Matthew 18:15-22
We left off last time in verse 17 with the one being disciplined not repenting after much time and many people going to that person in love with the spirit of meekness. The result was fellowship being withdrawn from that person by the church because that person refused to repent from their sin. We could go as far as to say that each church service is a form of church discipline. Turn to II Timothy 4:2. We could go on and say that simply reading Scripture is a form of discipline. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works," II Timothy 3:16-17. Those who are faithful to come and hear the Word taught and preached and are obedient to what they hear are less likely to be one that has to be gone to and confronted over sin in their life. There is usually a pattern with those who will be next for church discipline. Their prayer life is lacking; their study time is lacking; and even though we aren't in their home to see this, we see the results of it. Where there used to be a crucifying of the flesh they now cater to the flesh. Their attendance to gather with the brethren is not a priority. They make and use any excuse they can find to miss where once they strove to faithfully meet with the brethren. We have seen this time after time. When someone is in this state they are easily offended when confronted, but it is beneficial for them and the church that they be confronted.
So after you have gone to the brother or sister in Christ in sin what is next? Let us pick up in Matthew 18:18-20, "Verily I say unto you; Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Obviously if we keep this in context it is speaking of church discipline. If the person refuses to repent and the church has to withdraw fellowship from him, the action on earth is bound in heaven. The "Bind" and "Bound" in verse 18 speaks of the ancient manner of binding together the doors of houses with a chain to which a padlock was sometimes suspended. This analogy is kind of scary. If the church does church discipline biblically, then in the end the person who refuses to repent is figuratively locked out of the church. Again, I want to stress that if this person is truly saved his relationship is not hindered, but his fellowship is. He is kept outside of the doors of blessings and protection.
"Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear," Isaiah 59:1-2. This takes us back to what we learned from I Corinthians 5 and 11. "To deliver such an one unto satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus," I Corinthians 5:5. Turn to I Timothy 1:18-20. This delivering unto satan is for their benefit. Remember that satan is a tool of the Lord. We have been given multitudes of Old Testament examples of this. A simple reading of the book of Judges and we find this same principal.
We must stress here again that this is the last thing the church does; but at times the church must do it. The goal of church discipline is to gain. We go to gain. Some say that God is too loving to do that to His children. Turn to Hebrews 12:1-11. God does this to His children because He loves us.
We have looked at the process and the consequences of church discipline with someone who will not repent. Now let us look at what to do when that person does repent. When two or more are gathered together in agreement concerning church discipline the Lord is with them. If the result is the figurative chains and lock the Lord is with them. If the result is the person repented then the church receives them back into fellowship, and the Lord is with them in this also. If the church is biblical in the way it handles church discipline, it will find the Lord is with them. This is very comforting. It is comforting for the church, and for the one or ones who repented. It is great to be back in fellowship with the brethren, and with the Lord. You cannot be in fellowship with the Lord if you are not in fellowship with His bride the church. Situations may arise in some one's life that keeps them from meeting with the brethren. For instance they may be homebound, or cast into prison, but if they were able they would be meeting with the brethren.
When the one in sin repents, what should the church do? We should be ready and willing to forgive. An evidence of forgiveness is full restoration. "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you," Ephesians 4:32. Turn to II Corinthians 2:1-11. We do not want to give place to the devil. We do not want the devil making a gain of us. When a person repents we are to receive him back into the fellowship.
This doesn't mean that the offender is to be put back in a leadership role, but that they have full and free fellowship with the brethren. They had to prove themselves to become a leader, and so they must prove themselves again. Keep this in mind also, different sins have different consequences. If you are not faithful of your own doing then obviously you should not be in a leadership role. When you repent and become faithful again and prove yourself you will be able to teach etc. again. If you commit adultery then you have disqualified yourself from a leadership role. Your role in the church makes a difference. You can read I Timothy 3 to see more on this.
Let us go back to Matthew 18 and finish up this brief study. "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven," Verses 21-22. When dealing with a repeat offender our flesh wants to say enough is enough, but what does Christ teach us here? We must understand that all of us struggle with sin. Some struggles are more open to censor. No matter what we are to be ready and willing to forgive. If you do not think that you can then I challenge you to read the rest of Matthew 18 and see the result of the one who though he was forgiven by God, he would not forgive his brother.
Church discipline is beneficial for the whole church when it is done biblically. Restoration is beneficial for the whole church when it is done biblically. When we obey the Scriptures we bring honour and glory to God, and we find ourselves being blessed by Him. Remember, we go to gain. May the Lord help us to obey the Scriptures. If you know of someone who needs to be confronted, examine yourself, and go in the spirit of meekness to gain your brother back. If he will not hear you take witnesses with you. If he still will not repent tell it to the church. If he will not hear the church, then break fellowship with him, but be looking and longing for his return. When he returns restore him to fellowship. To God be the glory.
