1 Corinthians 5:9-13

The extent of church discipline 1 Corinthians 5:9-13: The church had authority to practice discipline only among its members. Paul is not talking about the church dealing with fornicators of the world. He said, "I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But 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. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person." (1 Corinthians 5:9-13)

The church must practice discipline among its members. It has an obligation to withdraw its fellowship from those that cannot be reached with more moderate approaches. It is imperative that the conduct of the church be such that “the name of God and the doctrine be not blasphemed.” (1 Timothy 6:1) Yet, the we have not done well in the practice of consistent church discipline. Is it any wonder that the church is weaker today than it has been in decades? Withdrawing fellowship from a sinful brother is not an act of revenge against those that have fallen from the faith. It is an act of love designed to restore the fallen brother and it is also an act designed to protect the church from his sinful practice.