EXCOMMUNICATION IS FOR THE GLORY OF CHRIST: 1 Corinthians 5:9-13

DOCTRINE. Excommunication must be carried out by a visible church when necessary for the glory of Christ.

Church discipline, and excommunication when necessary, must be carried out by a visible church: for the good of the unrepentant, the purity of the church, and, ultimately, for the glory of Christ. The text before us in 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 deals with that third reason—the glory of Christ. 

QUESTION. What is excommunication? ANSWER. Excommunication is the last step in church discipline, when a visible church removes a professed Christian from the communion of the saints for the good of the sinner, the purity of the church, and for the glory of Christ. 

Now before we look at the main argument of these verses of Scripture, I think we should look at the context and make note of a few specific things so that we do not misunderstand what God is saying and draw wrong conclusions for our everyday lives. Consider the context: “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world” (1 Cor. 5:9-10). I think it would do us some good to make four preliminary points crystal clear here, before we see exactly what God is telling us to do concerning excommunication: 

I) Church Discipline, and excommunication when necessary, is not something carried out on those outside the visible church. Church discipline and excommunication is carried out on those inside the covenant community.

II) What God prescribes in 1 Corinthians 5 does not mean you cannot associate with an unbeliever in a neighbor to neighbor relationship. Buying, selling, trading, and forms of normal lawful commerce and communications are permissible with the wicked, though you should take care never partake or participate in their sins. Neighbor love is not only permitted but also commanded even to the wicked. The Good Samaritan did not first ask whether or not the bloodied and battered man on the side of the road was righteous or wicked. He simply gave him the neighbor love we must give to all, even to our enemies.

III) What God prescribes in 1 Corinthians 5 means you must not associate with a wicked professed believer in a Christian to Christian relationship. An excommunicated person is not to be treated as a Christian for their own good, the purity of the church, and, ultimately, for the glory of Christ.

IV) Though you will have neighbor to neighbor relationships with them, you must not have companionship with the wicked. You and I must not have brother to brother or sister to sister or friend to friend relationships with those who hate Christ and hold his Law in contempt. “There is a necessary commerce with men in buying and selling, or, as the apostle says, we must go out of the world—but do not voluntarily choose the company of the wicked” (Thomas Watson, The Lord’s Prayer). 

Let me give you five principles concerning friendship with the wicked. First, Keeping company with the wicked will ruin even a strong life, and it will surely pull down into hell a weak one. “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals’ (1 Cor. 15:33). Second, Making friendship with the wicked will end up entangling you in a trap. “Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare” (Proverbs 22:24-25). You become like who you make friendship with. Third, Mingling among those who do not love Christ or who hold His Law in contempt will likely lead to you not loving Christ or you holding His Law in contempt. “[Israel] mingled among the pagans and adopted their evil customs” (Ps. 106:35, NLT). Fourth, Being a companion of fools will bring great harm to you. “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Prov. 13:20). Do you want to suffer great harm? If yes, then surround yourself with those who are wise in their own eyes and do not bend the knee to Christ in word and deed. Do you want to be wise so that you can love God, hate sin, and enjoy God? If yes, then surround yourself with those who have Christ as their anchor and have tied themselves to the mast of the ship, which is the Word of God. Fifth, Having a brotherly love for those who hate the Lord will likely incite God’s wrath against you. Jehu says to King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 19:2, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the LORD.” 

Strong Christians do not pull up weak sinners onto the ground. A weak sinner can pull you down into the pit easier than you can pull him out. Who you are good friends with is incredibly important. You must not be close friends with those who do not love Christ or do not love to obey Christ. I learned many evil ways by being good friends with a few boys in my neighborhood as a child. Be so very careful who you keep company with, beloved! “Oh, if you would not miss the kingdom of heaven, beware of evil company! Bad company is the bane and poison of the youth of this age. Such as were once soberly inclined, by coming among the profane, grow familiar, until at last they keep one another company in hell” (Thomas Watson, The Lord’s Prayer). 

One may object with, “Yes, but Jesus ate with sinners and tax collectors.” I would respond firstly with, “And who do you think you are in that story?” I would respond secondly with, “Yes, He did, and He told them to repent of their sins, leave their wickedness, trust in Him, and obey His commands.” So I ask you, who do you keep company with? Who are your best friends? Who do you spend time with? Who do you get counsel from? Who do you confide in? 

DOCTRINE. Excommunication must be carried out by a visible church when necessary for the glory of Christ.

I want to show you four main points of instruction and direction from verses 11-13. But let me quickly make something else clear before. There is a distinction we need to make between the invisible church and the visible church. Consider questions 106, 105, and 104 in The Baptist Catechism. Q. 106. What is the invisible church? A. The invisible church is the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ the head (Eph. 1:10; 1:22,23; John 10:16; 11:52). Q. 105. What is the visible church? A. The visible church is the organized society of professing believers, in all ages and places, wherein the Gospel is truly preached and the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper rightly administered (Acts 2:42; 20:7; Acts 7:38; Eph. 4:11,12). Q. 104. What is the duty of those who are rightly baptized? A. It is the duty of those who are rightly baptized to give up (join) themselves to some visible and orderly church of Jesus Christ, that they may walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless (Acts 2:46,47; Acts 9:26; 1 Peter 2:5; Heb. 10:25; Rom. 16:5). What we are dealing with in 1 Corinthians 5 has to do with the visible church, even a particular visible church, which it is the duty of every baptized to believer to join with. Now for the four main points derived from 1 Corinthians 5:11-13: 

I. YOU WHO ARE WITHIN THE VISIBLE CHURCH MUST NOT EVEN HAVE TABLE FELLOWSHIP WITH A WICKED PROFESSED BELIEVER. “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler-not even to eat with such a one” (1 Cor. 5:11).

II. YOU WHO ARE WITHIN THE VISIBLE CHURCH MUST TAKE PART IN MAKING JUDGEMENTS IN MATTERS OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE. “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?” (1 Cor. 5:12). Matthew Pool comments, “[The visible church’s] jurisdiction extends not to heathens; God has entrusted to [us] not the government of the world, but the government of his church. . . . Nor would I have you concern yourselves further, than in judging your own members, those that are within the pale of your church, and who, by a voluntary joining with you, have given you a power over them.”

III. YOU WHO ARE OUTSIDE THE VISIBLE CHURCH DO NOT HAVE THE BLESSING OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE BUT ONLY THE TERROR OF GOD’S JUDGEMENT. “God judges those outside” (1 Cor. 5:13a). Matthew Poole again comments, “Heathens that live brutish and scandalous lives, God will judge them; the church hath nothing to do with them, they never gave up themselves to them, and are only under the justice of God in the administrations of his providence.”

IV. YOU WHO ARE WITHIN THE VISIBLE CHURCH MUST, WHEN NECESSARY, EXCOMMUNICATE WICKED PROFESSED BELIEVERS FOR THE GLORY OF CHRIST. "Purge the evil person from among you" (1 Cor. 5:13b). Paul is quoting from multiple places in the book of Deuteronomy and applying it to the church. Concerning false prophets in Deuteronomy 13:5, the conclusion is, “So you shall purge the evil from your midst.” Concerning evil in general, especially gross idolatry in Deuteronomy 17:2-7, Moses concludes with, “So you shall purge the evil from your midst.” Concerning rebelling against priest or judge in Deuteronomy 17:12, the conclusion is, “So you shall purge the evil from Israel.” Concerning rebellious sons in Deuteronomy 21:18-21, the end of that matter is, “So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear.” Concerning sexual immorality in Deuteronomy 22:20-24, Moses’ conclusion is, “So you shall purge the evil from your midst.” This is not merely Moses, but God speaking through Him in the Scriptures. This is the background for what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5:13.

Why was Israel to “purge the evil doers from their midst” and why must the New Covenant Church also? Because the Lord’s people, who have had the image of God restored in them by the grace of Christ, are representatives of the Lord Himself for His glory. 

“You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy” (Lev. 19:2). Believers, not only individually, but corporately, we together are representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ on this earth. “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Pet. 1:14-16). Beloved, not only individually, but corporately, we together are children of God who represent our Father who has adopted us.

Consider all the benefits Christ bought for His people on the cross as you meditate on Ezekiel 36:22-27. 

“Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” — Ezekiel 36:22-27

Why must we, when necessary, excommunicate wicked professed believers? For this ultimate reason: Christ is owed pure visible Churches, both sin-hating and righteousness-loving, for His glory. This is why He died and was raised again. Do you want Christ to receive what He is owed?

USE THIS TRUTH FOR EXAMINATION, YOU WHO PROFESS CHRIST. Do you love your brothers enough to excommunicate them if necessary, so that they may be humbled and repent—so that their souls may be saved? Do you love the church enough to excommunicate unrepentant professed believers, so that the church may be pure? Yet here is the most important question: Do you love Christ enough to excommunicate unrepentant professed believers, so that He may receive what is owed to Him for His bloody death? 

USE EZEKIEL 36 FOR WARNING, YOU WHO ARE STILL OUTSIDE OF CHRIST. You who are unconverted still belong to this world, meaning those who are in rebellion to God. If Christ does not snatch you up by His grace, you will forever be scattered among sinners and never be gathered to God. You who are still unrepentant have filthy hands and filthy clothes as you stand before God in your sins. If you will not trust in and submit to Christ, you will never have your sins forgiven. You who are unregenerate have idols that capture your heart as you love sin and cannot bring yourself to part with your rebellion to God’s kind rule! You must be born again. You need God to do something to you that you cannot control. So cry out to Him to cause you to be born again. Go to John 3:1-16 and read it over and over, asking God to give you this New Birth. You who refuse to trust in and submit to Christ have a heart that is likened to a stone. There is no love for Christ, only love for yourself and sin. You must be born again. You who are outside of Christ do not have God the Holy Spirit, therefore you do not have the desire nor the energy to obey Christ out of grateful joy! You need to be converted. You need to be born again. 

You—every one of you—need to turn from your sin, trust in Christ to save you, submit to Christ to rule you, be baptized in water, join the church, and walk in holiness for God’s glory and your joy with His people until the day you die.

LASTLY, LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU TO USE EZEKIEL 36 FOR COMFORT, ALL YOU WHO BELONG TO CHRIST. You Christians have been taken from among the nations to be Christ’s prized possession. You believers have been sprinkled with clean water and made clean from all your sinful uncleannesses through the death of Christ in your place. You have been cleansed from all your idolatry, having the enslaving power of sin broken by the Holy Spirit giving you new life. You have a new heart that has affection for Christ and hatred for sin. You have God the Holy Spirit actively at work in so that you would be careful to obey the commands of Christ for the glory of Christ. Hallelujah! May we never take any of this for granted.