The Law and the Pattern Concerning

THE DISORDERLY BROTHER

 

What do you think about CHURCH DISCIPLINE?

 

          Does it begin and end with the elders’ decision to acknowledge and inflict withdrawal of fellowship?

 

          Did you know that YOU are the first one that the Lord looks to?

 

Ezekiel 3:18-21  "When I say to the wicked, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.  (19)  "Yet if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself.  (20)  "Again, when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I place an obstacle before him, he will die; since you have not warned him, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand.  (21)  "However, if you have warned the righteous man that the righteous should not sin and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; and you have delivered yourself."

 

MANY PASSAGES THAT DEAL WITH THE

DISORDERLY BROTHER

 

A.      THE GENERAL RULE

 

Matt. 18:15-17  "If your brother sins (many MS “against you”), go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.  (16)  "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.  (17)  "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

 

B.      THE SINNING BROTHER

 

          1.       Simon

Act 8:18-24  Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,  (19)  saying, "Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."  (20)  But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!  (21)  "You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.  (22)  "Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.  (23)  "For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."  (24)  But Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."

 

          2.       Immorality in the Corinthian church

Read 1 Cor. 5:1-13 

Read 2 Cor. 2:5-10

Read 2 Cor. 7:8-12 

Read 2 Cor. 12:20-21 

Read 2 Cor. 13:1-2; 9 

 

          3.       Tresspassers in Galatia

Gal 6:1-2  Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.  (2)  Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ

 

          4.       The unruly of Thessalonica

1 Thess. 5:14  We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

 

2 Thess 3:6  Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.

2 Thess. 3:14-15  If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.  (15)  Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

 

 

C.      THE FALSE TEACHER

 

          1.       Roman false teachers

Rom 16:17-18  Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.  (18)  For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

 

          2.       Hymenaeus and Alexander

 

1 Tim. 1:19-20  keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.  (20)  Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.

 

          3.       Troublemakers from Crete

Titus 1:10-13  For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,  (11)  who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.  (12)  One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."  (13)  This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith,

 

          4.       The factious man

Titus 3:10-11  Reject a factious man after a first and second warning,  (11)  knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.

 

          5.       Those who add to the word

2 John 9-10  Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.  (10)  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting;

 

D.      ELDERS WHO SIN

 

          1.       Warning to be very careful

1 Tim. 5:19   Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. 

 

          2.       The action to be taken

1 Tim. 5:20-21  Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.  (21)  I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.

 

E.      THE INDIVIDUAL’S RESPONSIBILITY

 

•         STEP ONE:

–       Matt. 18 – Go and reprove him

    

              SIMON

               - Acts 8 – Peter charged him with sinning

 

              TRESSPASSERS IN GALATIA

              - Gal. 6 – “You who are spiritual restore such a one”

 

              UNRULY IN THESSALONICA

-         1 Thess. 5:14 – Admonish, be patient

 

                             TROUBLEMAKERS FROM CRETE

-         Titus 1 – “Reprove them severely”

 

FACTIOUS MAN

-         Titus 3 – Admonish him

 

              -  James 5 – Turn him back

 

                             THOSE WHO ADD TO THE WORD

-         2 John – “Do not receive him into your house”

 

•         STEP TWO:

 

              THE SINNING BROTHER

–       Matt. 18 – If he doesn’t hear you – take 1 or 2 others

 

     THE FACTIOUS MAN

–       Titus 3 – Admonish him a second time

 

•         STEP THREE:

 

              THE SINNING BROTHER

–       Matt. 18 – Tell it to the church

 

     THE FALSE TEACHERS

–       Rom. 16 – Watch them (Mark them-KJV) turn away from them

 

                   IMMORAL PERSONS IN CORINTH

–       1 Cor. 5 – Do not associate (withdraw yourselves)

–       2 Cor. 12 – No one is to be spared

–       2 Thess. 3 – Withdraw yourselves

 

     HYMENAEUS AND ALEXANDER

–       1 Tim 1 – Delivered unto Satan

 

     ELDERS WHO SIN

–       1 Tim 5 – Rebuke in the presence of all

 

     CRETAN TROUBLEMAKERS

–       Titus 1 – They must be silenced

E.      OUR PURPOSE MUST BE

 

•         Matt. 18 – to gain your brother

 

•         Matt. 18 – to maintain the purity of the church

 

•         Acts 8 – that none of these things happen to him

 

•         Rom. 16 – they don’t serve the Lord; stop deceiving

 

•         1 Cor. 5 – that his spirit may be saved

 

•         2 Cor. 2 – so that he won’t be overwhelmed

 

•         2 Cor 12 – so we can be complete

 

•         2 Thess. 3 – for discipline

 

•         1 Tim. 1 – “they be taught not to blaspheme”

 

•         1 Tim. 5 – “so the rest may fear”

 

•         Titus 1 – “that they may be sound in the faith”

 

•         Titus 3 – “put out a perverted sinner”

 

•         James 5 – “save a soul from death”

 

•         2 John – “that you may not participate in his deeds”