SEMESTER 2
323 – Sin in the Church
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: ECCLESIOLOGY II LESSON # 23
SIN IN THE CHURCH
INTRODUCTION:
1. The subject of sin in the church is relevant to both membership and discipline.
2. This subject must be separated from discipline, for sin will have devastating effects, whether or not discipline is neglected.
3. The effects are greater when discipline is not properly carried out.
4. Membership in the church rightly places one who sins in the position of being disciplined, both logically and scripturally.
5. Thus, the order of our lessons: Membership, Sin and Discipline.
I. THE REALITY OF SIN IN THE CHURCH
I have often seen people act as if a church found to have sin in it was a rare, surprising phenomenon to be abandoned.
1. The church at Jerusalem had sin in it. (Acts 5:1-4
, Acts 6:1)
2. There was sin in the church at Corinth. (I Cor. 5:1-13)
3. Since churches today have people, they all have sin in them. (Rom. 7:15-24)
4. Persistence of it was supposed by Christ. (Mat. 18:16-17)
II. THE EFFECT OF SIN IN THE CHURCH
1. Let us never suppose that common existence makes acceptability.
2. Sin in the church, especially when accepted, has devastating effects.
3. Notice that in Revelation, chapters 2 and 3 divine punishment is implied for all the sin in the church, and specific ones are named in such verses as Rev. 2:16, Rev. 2:22-24, Rev. 3:3, Rev. 3:15, Rev. 3:19.
4. It also has intra-church effects. (I Cor. 5:6)
III. THE JUDGING OF SIN IN THE CHURCH
1. Many people appeal to Mat. 7:1 and 2 to forbid all judgment within the church, and to permit human freedom in everything.
2. This passage deals with harsh, self-righteous judgment, and was not given to arrest or retard church discipline.
3. I Cor. 5:11-13 and I Cor. 6:1-5 forbid us to give Mat. 7:1 and 2 the “hands off” interpretation, or to neglect church discipline.
4. The pattern should, however, always be after a biblical manner.
i. After private reconciliation has been attempted, when the offense is personal.
a) Understand Peter did not go to Ananias, because it was not a personal matter.
ii. The principle of “between him and thee” should be followed, no gossip.
iii. A spirit of meekness should always prevail. (Gal. 6:1)
iv. If the person confesses the wrong and states repentance, he should be immediately forgiven. (Lk. 17:4)
a) Scripture never supposes obligation to, or even possibility of, forgiveness except where repentance is professed.
b) Nevertheless, a desire for reconciliation should always prevail.
v. Withdrawal of fellowship should never carry finality (except in heresy) but should always be accompanied with admonition and promise.
vi. Wisdom should be used, so as not to make the exposure a greater occasion for the lost and weak to stumble, than the sin was.
vii. It must never be implemented by anyone for revenge.
IV. THE DANGER OF NOT JUDGING SIN IN THE CHURCH (I COR. 5:6
)
1. Sin, not purged, not only spreads but it begets more sin.
2. Sin in any form, person, or organization is progressive. (Jam. 1:15)
3. Proper judgment of sin in the church serves as a preventative. (Acts 5:10-13, I Tim. 5:20)
4. Not judging sin is, both indirectly and directly, sin within itself. (I Cor. 5:4-7, I Cor. 5:11)
5. Not judging sin tends to encourage the offender to continue in his sin, thus it is sin against him.