[Biblemat] Article - Question & Answer regarding dis-fellowshiping a backslider

[GLClair at aol.com]

QUESTION  & ANSWER 
QUESTION:                                                                     
                                                                   Hi 
Garreth:                                                                              
                                                       Hope  you and Barbara 
are doing well.  I would like to get your thoughts on  disfellowship.  It is a 
very hard thing to do and I was wondering what your  thoughts and also the 
scripture examples are on this subject.  Thanks for  any help. 
ANSWER:                                                                       
                                                          
SIN AND  HOW TO DEAL WITH IT                           IN THE CONGREGATION 
1.         That  sin is possible for Christians to fall into is taught 
clearly in the Holy  Scriptures from the following passages: 
Galatians 6:1, “Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any  trespass, ye who 
are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness;  looking to 
thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”  ASV 
1 Corinthians 10:12, “Wherefore let him that  thinks he stands take heed lest 
he fall.” 
2 Peter 3:17, “Ye therefore, beloved, knowing (these  things) beforehand, 
beware lest, being carried away with the error of the  wicked, ye fall from your 
own  steadfastness.” 
2.         A BIBLICAL EXAMPLE: 
1 Corinthians  5:1-5, 
“1 It is  actually reported that there is fornication among you, and such 
fornication as  is not even among the Gentiles, that one (of you) hath his 
father's wife  . 
2 And ye are  puffed up, and did not rather mourn, that he that had done this 
deed might be  taken away from among you. 
3 For I  verily, being absent in body but present in spirit, have already as 
though I  were present judged him that hath so wrought this  thing, 
4 in the name of our Lord  Jesus, ye being gathered together, and my spirit, 
with the power of our Lord  Jesus {The action is taken before  the whole 
church – The elders announce to the congregation that this person is  no longer in 
fellowship with the congregation --- This action is equal to the  “DELIVERING 
SUCH A ONE UNTO SATAN} 
5 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.” ASV 
3.         THE RESULTS OF THE ACTION IN CORINTH BY THE  CONGREGATION: 
{The  fornicator was restored and Paul gives them instructions to accept the 
repentant  brother back with full privileges into the  congregation. 
2 Corinthians  2:6-9, 
“6  Sufficient to such a one is this punishment which was (inflicted) by the  
many; 
7 so that  contrariwise ye should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by 
any means  such a one should be swallowed up with his overmuch  sorrow. 
8 Wherefore I beseech you  to confirm (your) love toward him. 
9 For to  this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, 
whether ye are  obedient in all things.” ASV 
4.         THE PROCEDURE IN A CASE OF NECESSARY DISCIPLINE [opinion of glc 
with  Biblical support]: 
The elders  will determine if there have been sins of such a nature that 
disciplinary  measures are necessary --- The elders will first meet with the 
assumed guilty  party to find out that he/she is aware of their guilt of sin. 
Whenever the  sinner’s guilt is determined the elders will proceed following the 
Biblical  formula for such an action. 
REMEMBER  THIS: 
The action  from the beginning to the end is designed to bring the sinner 
back into the  church as the example in the Corinthian case shows --- Love of the 
soul of the  sinner is a paramount purpose in discipline as well as keeping 
the congregation  pure and undefiled by the sins of the member. 
Matthew  18:15-17, 
“15 And if  thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee 
and him alone:  if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy  brother. 
16 But if he  hear (thee) not, take with thee one or two more, that at the 
mouth of two  witnesses or three every word may be  established. 
17 And if he refuses to  hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he 
refuses to hear the  church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the  
publican.”  ASV 
CONCLUSION: 
At this  point congregational action is complete. 

_glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com)  
considermagazine.com 




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