Church discipline is not for unsaved folks but for recalcitrant saints. It’s biblical (Matt. 18:15-17; Rom.16:17-18; 1 Cor. 5:4-5; 2 Thess. 3:14-15). Church leaders should always do their best to lead their churches according to Scripture. That means they must “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine” (2 Tim. 4:2). They must also balance firmness with grace and mercy (1 Thess. 5:14-15; 2 Tim. 2:24-26. After conforming with those passages, to me, the next step is church discipline. It's a heartbreaking but necessary procedure. Its absence explains why the church is so ineffective today. Expository preaching of sound doctrine and biblical apologetics has and will always attribute to keeping saints grounded in the faith and by extension keeping local churches on track with Scripture.
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