SIN IN THE CHURCH And What to Do About It
By E. L. Bynum Text: I Corinthians 5:1-13 The Church can exist in a world of sin, but it
cannot prosper when a world of sin is brought into
the Church. A ship in the water is fine, but water in
the ship can be disastrous. The members of the
Corinthian Church were busy in promoting divisions
over human leadership, and boasting of their achieve-
ments. Yet in their very midst they tolerated sin of
the vilest order. Paul's blistering words of rebuke
should be studied and heeded by our 21th Century
churches.I. SIN IN THE CHILD OF GOD "It is reported commonly that there is fornication
among you..." I Cor. 5:1. One of the Corinthian
Christians was deeply involved in sin with his step-
mother. This type of fornication was so immoral
that there was no name for it among the Gentiles.
Do not be deceived, any Christian can sin. "If
we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,
and the truth is not in us. If we say that we have
not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not
in us." I John 1:8,10. If we boast of our holiness and
our freedom from sin, we become an easy mark for
the devil. "Wherefore let him that thinketh he stand-
eth take heed lest he fail." I Cor. 10:12.
Here is why it is easy for the Christian to sin.
(1) He still has the flesh. If there was no devil, the
flesh would still crave sin. Read Romans 7. "Dearly
beloved...abstain from fleshly lusts which war
against the soul." I Peter 2:11. "...Have no confi-
dence in the flesh." Phil. 3:3. The flesh cannot be
trusted. (2) He is still in the world with all of its
temptations. The world is no friend of God and no
friend of the Christian. (3) The devil is still running
loose. He is not chained, but is the prince of the
power of the air and the god of this world. He is
the tempter. According to the scriptures, he has
"wiles[,]" "snares," and "devices." He has great
power and is not afraid to use any of his weapons
to lure a Christian into sin.
The Christian should recognize his own sin, con-
fess it, repent of it, and forsake it. "If we confess
our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I
John 1:9. If this is not done, the Christian will soon
feel the chastening of the Lord. Read Hebrews 12:
5-11
God has provided a way of escape so that the
Christian need not go into sin. "There hath no temp-
tation taken you but such as is common to man: but
God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted
above that ye are able; but will with the temptation
also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to
bear it." I Cor. 10:13 Walk with God, avoid the very
appearance of evil, seek His face in prayer, read
and obey His Word, and you will find the key to
victory over sin.II. SIN IN THE CHURCH OF GOD "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth...
It is reported commonly that there is fornication
among you..." I Cor. 1:2-a, 5:1-a Since a church
is made up of individual members, sin in the indi-
vidual constitutes sin in the church. The "church of
God...at Corinth" was a local visible New Testa-
ment Church. The Bible does not teach a universal
invisible church, in fact there is no such thing today.
In I Cor. 12:12-31 the local church with its various
members is compared to a human body with its
various parts. Every part of the human body has a
use and function. Even so, every member of a
Church has a place of work and service that is
needful. Disease or infection in one part of the
human body has an adverse affect on the rest of
the body. Even so, sin in one member of the Church
has an adverse effect upon every member. "And
whether one member suffer, all the members suffer
with it... Now ye are the body of Christ, and
members in particular." I Cor. 12:26-a, 27
One drop of contaminated water will contaminate
a whole reservoir of pure water, but one drop of
pure water will not purify a reservoir of contami-
nated water. One deadly cancer cell can be disas-
trous to an entire body of healthy cells. "A little
leaven leaveneth the whole lump." I Cor. 5:6 The
Church at Corinth had a member who was openly
involved in immorality. The Church had not mourned
over this, nor had they taken any action at all.
This is the great problem in many churches to-
day. Sin is tolerated. Sin is condoned. Sometimes sin
is even promoted in the Church. Preachers, deacons,
and prominent members are commonly reported to
be guilty of fornication and adultery, and nothing
is done about it. The Bible standards for the min-
istry and church officers are ignored in many quar-
ters today. No wonder the world has lost all respect
for the Church. No wonder God withdraws His bless-
ing. Eventually Ichabod is written over the door of
another Church. "The glory is departed." I Sam.
4:21 Then that Church has to resort to worldly car-
nal methods to keep going.
God wants His Church to be doctrinally pure,
and morally pure. In Joshua 7, we see how the sin
of Achan brought defeat to the entire nation of
Israel. When this sin was judged, then God restored
the blessing.III. DISCIPLINE IN THE CHURCH OF GOD Does a Church have the scriptural authority to
deal with doctrinal error and immorality in the con-
gregation? THE ANSWER IS YES!! The Church
not only has the authority to do this, but it has the
COMMAND of God to do so. Yet, we find many to-
day who object to any form of discipline being ex-
ercised in the Church. Failure to exercise discipline
against those guilty of doctrinal heresy has re-
sulted in most of the major denominations being
taken over by the modernists. If a Church fails to
discipline those who are guilty of open immorality,
they seal their own doom. The Church loses its
testimony and the Spirit of God is grieved.SIN SHOULD BE CONDEMNED FROM THE
PULPITSin in general and sins in particular should be
preached against from the pulpit regularly. If this is
done in the right manner, it will keep many Chris-
tians from going into sin. What a pity that so many
preachers are afraid to preach against sin.PAUL'S INSTRUCTION TO THE CHURCH Paul's instruction to the Corinthian Church is
plain. Here is what he told the Church to do: "In
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are
gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of
our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such a one unto
Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit
may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. There-
fore put away from among yourselves that wicked
person." I Cor. 5:4, 5, 13-b In other words, the man
was to be turned out of the Church. He could no
longer be in fellowship with the Church. This did not
doom his soul, but it would purge or remove sin
from the Church body.FIVE BIBLE REASONS FOR DISCIPLINE 1. Immorality as is explained in I Cor. 5:1-13.
2. False doctrine cannot be tolerated by a Church.
See I Tim. 6:1-5; I Tim. 1:19-20; and II Tim. 2:16-
18. "From such withdraw thyself." I Tim. 6:5-b3. A disorderly walk. "Now we command you
brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that
walketh disorderly... For we hear that there are
some which walk among you disorderly, working
not at all, but are busybodies... And if any man
obey not our word by this epistle, note that man,
and have no company with him, that he may be
ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but ad-
monish him as a brother." II Thess. 3:6, 11, 14, 154. Divisions contrary to Bible doctrine. Rom.
16:17, 18; Titus 3:10; Acts 20:28-32
5. Unrepentant attitude over sin. Matt. 18:15-20
"...if he neglect to hear the Church let him be
unto thee as an heathen man and a publican." Matt.
18:17PROPER ATTITUDES IN DISCIPLINE Church discipline has fallen into ill repute, be-
cause it has many times been practiced in an un-
scriptural manner. Harshness, bitterness, and hatred
should have no place in Church discipline. If such
business is conducted in a spirit of anger and emo-
tion, it will probably do more harm than good.
Church members should be mourning, and praying
if others are guilty of sin.
1. Church discipline should be carried out in a
scriptural manner. Spirituality, humility, and meek-
ness should be manifested by those who are taking
action. Read Gal. 6:1 and Matt. 18:15-20.
2. A firm and uncompromising stand is essential.
"Rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in
the faith." Titus 11:13 "Them that sin rebuke before
all, that others also may fear." I Tim. 5:20
3. Love for the erring brother must be manifested.
"Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish
him as a brother." II Thess. 3:15
4. There should be full forgiveness for those who
repent and confess. "...If he repent, forgive him."
Luke 17:3REASONS FOR CHURCH DISCIPLINE 1. Church discipline is commanded in the word
of God. We should obey God.
2. It will remove the defilement of sin. "Purge
out therefore the old leaven." I Cor. 5:7-a Proper
Church discipline will maintain the purity and power
of the Church, and thus retain the blessing of God.
3. It will restrain others. "Them that sin rebuke
before all, that others also may fear." I Tim. 5:20
4. It is always hoped that it will bring about the
repentance and restoration of the erring brother. It
seems quite certain that the immoral man of I Cor.
5, later repented and was restored to fellowship in
the Church. Read II Cor. 2:4-11IV. DISCIPLINE IN THE CHURCH OF GOD
AND THE LORD'S SUPPERThe Bible does not teach open communion. Every
one that loves Jesus is not invited to the Lord's
table. The Lord's Supper is a Church ordinance.
The Church was organized before the institution of
the Lord's Supper. Unsaved nor unbaptized people
are never invited to the Lord's table. The order in
Matt. 28:19 is: (1) Salvation (2) Baptism (3) Ob-
serving of all things, this would of course include
the Lord's Supper. The order in Acts 2:41,42 is:
(1) Salvation (2) Baptism (3) Fellowship (4) Break-
ing of bread.
The command to the Church at Corinth was:
"Keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you."
I Cor. 11:2 The Lord's Supper is the ordinance under
discussion in I Cor. 11.CONDITIONS WHICH PREVENT THE
OBSERVANCE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER"When ye come together in the church, I hear that
there be divisions among you...there must be also
heresies among you.... When ye come together
therefore into one place, this is not to eat the
Lord's Supper." I Cor. 11:18, 19, 20. Notice the
phrase in verse 20, "this is not to eat the Lord's
Supper." The literal meaning of this phrase is:
"Ye cannot eat the Lord's Supper." In the midst of
division, heresies, and disorder such as is described
in I Cor. 11:17-34, it is impossible to eat the Lord's
Supper until these disorders are corrected in the
Church.A BROTHER LIVING IN SIN, IS NOT TO BE
INVITED TO THE LORD'S SUPPER"Now I have written unto you not to keep com-
pany, if any man that is called a brother be a forni-
cator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a
drunkard, or an extortioner; WITH SUCH AN ONE
NO NOT TO EAT." I Cor. 5:11. This makes it
quite plain that "any man that is called a brother"
cannot live in sin and be invited to the Lord's Supper.
This Scripture deals with the present state of the
man, not his past state. Many who are now good
and faithful Christians, once lived in the vilest of sins.
"And such were some of you: but ye are washed,
but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified." I Cor.
6:11.
The only place that the Lord's Supper can scrip-
turally be observed, is in a local New Testament
Baptist Church. Only the members of that local
Church should partake of it. Every person who par-
takes of the Lord's Supper should be a saved, bap-
tized member of that particular Church. The Church
as a body has no way of knowing about the qualifica-
tions of those who are not members of that local
church. . . . "do not ye judge them that are
within?" I Cor. 5:12.
The Bible says, "let a man examine himself, and
so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup."
I Cor. 11:28. If a man will do this, then all will be
well. But if he refuses to examine and judge him-
self, then the Church body has every right to exclude
him from the Church and from the Lord's Supper,
until he repents and confesses.S U M M A R Y 1. Sin in the Child of God, should be confessed
and forsaken. This will save the Child of God from
chastisement.
2. Sin in the Church of God, should be recog-
nized as a threat to the health and welfare of the
entire local Church body.
3. The Church has the authority to deal with sin
in its membership. Members who persist in living
in sin should be excluded from the membership of
the Church, until such time that they confess and
repent of their sin.
4. Church members who are living in sin, should
not be allowed to partake of the Lord's Supper by
the Church.
A proper attitude toward Church discipline will
not make Pharisees out of the Christians. It will
not make spies and snoopers out of the pastor and
other Church officers. It will not cause an out-
break of gossip-fever among the members. When
a Christian gets pleasure or satisfaction in talking
about the sin of fellow Christians, it is proof positive
that their heart is not right with God. When we
see a Christian in sin, we ought to have a broken
heart about it.
The testimony of independent, fundamental Bap-
tist Churches is rapidly being destroyed because of
a failure to practice Church discipline. In these last
days of apostasy, may Churches be awakened to
the awful danger from within.Tract #B-308 Order From: Tabernacle Baptist Church
1911 34th St., E.L. Bynum, former Pastor
P.O. Box 3100, Lubbock, TX 79452Send payment with order and we pay postage!
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