Balance In the Exercise of Authority

Transcript

GR 1830
02/21/2016
Balance in the Exercise of Authority
2 Corinthians 13:5-10
Gil Rugh

We're going to be in 2 Corinthians 13 in your Bibles. We are coming to the close of this letter of the Apostle Paul. This letter is one of numerous contacts he has had with the Corinthian church. He has had a couple of visits. He has written several letters and he is anticipating a third personal visit to Corinth. And that occasions the letter. This section of Paul's writings has been very personal, particularly these last chapters of this letter. And Paul has exposed something of his own heart, the ministry God entrusted to him, the trials and difficulties that are associated with that and the particular burden he bears for the Corinthian church. It's a church that he had established, the record of that is in Acts 18. He spent 18 months in ministry there, grounding them and building them up. He has written several letters to them, at least two previous ones that we know of—1 Corinthians as we have it in our Bibles, and in that letter he refers to a letter he had written earlier to them. And then the present letter of 2 Corinthians. So numerous contacts. But it's a church that struggles and I take it the Spirit of God has put it here in the Word of God because the Corinthian church is not abnormal. And so we see something of what goes on in the church and how things are to be dealt with, and things that have to be dealt with so the church can grow.

Paul concludes this letter not on the upbeat note that you might expect at the end of a letter, but with some strong warning and exhortation. 2 Corinthians 13 opened up by saying “This is the third time I am coming to you.” And that's the context of this letter. It's a letter that will precede his arrival, and he writes hoping that they will take to heart what he has to say because there are things in the church at Corinth that need to be dealt with. There is ongoing sin that continues to be practiced. Some of those sins that he is concerned about are mentioned at the end of 2 Corinthians 12, verses 20-21. And you'll note verse 20 begins, “I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you not to be what I wish” and you'll find me not to be what you wish because I'll have to come to mete out discipline because I may find, and he lists these sins—“strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances.” And then he repeats, “I am afraid that when I come again my God may humble me,” humiliate me, humble me before you “and I may mourn over the many who have sinned in the past” and they continue to sin. They have not repented. “Impurity, immorality, sensuality.” It's a church with many issues to be dealt with.

But Paul has a deep concern and love for them and he wants them to deal with it before he comes. You might think that he had reached the point of exasperation and I just am writing to tell you when I come I'm coming down on you with both feet and this will be taken care of once for all. But that's not why he writes. He writes it as “I want you to take care of these things so that the sin is dealt with and stopped before I come. Then when I come I won't have to personally deal with it.”

The context of this is, you'll remember if you've been with us, there have been accusations and questions about Paul's apostleship and its legitimacy. And false apostles have made their way from the outside into the church at Corinth and their influence has been felt. And Paul has been viewed as weak by many and part of that weakness is he is trying to deal with the problems by a letter and yet when he is personally present with them, they view him as weak. And so he is writing to tell them that he is ready to use the full power that God has delegated to him as an apostle if necessary. 2 Corinthians 13:2, “I have previously said when present the second time that though now absent I say in advance, those who have sinned in the past and all the rest as well, if I come again I will not spare you.” Don't misunderstand my previous contacts, that because I didn't come down finally with power and authority to deal with issues that I am reluctant to use my power. I'm warning you, this visit will be authoritative. I won't spare, anyone who is continuing in their sin will be dealt with. “Since you seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me and who is not weak toward you but mighty in you.” All right, you want the power sign of apostleship. Then he reminds them, “my ministry has followed the pattern of Christ, He is the One who is meek and lowly. He was the One” in verse 4, “who was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. We also are weak in Him yet we will live with Him because of the power of God toward you.” We will manifest in our life, now His power if that's necessary. But his weakness has been a demonstration of love, concern, humility on Paul's part. He much preferred that they deal with the problems, but if they don't the same power that was evidenced in Christ's life and even though those who crucified Him saw it as a sign of weakness, it was the controlling of His power to accomplish what needed to be done, the power that would be manifested at the proper time. Paul says I have appeared weak because I was doing what was necessary to help you come along. But for those who refuse to come along, then they will experience the power of my authority. That pattern of Christ becomes his example. And I've manifested the humility of Christ which you saw as weakness, now I am ready to manifest the power that was present in Christ and is present in me as His representative.

He moves in verses 5ff and he is going to turn things around. Verse 3 says “since you were seeking for proof of the Christ who speak in me who is not meek toward you but mighty in you.” They have experienced the power of God's salvation provided for them in Christ when they placed their faith in Him. You are seeking proof that Christ is working in me. That word proof is going to become a key word, particularly in verses 5-7. It will be used five times, we'll make note of it further in a moment. But he is going to turn things around. You've been looking for proof, a word that gives the idea of putting to the test so that it can be approved. You've been putting me to the test to see if I pass the test to be approved as a genuine apostle.

Well now he is going to turn it around and he is going to say you've been looking for proof of my genuineness, you ought to be putting yourself to the test to see if you are approved or genuine. So verse 3 and what they are looking for in Paul. He is going to tell them they have things turned around. And the purpose is not to just put them on the spot, but if they come to the conclusion as they test themselves that they are genuine, that Christ does indeed dwell in them and His power, that will validate Paul's apostleship. Because how did they come to know Christ? Paul came and brought them the message of the Gospel, they heard it and believed it. The power of God worked in their lives and brought their salvation. So if they are genuine, how can you question Paul's genuineness, the instrument that led them to Christ. That will be his line of reasoning.

Let me draw your attention to the words here, the same basic words, different forms but the same basic word. Used five times in verses 5-7 and it's the same word used in verse 3. The verb form (for some of you who have taken Greek) is dokimazo. But it's the same word, we get different translations. In verse 5 the word ‘examine’ is this same word, it will be translated a little differently in English but I want you to see that he is saying the same thing. It's a word that means to put something to the test with the idea of seeing its genuineness. Could be used of precious metals, like the refining process of gold so that it comes out and you see it purified and it is what it should be. So that word examine is that word, to put to the test for approval. The end of the verse, “fail the test.” It's basically the same Greek word but you put an “a” on the front and it makes it negative. So adokimas would negate dokimas. So to examine, to put to the test, adokimas means you fail the test. You are not approved, you are examined and failed. So you have basically the same word with the negative in fail the test. Because that's what this examination, this word to put to the test is to see if you are approved. And if you fail the test, you are not approved. So it could be translated ‘fail the test.’ But it's the same basic word. In verse 6, the end of the verse, “fail the test.” There it is in the negative again. Then you come to verse 7 and you have it approved. “Now we pray to God that you do no wrong, not that we ourselves may appear approved,” same word basically as the positive form of fail the test. You just put the “a” on the front and you have the negative, not approved. Approved. And then the end of the verse, the last word, unapproved.

So we translate these differently in English and nothing wrong with the translation, but we lose the impact that he is using, basically the same word family that the Corinthians would have it driven home to them. You are examined and approved, you are examined and not approved; you are examined and approved, you are examined and not approved. And that would go back to the word ‘proof’ in verse 3 which is basically the form of the same word. You are looking for evidence that I have been put to the test and approved. You want to put me to the test so you can decide if I am approved or not.

So verse 3 says “Since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me,” testing to see if I am approved. Now you come to verse 5, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith, examine yourselves.” Now that first word translated test is a different word but it is almost a synonym for the words we just looked at. It means to test. In many cases it is just a synonym. The other words we looked at had more the emphasis on the approval as the result of the test. This is just the general word for test. But you see it is turned around and he says test yourselves and it's a command, we call it present imperative, something they must do. And the word order is reversed. In Greek as we've talked about as in some other languages you can arrange the word order more freely than we do in English because of the form of the words and the endings and things like that. So the first word in verse 5 is ‘yourselves,’ because when you wanted to put strong emphasis on the word you put it first. So you could say yourselves you must test, and that word yourselves. Then he'll say later, examine yourselves. Then he'll ask, do you not recognize this about yourselves. Let's turn it around. You want to keep talking about me, testing me, examining me to see if I am approved. You need to turn this around, yourselves you must examine, you must test. What is the test? “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith.” In the faith basically, just a general statement, if you are truly believers. If you have truly placed your faith in Christ and now He is at work in you, His power manifest in the life you are living. Are you in the faith? Examine yourselves, your genuineness.

The next examine yourselves. That's our word dokimazo, another present imperative. So he starts out with two commands—test yourselves, examine yourselves, see if you pass the test. You want to put me to the test to see if I am approved as an apostle. You need to examine yourselves and see if you are genuine, are you in the faith. Serious challenge. They want to put themselves as the judge and evaluators of Paul's genuineness. Paul says you must examine yourselves to test your genuineness.

Now he does not do this because he doubts whether they are genuine. After reading verses 20-21 you might think that's his purpose, that I think probably most of you are lost, with the condition of the church. But that's not why he is doing this. He says, “Do you not recognize this about yourselves.” And the way this is formed, it indicates that he is not indicating a doubt about it, but he is confident that they do recognize this. That word translated recognize, it's the basic Greek word for to know something, ginosko. We have gnostic, gnosticism. In English the “g” is silent but it's the Greek word for to know. It has a preposition on the front, epiginosko, which intensifies it. We sometimes say a full knowledge, assured knowledge. So in verse 5, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith, examine yourselves.” Or do you not have the full knowledge of this about yourselves that Christ Jesus is in you, “Jesus Christ is in you unless indeed you fail the test.” But Paul's indication here, he doesn't have any doubt that they will pass the test. There may be some who don't, and that would be included in the last statement, unless you fail the test. But Paul's point here is if you examine yourself and look to see, is Christ in you, he is confident that by and large for the most part they will come to the conclusion and the assured knowledge, yes, I have full confidence and assurance that Christ dwells in me, in me personally and in the church.

Come back to Romans 8, look at verse 9, Paul writing here, of course, to the Romans. “However you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” Another indication, incidentally, of the deity of Christ. You'll note he interchanges the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ in the same verse. And if you don't have the Spirit of Christ, you don't belong to Christ. That's why he said examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Do you have the assured knowledge, the confident knowledge that indeed Christ dwells in you? Really, that's the starting point, isn't it? But the way Paul words it indicates he is confident of the outcome. In this section Paul has a confidence in the Corinthians but he also has a concern about them. He himself is confident that their salvation is genuine and so they will pass the test. But more of that in a moment.

So here he is talking about, in Romans 8:10, “If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.” So Christ being in them, the Spirit being in them, God dwelling in them, if they examine themselves, yes, we are sure we have trusted Christ, we are sure He has forgiven us our sins, we are confident, we have been made new. We believe in Him, His Spirit is at work in our lives. Paul is confident that will be their outcome. That's an individual, personal fact that Christ does dwell in each individual believer.

Stop in 1 Corinthians 3. Not only does Christ dwell in individual believers, but He dwells in the church of believers, because the church is an assembly of believers. And this is what he writes about in 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Do you not know that you are a temple of God?” He is talking in the plural there, you Corinthians form a temple of God, a dwelling place of God, God's sanctuary. “The Spirit of God dwells in you. If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy and that is what you are.” So the same thing can be said about the church corporately as we gather together as is said about us individually. Later in chapter 6 he'll talk about the body of the individual believer is a temple of the Holy Spirit. So Paul is warning here about the danger of doing things that are destructive to the church because this is God's dwelling place. Not this physical building, but in this gathering of believers so the divisions and the conflicts and the sin that is dividing and tearing it apart, that's a serious business with God. Just like somebody would come into your family and start to wreak havoc. That's serious. This is God's family. We sometimes don't take it as seriously as He does. So you see, having the Spirit of God, they need to realize He dwells in me individually, but He also dwells in the church. And the church is not in good condition.

Come back to 2 Corinthians. You'll note at the end of 2 Corinthians 12:20 you had “strife and jealousy and angry tempers and disputes and slanders and gossips and disturbances,” and then “ongoing immorality” in verse 21. This is God's family, He doesn't expect nor accept as tolerable that kind of conduct among His children. So Paul is acting as God's representative. So that's why it is important. Now he challenges them, if you come to the settled conclusion, and I'm sure you will, unless you fail the test. And I think there is some irony here as do most commentators. Sort of we would express it with the tone of our voice where you might talk to someone and you are confident they are a believer, but there are some issues so you start out by challenging them. Have you examined yourself to see if you are truly a believer? Have you failed the test? Well, you know their answer will be I'm sure I am. So you are asking, did you fail that test? It's more driving home a point by expecting the opposite. Now it's true, at Corinth some may not pass the test. We have the false apostles in 2 Corinthians 11, and there may be unbelievers there, but Paul's confidence in this church with all its problems is these are believers that are functioning contrary to what they should.

Come back to 2 Corinthians 1, just as a reminder. Paul writes to them as an apostle in verse 1 and then he goes on to say in verse 1 that he is “writing to the church of God which is at Corinth.” He is confident this is a true, genuine church that belongs to God. He asks for grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus be given to them, and they enjoy it. Down at the end of 2 Corinthians 1:21, “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ,” who anointed us is God. He doesn't lack confidence that the church at Corinth by and large is a group of saved people. “He who establishes us with you in Christ.” He doesn't express doubt that they are in Christ or established together with him. “He anointed us,” that's God who did that. “He sealed us, He gave us the Spirit in our heart.” He includes them with himself. So Paul's confidence in the Corinthians' salvation has not been shaken. But that's why he is so concerned. You are functioning as rebellious children and this is not acceptable and tolerable.

You come over to 2 Corinthians 3 and he asks in verse 1, “Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Do we need as some letters of commendation to you as from you? You are our letter written in our hearts, known and read by all men, being manifested that you are a letter of Christ.”

So when you come to 2 Corinthians 13 again Paul was saying unless you recognize this about yourselves that Christ Jesus is in you, unless you fail the test. He is not implying that he expects that they failed the test. He is clear, it's a little bit of irony. Of course we didn't fail the test, we know, we are sure about our salvation. Well, if you are sure about your salvation and that is settled, what does verse 6 say? “I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test. You've been putting us to the test, me to the test to see if I pass and am approved, if I am genuine. Well start out by testing yourself. Are you genuine?” And he just assumes that they have passed the test because verse 6 says “I trust you will realize that we ourselves don't fail the test.” How do they realize that? Stop and think, if they passed the test, yes, we know we are saved, that Christ dwells in us. How did that happen? The Apostle Paul arrived at our city some years ago and preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ and we heard and believed and the power of God impacted our lives and we were changed. He spent 18 months with us and we were taught the Word and grounded in the Word, and he has sent us letters and he . . . Well, if you are genuine, what does that say about my apostleship?

So I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test. So verse 3, “You are seeking for proof,” you are seeking to push us to the test to see if we are genuine. Put yourselves to the test and see if you are genuine. Now if you are genuine, how did you get to be genuine? Through my ministry. That should make clear to you that I have passed the test. They are looking at worldly things as the measure, Paul is turning their attention to what matters. I trust you realize we didn't fail the test, either.

Look at verse 7. “Now we pray to God that you do no wrong.” What he is going to do here is clarify his motives. I'm not in this for approval, I'm not doing this and writing this so that I get your approval and recognition and honor as an apostle. “We pray to God that you do no wrong,” kakon, evil, bad, wrong. “Not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right.” Sort of play on words again. The word for wrong is kakon, the word for right is kalon. You just take that “k” in the middle and put an “l” in the English version of it and you can see the play on the word. We pray to God that you do no kakon, and we're not saying this so that we may appear approved but that you may do what is kalon even though we may appear unapproved. In other words he wants them to do what is right, stop doing what is wrong. The conduct of 2 Corinthians 12:20-21 is an example. We are praying to God that you do no wrong, that these sinful conducts and practices will be stopped. But I don't pray to God for this so that we may appear approved, to have passed the test. In other words sometimes like you want for your kids—to be well behaved so people will say you are a good parent. Paul is saying that's not my motive. My desire in this is not self-focused, I am not praying to God that you not practice evil things so that I will look good as your spiritual parent, but rather that you may do good, good things, right things, things that are not sinful, even though we may appear unapproved. You know you start getting approved, unapproved and you say, what's he saying? It's very simple. If they start doing what is right, stop doing sinful things that have characterized the church and start to do what is right before God, the good things that God would have them do. When Paul comes he will not have to manifest his apostolic authority and power by coming down on them with his discipline. Do you know what that will mean? That will mean to some, at the end of verse 7, “he appears unapproved,” to have failed the test. Why? What are they looking at in a worldly context? We are looking for an apostle who will come in, put the hammer down, show that he is in charge, that he has authority, that he is in power. And those that continue their sin, they are on their way out. And I'll deal with it, and I'll clean house, and I'll get this church on track. What are they going to be left with? Paul is going to come and he is not going to be demonstrating his apostolic power. So some are going to say there he is, wrote a powerful letter and here he is, weak as ever. He hasn't done anything, he is not giving anybody the boot. He is not coming down with force on the church and showing that he is the one with ultimate authority. So he would appear to some as unapproved. Remember, that's the issue going through here, that verse 3, “since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me and who is not weak toward you but mighty in you.” We want to see the power of Christ working through Paul.

You know, we are going through a political contest and you interview people and they say we want somebody who looks like he has the power to lead, who can exude authority, be in charge. Well that's what they are looking for, for Paul. That's the problem, remember, with Christ, as far as the world was concerned in verse 4. He was crucified because of weakness. They mistook His humility, His meekness, His willingness to go to the cross as weakness, as we've talked about. They brought it before Him. He saved others, He can't save Himself. What a weakling, to paraphrase it. Now that's what they are saying with Paul. Every time he is here he doesn't do anything. We want to see him come in and clean house. He says my concern is for your good, that you stop the sin and do what is right. And I'm not looking for personal approval. I'm fine with it if I still look to some as unapproved, if you are doing what you should. That's the development that is going on here.

You see the selflessness of Paul. You would think to this point the exasperation would reach a point that it's too late. This has gone on so often, so long, the time is past. You just get ready for judgment because I'll be there. But that's not his attitude.

So you see verse 8. “For we can do nothing against the truth but only for the truth.” Key verse, in its context, important. Paul is making clear he will not be pressured by the view that some may have of what it takes to be a genuine apostle. I will not be pressured to a misuse of my apostolic authority because serving the Lord I can do nothing against the truth, only for the truth. What does that mean? Well it comes out of verse 7, you'll note “for” at the beginning of the verse. If you stop sinning and are doing what is right, I cannot bring discipline upon you, I cannot act with authority against you. I would be acting against the truth because God didn't give me authority to discipline people practicing the truth. He gave me authority to discipline people who are functioning contrary to the truth. So if you stop doing evil and do good, I won't be coming exercising apostolic authority in judging and disciplining you. And that may make me look weak, but I don't have any choice because I have no authority. We can do nothing against the truth. That would undermine his whole ministry. But only for the truth.

So the goal is what? That's where he is going. Verse 9, “For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong.” You have power, you demonstrate the power. This is not a power grab here or a power struggle. I'm happy when I am weak and you are strong. How would they be strong? Manifesting the power of Christ at work in their life as they draw upon that power to stop sinning, to submit to the Spirit who dwells in them to do what is right. That would demonstrate their power and Paul would be there with no opportunity to exercise his apostolic authority and power. But we rejoice when we are weak. That's great, fine, that's the goal. Not a power struggle. It's important that people see that I'm in charge. No. The important thing is you function as God would have you function.

So that's what he is saying in verse 8, “we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth.” So we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. “This we also pray for, that you be made complete.” My focus in all I've been saying, all I've been doing is for you. We pray for you that you be made complete. And this word, various forms of this word, this particular form here is the only time it is used in the New Testament. But the forms of this word, katartizo, it is used in different places, the different forms. It could be used in a medical context of setting a broken bone, fixing a joint that was out. So those kinds of medical procedures. So sometimes it is translated restore, and when you are restored you are made complete. If you had a broken arm and then they repaired it and you say, how is it? It's good as new, it's been made complete. I can use it like it is intended to be used.

So that's the word here. He is talking about that you may be restored, to be complete. That's my goal, I just want you to get back to what you should be, must be, to be restored, to make complete, to be what God wants you to be. Some would translate it perfected, but it has that restoration context because when it is fixed it has been perfected. Sometimes we say I think it is better than it was, the restoration here. That's my goal, your restoration. What am I going through all this for? Not about my power, about you being what God would have you to be.

Look at verse 10. “For this reason I am writing these things while absent so that when present I don't need to use severity.” For Paul the severity and authority of discipline in judgment is the absolute last resort. You say, you dealt with it firmly in 1 Corinthians 5 but you find out he wasn't dealing with everything like that. The absolute scandal of the sin in 1 Corinthians 5 with the incestuous type relationship of a man with his stepmother that was being openly practiced and a scandal among unbelievers. Paul says that has to be dealt with. Sometimes when we think of the Corinthian letters we think there was that really serious case in 1 Corinthians 5, we need to have a proper grasp of the situation. And Paul is not anxious to come and demonstrate he has authority.

For this reason I am writing these things while absent. I'm coming for the third time but I want you to have a further opportunity to stop the sin. I don't want to use severity, I don't want to demonstrate my power. He has it so that when present I need not use severity in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me So he has no doubt about his authority but it is a limited authority. He didn't give me authority so I could demonstrate I have authority, He gave me authority for building up and not tearing down. That's the same thing he said in verse 8 basically, because if he acted against the truth, what would he be doing to the church? He would be tearing it down. So God's authority for him is to always act in accord with the truth, regardless of what the appearance to some may be. Paul will not be pushed to misuse his authority so that some people may say, now I see he is an apostle. That wouldn't make it right, that would be an act of rebellion. He has to do, it's fine. Some people don't understand I have apostolic authority and power, that's not the goal for them to know that. The goal is for me to build you up, but I do have it. If I have to use it to build you up, that would mean if I have to come with severity because you won't stop the sin, I will come and exercise it. But I am writing to give you further opportunity. How many chances does he give them? He writes to them, he visits them, I'm coming a third time, this is it. Another letter. But you see the love and concern that he has for them. God gave me authority to build you up, I'm not looking for reasons to be severe with you. I don't want to be severe.

This really pulls together this whole section which started, come back to 2 Corinthians 10:1. “Now I Paul, myself, urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ.” That's where we started. “I who am meek when face to face with you but bold when absent.” He reminds them, I am following the pattern of Christ, just as he did as he closes out this letter. Christ was crucified in weakness, Christ was characterized by meekness and gentleness, not what the Jews wanted for a Messiah. They wanted one who comes in power, brings judgment, comes down hard on the sinners. But the nation Israel didn't realize they needed redemption. If Christ came that way, there would be no salvation for Israel and they wouldn't be in the kingdom. They misread the meekness. Paul here, I am meek when face to face with you, that's the way they view me.

“I ask that when I am present I need not be bold with the confidence which I propose to be courageous against some who regard us as we walk according to the flesh.” I realize there are some and some won't heed the warning. But it's not all about me, my reputation, my authority.

The balance here as we wrap this up and some have noted it. The reason all this material is recorded for us is not so we can have interesting information about the Apostle Paul. We're getting insight into how the church of Jesus Christ is to function and how those who have authority are to function. The church is to be the church, God appoints those in authority. Two things have to be balanced here. Those who have authority, pastors and elders, must not fail with the support of the church to exercise discipline when necessary. The church ought to be behind Paul in this. If the sin doesn't stop, we'll stand behind Paul and the authority given to him to deal with sin. Sometimes the church is timid about dealing with sin and sin goes on and we just don't do anything about it. It becomes acceptable. We say everybody sins and we just let it go and we have other things, we want to have a positive ministry. You can't be biblical and allow sin to go on and not deal with it. It has to be dealt with. Discipline has to be meted out when necessary.

Secondly those with authority must be careful to exercise that authority to restore and build up the body. Pastors are great for demonstrating their authority and I'm in charge and we rule this church and we rule it with a rod of iron. And we always use the excuse, and that's why it will be biblical. But God doesn't give me that kind of authority. So there is a “Run-to-use” authority. Those who have authority and how the local church is to function, there must be a balance. And those in authority cannot allow themselves to be pushed or pressured to function unbiblically. They must be biblical, they must mete out discipline when it is necessary. There can be no fudging on that. But they must be careful that discipline doesn't just become an opportunity to display their power because then certain people would say, our church doesn't tolerate those things. Our elders deal with it firmly, finally, it's done. But that's not the goal, the goal is to restore.

A number of the commentators take you back to Matthew 18, “God is not willing that one of His little ones should perish.” So He gives a pattern of how you work to restore one and how quick you are to restore the one. That's what Paul is doing here, right down to the last minute when he says this can't go on. But you have until I come to deal with it. So the balance in it.

We want to be a church that will not allow ongoing sin to continue, we want to be a church that has its goal even when it is talking about discipline, that it be used for the truth. And if the leaders are intimidated to do something contrary to the truth, they have misused their authority, they are now weakening the church, moving it toward its own destruction. We need to be careful we take these principles and truths to heart, be thankful that God has put them in His Word, and then be careful. The church ought to be behind Paul with the God-given authority to him as he makes decisions here. The church is involved and joins in the accountability, and we do together. Trust that our testimony will be strong and clear. Don't want to just be known in Lincoln as the church that deals with sin, comes down hard on sin, has no tolerance for sin, because it may not be biblical. We just must be known as a church that does all it can to restore, build up. When necessary discipline is meted out, but hopefully it's a rare occasion because we work to deal with it before it gets too far along. Sadly the Corinthians allowed themselves to be riddled with sin, but Paul had not given up on them. His patience still holds and we want to take these things to heart.

Let's pray together. Thank You, Lord, for the riches of Your Word. Thank You for what the Spirit has directed to be recorded for our benefit. Thank You for the testimony of the Apostle Paul, for the testimony of the church at Corinth. And Lord we are reminded of so many things that don't belong in Your family. Lord, we want those to be dealt with, to be corrected so that we can grow as we should. We want to be careful not to be afraid or intimidated from exercising the proper discipline when necessary, and Lord we want to be pressured to do what would not be biblical for appearances or to appease others. Lord, may we be faithful to You in all we do. We pray in Christ's name, amen.