Dear brother and sister,
There’s quite a controversy these days in the body regarding how one is supposed to treat the sin of another, especially repeated and unrepentant sin in the body of Christ – His assemblies.
We can safely call this repeated and unrepentant sin as rebellion perpetrated by a rebel against God’s commands and stated authority.
Rebellion is a heinous and eternally dangerous sin to the Majestic Glory. The prophet Samuel rebuked Saul for his refusal to obey the Lord and destroy all the rewards, or spoil, of the evil and conquered Amalakites.
1 Samuel 15:22-23 Samuel said, “Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination (witchcraft), And insubordination (refusal to be subject) is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king.”
Witchcraft, insubordination, iniquity, idolatry. All strong descriptive words that if practiced lead one to hell, and the lake of fire.
Here we’ll see that His Word declares many things uncomfortable and downright rude by western standards toward many so-called believers, and self-professing followers of Christ who practice sin, and who may also call themselves “sinners.” These things include God’s wrath abiding on them, stopping prayer for them, rebuking them in public, shaking the dust off our feet in front of them, warning others orally and in writing about them, Jesus assigning them a place with the unbelievers, calling them names, reproving them severely, rejecting them, turning them over to Satan to destroy their flesh by judging them, calling them fools and perverts, etc.
This piece is not meant to be exhaustive by any means, but does point out an obvious conclusion in the way we’re to treat others like Jesus and His apostles did in the Holy Scriptures.
Just Pray and Pray and Pray?
We hear frequently from many that we’re just to pray and pray and pray for the repeated sinner, the recalcitrant person. Just love them into the kingdom or love them is the doctrine of the day. For God is love. Indeed He is that.
But love is never sticky sentimentality, tolerance, ignoring, or looking the other way for willful sin. If someone is heading off the side of a tall cliff, the loving thing to do is warn and help them before it’s too late.
1 John 3:9-10 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
And again in Galatians…
Galatians 5:19-21 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the only way we can know for certain the mind of God in this age of demonic doctrines (1 Timothy 4.1) is to carefully examine the Holy Scriptures to see how they acted in various situations.
The apostle Paul was adamant about obedience to the faith, as was the Lord Jesus, and was constantly exhorting and rebuking his church plants, especially the Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 4:21 What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?
Here we see that he can come to them with love and gentleness vs. a “rod.” But what is that love and gentleness when put under the scrutiny of His Word? As an aside, both the rod and the “love’ here are God’s love. Let’s be clear on that!
Prayer is a good thing to employ for the souls of our brethren and the lost. But there comes a time when we don’t pray anymore for them.
1 John 5:16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this.
Do We Keep On Allowing Them to Sin Without Action?
We’ve written and spoke extensively that the only way to really love God is to obey Him implicitly and consistently. That much is for certain in that God makes it clear. God may be waiting for a sinner to repent, but as His kingdom emissaries and ambassadors we still need to follow Him and help clear out the leaven.
Below we quote Jesus Christ, and then His cousin, John the Baptizer.
John 15:13-14 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you…”
John 3:36 “He who believes in (obeys) the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
So, if we love, we admonish over sin and strive as Paul declares.
Colossians 1:28-29 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
We all know about going to a brother or sister and exposing the deeds of darkness. There’s the occasion for private sin against us (Matt. 18) and public sin against the body.
First, private sin per Jesus:
Matthew 18:15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother…”
Then public sin per Paul:
Galatians 2:11 But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I (Paul) opposed him to his face (publicly), because he stood condemned.
And if they really do repent, how then are we to treat them?
Galatians 6:1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
But How Often Do We Allow Them to Sin and Just Forgive?
Many are fond of quoting Jesus’ words to forgive seventy times seven. Good and holy idea. But forgiveness and dealing with an unrepentant sinner’s offense are two distinctly separate things.
What about the above passage that love covers a multitude of sins? Well, it’s not toleration or ignoring them, but moving on after admonishment if the repentant person has been restored in a spirit of gentleness (Gal. 6).
Admonishment is the key element in holiness and mature completion:
Colossians 1:28-29 We proclaim Him, admonishing (shaping the will with warning) every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
Here’s the Word of God again when we evangelize…
Matthew 10:14-15 “Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city…”
Acts 13:50-52 But the Jews incited the devout women of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. But they shook off the dust of their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
In evangelism, we get one shot, one opportunity…notice the joy in them as they moved on to their next assignment from the Spirit! After shaking their dust off their feet.
What about the so-called brethren?
Titus 3:10-11 Reject a factious (causing sinful division) man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.
If you rebuke and reprove, they may very well leave anyway, since some are really disapproved already in the eyes of our Lord. So the rebuke is not the sin, but the arrogant response.
1 Corinthians 11:18-19 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions (those causing sinful divisions) among you, so that those who are approved (and disapproved) may become evident among you.
Do We Name Names of the Unrepentant Sinners Who Oppose Us?
Yes, in short. They did all the time. And so should we as well. The sheep need protection and feeding.
Luke 13:31-32 Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him, “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He (Jesus) said to them, “Go and tell that fox (Herod), ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’
2 Timothy 4:14-15 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching.
3 John 1:9-10 I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them out of the church.
Notice brother John in his 3rd letter above rebuked publicly, to help spare those in the body of Christ from falling away.
How Did Jesus and The Apostles Treat the Unrepentant Sinner?
We saw how they all shook the dust off their feet after an initial rejection, the first time. This was a literal shaking of the leg in protest against them.
But what about our Lord and His apostles?
Luke 13:2-5 And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Repent…now…or perish. Very dicey.
Luke 9:41 And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”
Perverts. Wow. These are not just the false religious leaders, the Pharisees, but the people of the land.
Then does Jesus Christ step over the line here in civil decorum, and being nice as moderns count it?
Luke 6:24-26 “But woe (cursed) to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way…”
A curse upon them. Very ungracious and unkind as western Christians and many others today define love, no?
One major objection the serious soldier of the Lord encounters is that you aren’t Jesus and can’t act “like” Him since He was God alone.
Ridiculous. An excuse is a skin on reason stuffed with a lie. This demonic attitude denies the very humanity of Christ, and is a heresy.
The Holy Scriptures declare the opposite, that we are called, and commanded, to act like God, and greater works we will do that Jesus Himself!
1 John 2:3-6 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps (guards) His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
John 14:12-15 “Truly, truly, I (Jesus Christ) say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
And the five churches, His children, in Revelation get a severe warning, with the church in Sardis already having most of their members 
erased from the Book of Life.
To Ephesus – the message is repent, or else He’ll wipe them out:
Revelation 2:5 ‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.
To Pergamum – the message is repent, or else He’ll wipe them out too:
Revelation 2:16 ‘Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.
To Thyatira – repent, and endure to the end:
Revelation 2:20-23 ‘But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality.
‘Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.
Revelation 2:25-26 ‘Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS;
To Sardis – repent, for many had already been erased from the book of life:
Revelation 3:1-3 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.
Revelation 3:5-6 ‘He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
To Laodecia – repent, and escape being vomited out of the Lord’s mouth:
Revelation 3:17-19 ‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
Jesus Christ was no less soft on His other children and the unsaved throughout the Gospel records when it came to sin and provoking others to holiness. It’s what we would call rude. There’s dozens and dozens of examples.
Matthew 7:6 “Do not give what is holy to dogs (in your church), and do not throw your pearls before swine (in your church), or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Luke 12:45-46 “But if that slave (believer and disciple) says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
Luke 13:2-5 And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
John 6:64-69 “But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.
So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”
Matthew 16:23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”
Luke 12:54, 56 And He was also saying to the crowds (not just the religious leaders)…”You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?
Mark 11:15-17 Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves; and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple. And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS’? But you have made it a ROBBERS’ DEN.”
Luke 10:41-42 But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Matthew 15:24-26 But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
Matthew 17:14-17 When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. “I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.” And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.”
To quote author Mark Galli about Jesus’ actions to the leaders, especially the church leaders:
Jesus’ attitude toward authorities is hardly respectful. He calls Herod a fox (Luke 13:32), and he castigates the scribes and Pharisees at length, mocking them as “blind guides” and “hypocrites” (Matt. 23:24-25), and practically curses them, saying, “You are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth” (Matt. 23:27).
And What About The Apostles?
Is there any relief here to this seemingly caustic way of dealing with unrepentant sinners?
The martyr Stephen’s last words of rebuke:
Acts 7:51-53 “You men (religious leaders of the church of the day)who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.”
The apostle James calling those in the body names…
James 4:4-5 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”?
Peter’s words to Ananias just before God kills him for lying:
Acts 5:3-5 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it.
Paul to the seekers, stonewallers, and their leaders:
Acts 18:5-6 But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
Acts 28:24-29 Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe. And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, saying, ‘GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY, “YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES; OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.”‘ Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen.” When he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.
Paul to the Corinthians uses rebuke and sarcasm to stun them out of their arrogant stupor:
1 Corinthians 4:8-14 You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you. For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor.
To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now. I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
1 Corinthians 15:36 You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies;
Paul employs naming names of those who opposed his gospel, and to be on guard against them, and will repay him for his evil:
2 Timothy 4:14-15 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching.
Paul on those in one of his ministry areas:
Titus 1:12-14 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they (believers) may be sound in the faith…
Paul on judgment in the church, removing a sinner and turning them over to Satan:
1 Corinthians 5:9-13 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.
1 Corinthians 5:3-5 For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Titus 3:10-11 Reject a factious (hairetikos = causing division by “heresy”) man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.
What Now?
In conclusion, the Gospel truth is offensive to those rebellious people in sin and practicing sin. Even in the church system, His body. This truth is a stench of death to those complacent and even perishing. Nice in not the point. Even if Jesus appears mean.
We’re never more like Jesus Christ when we act in these ways to help keep and purify His bride. Of course, you will be hated and put out of the synagogue (the church) for walking worthy!
You’re in good company, dear one! Suffering reproach outside the camp, the comfortable and sinners claiming you’re wrong and unkind and intolerant…sound familiar?
Hebrews 13:13-14 So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.
Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Your friend and brother in fighting the good fight,
Marc
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Saints, we’re one day closer to Home, and Him! Love Him wholeheartedly!
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Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Marc White, Director, Walk Worthy Ministries, www.WalkWorthy.org
