THERE is a " within " in relation to the assembly. We read, " Do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth." (1 Cor. 5:12,1312For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (1 Corinthians 5:12‑13).) " Without " is the sphere of the world. The Christian has to leave the judgment of the world to God. It is not the Christian's sphere to interfere in that which is " without." " Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." (Rom. 12:1919Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. (Romans 12:19).) Within " is the sphere of the assembly. The assembly should be marked by holiness. Saints are called " an holy temple in the Lord " (Eph. 2:2121In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (Ephesians 2:21)), a place where God dwells, and holiness becomes His house.
Discipline has to be maintained in the house of God. We need to carefully gather from Scripture what form it takes, and who come under its action. We might be slack, and allow what would greatly weaken the testimony of God, or we might be hard and exacting beyond what Scripture warrants.' There is always a temptation to religious flesh to mount the judgment seat, which is not of God.
We get instructions as to discipline in 1 Cor. 5. In that assembly there was a man guilty of horrible incest. The Corinthian saints, brought up in all the licentiousness, which was associated with pagan worship, were not grieved and concerned about this evil in their midst. They needed instruction from God, and receiving it, the whole church has had the advantage of it to this present time. The Apostle Paul brought before them the deep seriousness of the matter. He instructed them to excommunicate this man guilty of such wickedness. He exhorts them to " Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened." (1 Cor. 5:77Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: (1 Corinthians 5:7).) Characteristically in God's sight they were unleavened, that being so, let them be unleavened practically. Let their condition answer to what they were in God's sight on the ground of the sacrifice of Christ for them on the cross. The object of this summary judgment was " To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." (1 Cor. 5:55To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (1 Corinthians 5:5).) Excommunication was a fearful thing in those days. The " within " was the sphere where God was known, and whence the light of His truth radiated. The " without " meant the world of paganism and Judaism, Satan's sphere. One might have thought the excommunication of this sinning saint would have been for his destruction. But, no, it was for the destruction of the flesh. It was that his spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. The discipline of the house of God is for the blessing and recovery of the one disciplined. Excommunication is a solemn matter at any time, but in apostolic days to be outside the assembly of God upon earth was to be outside everything Christian, and to be thrown into Satan's sphere. That the discipline of the Lord, which may come in connection with assembly discipline, is for ultimate blessing, is plainly taught in Scripture. We read: " When we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." (1 Cor. 11, 32.) We are happily able to follow the wholesome effect of the discipline meted out to this incestuous man. The Apostle Paul wrote a second epistle to the assembly at Corinth, and referred at length to this case. The first epistle had its due effect in bringing the Corinthian saints to a deep sense of the sin in their midst. The Apostle could write: " Ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter." (2 Cor. 7: 11) It appears the Corinthian saints had almost gone too far in their zeal, as previously they had been too slack. The man had repented of his sin, and had been restored to the Lord. The Corinthian saints had to be exhorted to forgive him, to comfort him, to confirm their love to him. (2 Cor. 2:7,87So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 8Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. (2 Corinthians 2:7‑8).) The flesh likes to be hard oftentimes. It takes the Holy Spirit of God, the spirit of love and grace, and yet faithfulness to the Lord, to lead us to restore an erring one, who has sinned and repented. It is easier to cut off than to restore, easier to pull down than to build.
It is very helpful that the inspired page sets before us what are the departures from holiness that call for excommunication. We read: " I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat." (1 Cor. 5:1111But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. (1 Corinthians 5:11))
This is a serious list we are given, and it forms a guide for us in this solemn matter. Discipline might be carried out too harshly. Not every wrong demands excommunication. Timothy is instructed by the Apostle Paul, " Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear." (r Tim. 5: 2o.) Evidently the sin was not of such a grave nature as to call for excommunication, a public rebuke sufficed, and it would help those, who heard it, to avoid a similar sin. Again we read of the Apostle giving instructions, that if a man was overtaken in a fault, the spiritual among them was to restore such an one, remembering that they too might be tempted. (Gal. 6: I.) So, too, the writer James exhorted that we should confess our faults one to another, and to pray for one another, that healing may be ours. (James 5: 16.) Again we read, "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." (James 5:19, 2019Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. (James 5:19‑20)) These Scriptures show there has to be patience and grace in some cases, and in others, not excommunication, but an open rebuke.
We have helpful instructions scattered through the word of God, on this subject. We read: "We command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us." (2 Thess. 3:66Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. (2 Thessalonians 3:6).) " Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned: and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.'' (Rom. 16:17, 1817Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:17‑18)) These instructions are plain enough.
There is one last Scripture, however, we would call attention to. It relates to heretical teaching as to the Person of our adorable Lord. The aged Apostle John, writing to a lady and her children, tells them how gravely the Holy Spirit of God viewed such teaching. It is well known that these heretical teachings were very rife in the first centuries of the church's history, and they continue to this day. We read: "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that hiddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." (2 John 9-119Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. (2 John 9‑11).) It is not sufficient for the Christian to be clear personally of this evil teaching, for it is subversive of Christianity, but he must be clear also of the person, who teaches it.. Anyone personally clear of the evil teaching, and yet remaining in fellowship with the teacher of this evil doctrine, is a partaker of his evil deeds, and therefore has to be refused, even as the author of the heretical teaching himself.
The Lord give us spiritual zeal for the holiness of God's house, hearts that will yearn after, and bowels of compassion that will feel for the erring, the disorderly, the sinning, and give us grace to welcome the repentant saint, and to confirm our love to him.