Church Discipline and Forgiveness
1 Corinthians 5:1-5 On the whole it is reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even
named among the nations, so as one to have his father's wife. (2) And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned,
so that he who has done this deed may be taken from your midst. (3) For as being absent in body but present in spirit, I
indeed have judged already as though I were present concerning him who worked out this thing; (4) in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, with my spirit; also, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ; (5) to
deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
2 Corinthians 2:4-11 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye
should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. (5) But if any have caused
grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. (6) Sufficient to such a man is this
punishment, which was inflicted of many. (7) So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest
perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. (8) Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm
your love toward him. (9) For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in
all things. (10) To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your
sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; (11) Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his
devices.
Whether the guilty party above had married his father's wife, or kept her as his concubine, continuing in
an incestuous cohabitation with her, is not certain, and whether his father was dead or living; which latter
seems to be the case from 2Co_7:12 his iniquity was abominable and intolerable, and by no means to be winked
at in church of Christ. (Barnes notes)
In this lesson we are going to look at how to deal with sins that call for excommunication. Church
discipline is very difficult because it touches so many lives and opens the door for so many problems. The
difficulty of church discipline is the primary reason so few churches practice it.
Name some sins for which you think someone should be ex-communicated from the local congregation if there
is un-repentance. (Look up and meditate the following scripture: I cor. 5:6-9; Gal. 5:7-10;
Name some potential problems you can see with church discipline being practiced within a congregation.
When we read about the discipline situation in Corinth it is easy for us to judge them and wonder why
they were so hesitant in dealing with the problem. How do you find the balance of being too strong in discipline
or too lax? The answers aren’t always so easy. In the Corinthian case it appears they were guilty of both. They
were too lax in the beginning and at the end they were too harsh.
As saved people who are wretched in sinful flesh ourselves, who are all too familiar with our own
inadequacies and failures and have a tendency to feel like hypocrites or feel we are self righteous to act against
people who have sinned outwardly when we ourselves know that we are guilty in principle. How do you
discipline an adulterer when perhaps you have had adulterous thoughts in your heart in the past? One is guilty in
deed, the other is guilty in principle. It is very hard for sinners to correct sinners.
The challenge is how to minister scriptural church discipline to guilty parties in such a way that brings
glory to God and not be too lax or too strict/harsh?
In 1Corinthians 5 we see the laxity but in 2 Cor. 2 we see the overly harsh. By the apostle Paul we
will learn some important truths about forgiveness for balance.
The Church Is Commanded To Forgive (2Corinthians 2.5)
The Corinthian believers had taken Paul’s counsel in I Cor. 5 and took ex-communicative
action against the professed believer who was involved in an incestuous relationship with his father’s
wife. They broke fellowship with him and in the name of Jesus turned him over to Satan. By doing so
they had demonstrated the holiness of God and the sinfulness of sin.
Question - How can this be healthy to a church body? What happens when the church doesn’t
demonstrate the holiness of God and the sinfulness of sin in church discipline?
Question – God killed Ananias and Saphira for lying to the Holy Spirit by stating they had given all
their money for the cause of ministry when the truth was they had held some back for themselves. It
would appear that incest would be a much more severe crime. Why didn’t God kill the man as he did
with Ananias and Saphira?
The success of the Corinthian action of ex-communication.
As a result of the church’s obedience to the council of Paul the guilty man repented. He acknowledged
his sin and sought the grace and forgiveness of God. You would think there would be rejoicing by the
congregational leadership, but quite the opposite took place.
Question – What does this say about a Christian’s capacity to sin. What should our attitudes be
toward a professed brother when they are living in open rebellious sin? How should we see them?
(See I Cor. 5:11 for some insight)
From one extreme to the other
The response of the leadership towards the guilty man in the past was to lax but now they
swing completely to the other side of the spectrum by now being too harsh. They loved Paul and saw
this young man’s sin as a hurt to Paul personally. They declared to him that it was Paul himself that
called for his ex-communication. They probably declared all the trouble his sin caused and refused
him re-entry to fellowship.
Then somehow Paul hears of their new found policy of strictness. And declares to the
leadership it was not himself who was directly sinned against; it was all the church. The sin brought
reproach and judgment on the whole body. It was the church who was sinned against and it must be
church who forgives.
The Corinthians were not ready to forgive. They wanted to see first if Paul would forgive. Paul
says no; you were sinned against; you instituted the discipline; you forgive the repentant. A pardon
wipes the slate clean, offers full forgiveness and complete restoration. It not only invites the sinner
back to the table, it also allows the possibility for him to sit in the chair next to me.
Those sinned against must be ready to forgive, even though it hurts to forgive sinners. It hurts
so much and we find it so hard, that, after teaching about church discipline in Matthew 18, Jesus is
asked by Peter: "‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven
times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.’"
(Matthew 18.21-22). Forgiveness is hard; we who follow Jesus must confront sin and must forgive
those who ask. And that forgiveness will not be in word alone, but will be in action.
The Punishment Which Must Be Removed (2Corinthians 2.6)
The church had excommunicated the guilty man. The result was repentance and sorrow over sin. So
Paul writes and says, "It worked! Remove the punishment!" A person who hates their sin and turns
from it seeking the forgiveness of Jesus Christ is to be warmly restored and all of the punishment
removed. In fact, on the contrary, not only are we to remove the punishment, but we are to extend a
full pardon! The end desire for all church discipline should always be forgiveness and restoration.
Question – Is it possible for people in a congregation to offer forgiveness but still punish the guilty
party? Give some examples if you say “yes”.
The Pardon Which Must Be Extended (2Corinthians 2.7-9)
Paul gives three specific admonitions to the church about ways to express their pardon that the
brother might not be overwhelmed with sorrow for his sin: forgive, comfort and reaffirm your love.
1. Forgive
Colossians gives a definition of "forgive" which tells us exactly how we are to treat those
who confess and seek mercy. Colossians 2.13-14: "And you, being dead in your trespasses and the
uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has
taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."
As Christ has forgiven us, so we forgive our brothers and sisters who sin against us.
(Colossians 3.12-13: "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness,
humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a
complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.").
Notice that this is not a “I guess I will forgive you if you really, really, really feel bad."
Rather a joyful, complete, free, with no strings attached, choice to act as if the sin had
never been committed.
In fact, the Greek word for forgive is (charis+zomai) which means "give grace," to give
undeserved favor. It takes the noun grace and turns it into a verb. It is literally saying, “Grace
him”. Pour out to him good things he doesn’t deserve.
2. Comfort
By giving grace to those who messed up in the church there is a automatic comforting
and reassurance that reflects what we have through the forgiveness given to us in Christ. It
prompts us to continue on in hope and assurance. It causes us to look forward in hope and not
backward in condemnation.
2Thessalonians 2.16-17: "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved
us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every
good word and work."
We too have the privilege of comforting those who turn from their sin. We tell them of Christ’s
care and concern, of His great love, and of His marvelous mercy.
3. Reaffirm Love
Now certainly a "reaffirmation of love" includes an open welcome and kind words and a
caring attitude. But the phrase "reaffirm love" means more than that. Here Paul is telling
the Corinthians to have an official, public, reinstatement of the penitent brother.
"By this it is probable that he [Paul] means them to enact a ratification of their love by an
official and formal resolution of re-admitting the penitent brother to the benefits and
privileges of church membership." (Pastor and New Testament Professor, Phillip Hughes)
They were to welcome back the brother officially and public. In fact, it would be good for
churches to make it a time of worship. Because that reflects the grace of God and glorifies the
Lord Jesus Christ
The Person Who Must Be Honored (2Corinthians 2.10)
The Corinthians needed to be reminded that in all this process, in every step of
confrontation, in every aspect of dealing with sin, the goal is the honor of Jesus Christ and
His church. Thus here in verse 10, he reminds us that he has already forgiven any offenses
against himself.
How can he so readily forgive? He tells us, for their sake, in the presence of Christ.
Paul knows Jesus. And because he knows Jesus, Paul knows how much he has been forgiven.
But since the Corinthians are concerned that Paul might harbor bad feelings, he reminds them
that he has been in the presence of Christ, and thus he forgives all sins against himself.
The Corinthians are concerned for Paul’s honor and feelings. While certainly an admirable
sentiment, Paul again says, "No, brothers and sisters. Care not for my honor; I do not. Care
for Christ’s honor; as I do."
The Person Who Must Be Dreaded (2Corinthians 2.11)
Question - How might Satan take advantage of us in a situation like this? Think about how Satan
could get advantage in the life of the guilty party, and in the church?
First, he could take advantage by ruining the life of this brother who wants to repent but is not
allowed. Chrysostom understood this danger when he said: "To take by sin is Satan’s proper work; by
repentance, however, is more than his due; for ours, not his, is that weapon." Calvin agree with that
danger: "One of Satan’s worst tricks is to deprive us of all consolation and then swallow us up in an
abyss of despair."
A second way Satan could take advantage of us would be to make us too hard and severe on others,
and thus puff us up with pride at our own righteousness. We forgive quickly, completely, and
generously because we know our own faults and temptations and weaknesses.
Then third, Satan could take advantage of us by using our failure to forgive and restore as a means of
splitting our church. That was the potential problem in Corinth. They already had division over Paul’s
authority. Then, if you look back at verse 6, you will note that, while the majority supported the
punishment and carried it out, it apparently was not unanimous in its implementation. Paul
therefore, always with the pastor’s concern for his people, tells them: bring him back, get the church
united, and focus on the kingdom of God.
Conclusion
What will happen at FOG should this ever become necessary? Will we have division over such a
drastic action? Will there be those who refuse to support the decision of the elders? Will some
complain bitterly about accepting one back, even one who repents? Look back at verse 9: "For to this
end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things."
Of course we pray that we never are brought to the need for discipline. But let us also commit
ourselves to faithful “obedience in all things”. Faithful to discipline because we love our friends who
are acting as unbelievers; and faithful to forgive when God brings a change of heart in response to the
action of loving church discipline.
We are to be “obedient in all things” even if causes hurt and stressful circumstances. As
believers we are called to run to our problems and not run away from them. The consequences of not
being obedient in the immediate will certain create a greater reaping in the prolonged. Many pastors
and leaders fear discipline because people would leave. What should our response be to this? Will
Jesus ever leave us for doing that which is right? Will Jesus’ concern be how many people attended
the church or will concern be our faithfulness to His Word? Will we be faithful should such a time
occur in the future?