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| From trekearth with saturation added |
I present brief research and provide a short presentation motivated by a recent sermon I heard at Northview Community Church.
Matthew 18: 15-20
English Standard Version
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Matthew 16:19
English Standard Version 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed[a] in heaven.”
Footnotes: Matthew 16:19 Or shall have been bound… shall have been loosed
In basic agreement with the Northview sermon:
In regard to Matthew 18: 19: From the Pastor Courson commentary
'Jesus is saying. "Church it's your job to bind sin. Sin is bound in heaven. Therefore you have authority to bind it on earth. Righteousness and holiness, mercy and forgiveness are released in heaven. Therefore you have been given authority to release them on earth." Binding and loosing speak of the authority the Church has in dealing with matters where sin is flagrantly, contently and obnoxiously practiced.' (146). The text also notes that church discipline is presented in like-manner in 1 Corinthians 5. Here is the story of the man in the Church delivered to Satan for discipline, because of sinful lifestyle. Following repentance, this is to lead to forgiveness and restoration. (146).
Notice, there is a distinct and definitive theological difference between, sin lifestyle as is being described in these texts, and the concept of each an every Christian being sinful or a sinner by nature (Romans, Hebrews). Until the resurrection and full human restoration (1 Corinthians 15, Revelation 21-22), those in Jesus Christ will be minimally tainted by sin. But this should be distinctly different than living a sinful, non-Biblical lifestyle. Even though the atonement and resurrection covers all in Christ, each believer is post-mortem, ultimately judged for works rendered in Christ (2 Corinthians 5, also Ephesians 2, James).
Pastor Courson in Matthew 16: 19, describes how the Church while binding sin, should be in harmony with heaven. (God, my add) (129). In regard to Peter, what I have heard Pastor Courson discuss online, is in basic agreement with William Barclay:
'There is no reason to doubt that Jesus gave to Peter a leading place, but this is the leading place expressed in terms of the church as an institution.' (65). And as the book of Acts forward, demonstrated, Peter was a key Apostle, although the Apostle Paul wrote more New Testament texts. Peter is key leader and Apostle, but not necessarily the preeminent leader and Apostle.
Based on the Northview sermon, Courson sermons and the texts referenced; I reason that those within the Church that flee church discipline, are risking rejecting the divinely sanctioned discipline of the Church.
Yes, church discipline can be in error and in the wrong spirit, but church discipline based in reasonable, contextual exegesis, guided by the Holy Spirit, to bind sinful, non-biblical, lifestyle, should be obeyed.
BARCLAY, WILLIAM (1966)(1975) Introduction to the First Three Gospel, Westminster Press, Philadelphia.
COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.
