Was there discipline in the early church, or was everyone left to their sins, that God may clean them up when He got ready?
How was discipline handled within the early church?
If there is one thing that I have noticed over the years since I got saved, it is the fact that there are many teachers, and saints who conveniently over look certain scriptures, because quite frankly they just don’t fit their doctrine or agenda. (I am not referring to those babes who are yet ignorant of the full truth of God’s Word.)
Let’s look through 1 Corinthians 5: 1-13
1. It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.
2. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
There is no longer any sorrow for sin, only excuses for it, there are no tears of repentance shed, instead there is stench filled pride. It is nothing for people to shack up and go to church together every Sunday, completely unashamed, with no one saying a word, because there is more than enough sin to go around. We cannot condemn sin in the life of another, when there is sin in our own lives, even thieves have a code of conduct as do sinners.
3. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
4. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5. 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.
In other words such a person is better off delivered into the destroying hands of Satan, that they might be brought to their knees and cry out in repentance before God, and receive salvation.
How was discipline handled within the early church?
If there is one thing that I have noticed over the years since I got saved, it is the fact that there are many teachers, and saints who conveniently over look certain scriptures, because quite frankly they just don’t fit their doctrine or agenda. (I am not referring to those babes who are yet ignorant of the full truth of God’s Word.)
Let’s look through 1 Corinthians 5: 1-13
1. It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.
2. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
There is no longer any sorrow for sin, only excuses for it, there are no tears of repentance shed, instead there is stench filled pride. It is nothing for people to shack up and go to church together every Sunday, completely unashamed, with no one saying a word, because there is more than enough sin to go around. We cannot condemn sin in the life of another, when there is sin in our own lives, even thieves have a code of conduct as do sinners.
3. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
4. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5. 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.
In other words such a person is better off delivered into the destroying hands of Satan, that they might be brought to their knees and cry out in repentance before God, and receive salvation.
Many love to pull the "Judge not" card, to further excuse their sin, they are in jeopardy, because they do not desire to forsake their sin, they want to cling to it!
6. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
Many can be affected adversely, by the sins of others, what ever those sins may be. This is how luke warmness sets into a congregation. Some may say, well a little of this or a little of that doesn't really hurt. This is the same lie that Satan perpetrated on Eve, "Thou shalt not surely die”….Satan is a liar, and all those who hide and excuse sin amongst the brethren are of their father the devil.
A Open Note to the Earthly Shepherds
What do His sheep require of you Pastor?
To give us the truth, to help keep us on the straight and the narrow path.
Don’t tell us were ok, when we know we are not.
Don’t tell us you are speaking for Him, because we know "His" voice.
Saints of God, we really don’t need anyone to tell us we are sinning, because if we belong to God we know when we are sinning, because the Holy Spirit convicts us. We don’t need to seeks man’s council looking to be told, “Oh your fine, God understands your weaknesses, He overlooks your sin, He knows your just struggling along.”
Saints, there is no more time for that attitude, the Lord is soon to return. We are soon to meet our maker, whether by death or by being alive and remaining at His return.
6. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
Many can be affected adversely, by the sins of others, what ever those sins may be. This is how luke warmness sets into a congregation. Some may say, well a little of this or a little of that doesn't really hurt. This is the same lie that Satan perpetrated on Eve, "Thou shalt not surely die”….Satan is a liar, and all those who hide and excuse sin amongst the brethren are of their father the devil.
A Open Note to the Earthly Shepherds
What do His sheep require of you Pastor?
To give us the truth, to help keep us on the straight and the narrow path.
Don’t tell us were ok, when we know we are not.
Don’t tell us you are speaking for Him, because we know "His" voice.
Saints of God, we really don’t need anyone to tell us we are sinning, because if we belong to God we know when we are sinning, because the Holy Spirit convicts us. We don’t need to seeks man’s council looking to be told, “Oh your fine, God understands your weaknesses, He overlooks your sin, He knows your just struggling along.”
Saints, there is no more time for that attitude, the Lord is soon to return. We are soon to meet our maker, whether by death or by being alive and remaining at His return.
We might not want it, but we need someone who says, “Look I know you’re struggling, but you can get the victory in Christ, let’s pray together, let’s see what the Word has to say about your situation, because you know if you keep on this path the end will not be good.”
We are commanded to exhort one another daily, and even the more so as we see the day of the Lord approaching.
7. Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
8. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
10. Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
11. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
Covetousness is rife within the church, idolatry is also, and railing, families are in turmoil, and drunkenness is increasing, so are other addictions, and extortion is clear from the pulpit to the pews.
We are commanded to exhort one another daily, and even the more so as we see the day of the Lord approaching.
7. Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
8. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
10. Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
11. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
Covetousness is rife within the church, idolatry is also, and railing, families are in turmoil, and drunkenness is increasing, so are other addictions, and extortion is clear from the pulpit to the pews.
The sipping saints, who set the example to those who may stumble into alcoholism, will be held accountable before God. It is better to crucify the flesh and never take a drink, than to set a bad example for one who may fall into alcoholism.
Millions of church goers are on Prozac or Valium or some other mind numbing drug...anything to take them out of their present reality-the "Take me to my happy place" mentality, none are looking to Christ for deliverance. None are looking to Christ to be their sustainer their all in all, their deliverer. We are in a sorry state.
Look saints, if we faint in the day of adversity our strength is small. Let me tell you saints, few leaders leaders today have the guts to tell you the truth, because they want to be your friend, they want your money they want your adulation, they have their own agenda. Make no mistake they shall be judged.
Having been a sinner, I know the fact and the reason that anyone takes a drink, let’s be real, it is to get a buzz, to escape reality, it is a sedative. It should be for those in intense grief or those dying. Let’s not lie about these things. It is better to abstain from such things, lest we fall into condemnation. It is much easier to take the world into the church and incorporate it, than it is to leave the world behind.
Now I know full well that I shall take a beating from some, who will call me legalistic, that is fine, because I will not stand with you before God, and tell you I loved you, without having proved it to you on earth first.
Am I become your enemy because I tell you the TRUTH?
To borrow a phrase "Truth is hate to those who HATE the TRUTH!
When we love someone we tell them the truth, if they do not accept that truth, then that is on their own head, but you are not guilty of their blood on your hands.
12. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13. But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
I tell you of a truth saints, that one who makes excuses for the sins of others, has unrepentant knowing sin in their life, and God will sooner or later expose that sin for all to see.
Hate sin saints, and keep repentant before God, bring your bodies into subjection, and resist the devil and he shall flee from you.
When we love someone we tell them the truth, if they do not accept that truth, then that is on their own head, but you are not guilty of their blood on your hands.
12. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13. But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
I tell you of a truth saints, that one who makes excuses for the sins of others, has unrepentant knowing sin in their life, and God will sooner or later expose that sin for all to see.
Hate sin saints, and keep repentant before God, bring your bodies into subjection, and resist the devil and he shall flee from you.
Yes God does do the cleaning of us, the purifying of us, but He needs a willing vessel.
We can be that willing vessel, or we can come the hard way, and saints I don't want to have to witness anyone, come the hard way, or be cast out.
May we all continue to grow in the Grace and the Kowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ!
2 comments:
Christians should live holy life. There are pastors who preach holiness and try to apply church discipline but then others call them preachers of salvation by works. Very sad.
Col 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
1Jn 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
It seems to me that if God's people would do more of what is contained in these three bible verses they would spend less time engaging in the things of the world. They would spend their time growing in grace. I don't understand how someone who claims they are a Christian can live in out and out deliberate sin. That is very dangerous. And for a pastor or a close friend or family member not to help that person come to his or her senses is not loving at all. And for them to condone it will bring God's judgment to their own lives.
Joshua 7:1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Adam,
the son of Carmi, the son of Zabi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of
Israel.
Many heroes mentioned in the Word of God were subject to defeat after a great victory. It is the same way in our own lives. Many times, the devil comes through the back door after a great victory and he usually trips us up in the small things. In this instance, the entire city of Ai and everything in it was declared to be cursed. But one man went in, found a Babylonian garment, a few sheckles of silver, and a bar of gold and buried them. The moment he buried them, judgment passed on to the entire land because one man partook of the curse. He himself became cursed and judgment was passed on to the city.
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