JULY 14TH, 1939

JULY 14TH, 1939

MY DEAR BROTHER IN THE LORD, — ... I think it is evident that the one who had so sinned at Corinth is regarded as one whose spirit was to be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. That is, he is viewed as a believer. But his conduct made him a subject of judgment and discipline from the Lord, and the assembly was called upon to act in accord with the Lord’s mind in this. As Paul, by the Spirit calls him a “wicked person” I conclude that he had not, as yet, judged himself. He is presented in 1 Corinthians 5 as guilty of that which must be judged as evil by the assembly of God. This was, no doubt, in view of his judging it by the same judgment as the assembly.

There may be cases of gross evil in which repentance may have been granted to the evil-doer, and the assembly would ^[p. 269] thankfully take note of this where it was found. But the government of the Lord goes on in respect of evil-doing, even where there is repentance, and the assembly in disciplinary action is with the Lord in His governmental ways. And He would have it to be made manifest that the assembly is in accord with His judgment of evil. If the evil-doer has repented he will fully accept what the assembly does in a disciplinary way; he will own the action as divinely right under the circumstances, and this will make his public restoration in due time an easy matter.

It is to be noted that the apostle uses the word “brother” in relation to very evil conduct in 1 Corinthians 5, but he modifies it by saying, “if any one called brother”. It is as much as to say, he has had that place publicly, but whether he is truly a brother may be somewhat questionable. It does not seem to me that a meeting for discipline is exactly the time to emphasise the fact that the evil-doer is a “brother”. It is an occasion for marking the Lord’s solemn judgment of evil, in which the assembly is in accord with Him. In some cases we may be well assured that the one in question is a brother. If he is known to have repented of the evil he has done there is good reason to own him as a brother, and the assembly will look forward with confidence to his restoration to Christian privilege.

I certainly think that in any meeting for discipline some Scripture should be read on the ground of which action is being taken.

I trust these few words may in some way meet your exercises.

With much love in the Lord,

Yours affectionately in Him,