SATURDAY, MAY 27
1 Corinthians 5:3-6
Matthew 18:15-20

"…that the spirit may be saved
in the day of the Lord Jesus."

WHY CHURCH DISCIPLINE? – (I)

Due to the urgency of the issue, Paul had to invoke his apostolic authority and present his judgment of the situation. Though Paul was not present with the Corinthian Christians, it did not mean that they could ignore the authority behind his words. Paul was present in the spirit in the sense that he was providing instruction and leadership to address the situation. Paul thus instructed that the man be excommunicated immediately.

Why was it necessary to exercise church discipline?

Firstly, church discipline is meant to bring about the necessary restoration of the sinner. This can be seen in the nature of the discipline and its consequences. The man was to be delivered unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh. The expression "deliver… unto Satan" refers to how the offender is to be put outside of the church into the sphere of Satan’s dominion (i.e. the world). This is God’s way of permitting Satan to chastise the offender and afflict him bodily. This is done that the "spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." It does not mean that the man loses his salvation. Rather it points to the hope that the sinner may repent and be restored to a right fellowship with the Lord and the saints. One commentator rightly points out that this process grants the sinner "ample time to reflect on his condition and repent" (Kistemaker).

If the offender is truly saved, the chastisement of the Lord will lead him to repentance and drive him towards holiness. On the other hand, those who are not saved may end up rebelling against the disciplinary actions, just like Hymenaeus and Alexander who refused to repent though they were delivered to Satan.

Happily, 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 testifies that the man repented from his sin. This is the restorative effect of church discipline in action.

THOUGHT: The purpose of church discipline is restoration.
PRAYER: Lord, there is always forgiveness and restoration in Thee.