Now it would be poor of me to leave you without at least giving you the positive reasons for discipline among God's people, for the Bible tells us its goal is always POSITIVE! Here then are the positive Biblical goals of all such discipline among God's people,

THE GOALS OF CONGREGATIONAL DISCIPLINE

1.  DISCIPLINE RESTORES SINNING MEMBERS TO GOD’S PLACE OF BLESSING & FELLOWSHIP - The goal of church discipline must always be for the believer’s restoration (Galatians 6:1); But, to be restored, requires repentance. Repentance is a change of mind and action, a 180 degree turn about. To this end, the church must constantly strive. While church discipline is often cast in a negative light, the results for the disciplining church are intensely positive. Now secondly there is another positive result:

2.  DISCIPLINE Exercised Lovingly Always Unites God’s FAMILY - Sin that is ignored or tolerated will quench the Spirit and eventually lead to division. Righteousness brings people together. Indiscipline always corrupts and divides God’s people. Furthermore in capsule form,

3.  Discipline strengthens and reinforces the authority of the Word of God.

4.  Discipline honors Christ and brings renewed blessing.

5.  Loving discipline challenges the church to new levels of spiritual experience and growth.

6.  Discipline strengthens and purifies the testimony of God's people in a given locality.

7.  Discipline also allows the church to continue in its ministry to watch and care for others in the future.

In the final analysis, the practice of God's holiness and the manner of God's loving chastisement must be the model we all follow. But, when the offender repents, our forgiveness and willingness to restore must be God-like too.

Well, all this leads us to one thing. God is interested in rescuing fallen sinners and saints! This begins with the greatest sin of all, the sin of not crowning Jesus Christ one's God and Savior. You see, friend, the Bible makes it clear the whole world is born in a state of personal rebellion to God's Word and will.

Eccl 7:20 (NIV) "There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins."

Rom 3:23 (NIV) "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

As such, God has decreed the death penalty for all who have broken His eternal law of absolute obedience. This leaves out none of us of course! But herein is the love and mercy of God. God doesn’t want to punish anyone, His love is so great that He devised a plan to save all who will hear it and implement it in their lives.

You see the great story of the Bible is that the sin payment of eternal death decreed by God upon all sinning creatures has been paid! Yes, no one needs go to Hell and suffer for all eternity for their sins. But the only way anyone can receive this forgiveness and pardon of their sin penalty is to turn to Jesus Christ, surrender your rebellious will, and crown Jesus Christ, your God and Savior. Why? Because the Bible reveals He is just that. All who receive Christ into their heart's by faith, believing in His Person, work and name are saved forever from their sins and born again into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Oh friend, if you are struggling today with rebellion, disobedience, and an undisciplined life enslaved to sin - Christ can free you. Come to Him right now. Call upon Him to save you, and God's love, mercy, grace, forgiveness and pardon is yours!

Although many churches have cast off God's clear teachings on discipline, I pray you have not done that personally, and that you will continue to seek to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. Therein we shall find our greatest fulfillment and purpose.

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A major portion of this message was taken directly from the clearly presented truths in:

THE IFCA INTERNATIONAL "CHURCH & MINISTER'S HANDBOOK." You can personally obtain a loose leaf copy of this extensive non-denominational church manual very inexpensively by writing to the: IFCA International, PO Box 810 , Grandville , Michigan , 49468 USA . Or visiting our website at: www.ifca.org.