Category: Discipline

Our Lord Jesus taught us to love, and to exercise mercy and forbearance toward others. With this the writings of all the apostles agree. This is because the Holy Spirit is the author of scripture. What the men wrote agree with Jesus because the Holy Spirit and Jesus are one. This is affirmed in John 16. In this passage Jesus said of the Spirit, “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”

In the midst of calls to love and practice patience with others, Paul wrote by inspiration in Titus 3:10-11, “Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.” We might ask, “Why does Paul encourage such fast discipline against this type of sin?”

Consider it’s nature, as described here. Division is antithetical to the unity to which Christians are called. Jesus prayed that we might all be one as He and the Father were one. A divisive man is a destructive force, thwarting the efforts for us all to be one!

The divisive man is warped. His nature has not been altered by his nominal claim to be a follower of the Lord. His actions condemn him, and if he is unwilling to change his ways, he should be refused quickly.

The divisive man infects the body of Christ. This we must not allow!

A discussion of the book of Ezra, giving an overview, and examining several points of importance suggested by the book.

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The apostle reveals the primary purpose of church discipline (to save the soul) in 2 Corinthians 2:3-11).

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You know how it is, the child always wanting something, asking to do something, asking to go somewhere with someone, and the father saying no. It frustrates both the child and the parent, but when done for the right reasons, it is very helpful. The child may not know why a request may be unreasonable, dangerous or unwise, but often the father does. Because he loves his child, he wants to protect his child, saving him from unwise choices and negative consequences. This is how the apostle Paul felt toward the Corinthians. Paul rebuked them sharply in his first recorded letter, but his motivation was love.  Continue reading “Paul Acted Just Like A Father” →

Though Jude’s primary purpose was to warn about false teacher’s, he also writes several words of instruction to his readers.  In fact, verses 20-23 contain such, beginning with the phrase “But you…”  As such these have application in our lives as well.

Build your faith (through an examination and cultivation of God’s word. We are to constantly be improving in our Christian walk).  Pray in the Holy Spirit (this most probably indicates that we are to pray in accord with God’s will, that which the Holy Spirit has shared through His inspiration of the word). Keep yourselves in the love of God (this is our responsibility, to keep ourselves in God’s love. Obedience is how we show our devotion and love for Him). Look for Christ’s mercy (as Cornelius and other seeker’s of truth have done).

Finally, verses 22-23 explain how we are to deal with the sins of others. This depends upon the circumstances of the sin and sinner, how fully they are taken in the sin, and what is best to save them.  Some need longsuffering and compassion, while others need a more direct  and hasty treatment, “pulling them out of the fire” (23).

Jude finishes his dissertation on the false teachers troubling disciples in the first 19 verses of his letter.

In verse 20 Jude begins to establish what Christians are to do to avoid the fate of those caught in error. To combat error it is necessary to build oneself up via faith.  Since faith derives from the word of God (cf. Romans 10:17), this entails study and application. It also requires prayer, and the obedience which is a prerequisite to any sustained relationship with God.

A proper application of our obedience is seen in our treatment of  those in sin.  It requires knowledge and discernment, allowing one to make a “distinction.” Is an expression of compassion required to save a soul? Or, is it more appropriate to act boldly, lest ungodly influences gain a hold, and lead to the fall of others. The key is “making a distinction” (22). Faithful Christians are to be sympathetic to all men, however, they can’t all be treated the same. Like the false teachers discussed, arrogance and destruction must be dealt with firmly.

In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, near the end of his letter, he gave his friend a warning, “Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. You must also beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words” (2 Timothy 4:14-15).

Such identification or marking of those dangerous to the faith was done on numerous occasions in the first century. Paul also named Demas (2 Timothy 4:10), Hymenaeus and Philetus (2 Timothy 2:15). John marked Diotrephes in his third letter.

Paul not only identified those destructive to the faith, but encouraged other Christians to do the same. “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. ¹⁸ For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceived the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17-18).

The reasons this is needed and expected are obvious from the texts. First, Timothy needed to be aware of and careful about the coppersmith. If he did Paul harm, it stands to reason that Timothy could be harmed as well. Second, those who act in this way are acting contrary to the faith and the Lord. While it is never a pleasant task it is important to protect the righteous against such ungodliness. The worldly might not see it, but it is God’s way.

In this lesson, Justin explains a good (though radical) way to deal with sin, and even better way to deal with it, and then discusses the best way to handle the issue of sin.

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The New Testament is rather clear about the importance of discipline among God’s people. Consider the following passages:

(Titus 3:10-11), “Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.”

(Romans 16:17), “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.”

Continue reading “The Patternists: Why is Discipline Lacking?” →

In 1 Corinthians 5, the apostle Paul admonished the congregation there for maintaining fellowship with a sexually immoral man, “such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife!” (1).

He called upon them to withdraw their fellowship from this man. “Deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh…” (5). The purpose of this disciple was “…that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (5).

Continue reading “The Patternists: Restoring a Penitent Man” →

God corrects and teaches His people. In the same way, parents are to correct and teach their children, and churches their members.

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Fall 2014 Meeting
Speaker: Bryan Gary of Dumas, TX

In 2 Timothy 1:13, Paul wrote Timothy, “Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” (NASB).

This fourth in a series of 9 lessons emphasizes what the Bible teaches about Discipline, and examines some of the perversions of men on that aspect of God’s will.

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Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

2 Corinthians 2:4 explains Paul’s motivation for admonishing the Corinthians. When we receive admonition, it is good to remember why our brother feels compelled to correct us.

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Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

In 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Paul identifies those among them who were walking disorderly, and gives the exhortation to not grow weary in doing good.

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