Bible Verses About The Lapsed And Church Discipline

And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Direct church discipline passage.

If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Direct caution about falling away and difficulty of restoration.

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

Commands withdrawal from disorderly brothers

And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

Tells believers to avoid the disobedient so they may be ashamed

To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Uses handing a sinner over for correction and possible salvation

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

Shows people leaving the community and not remaining with it

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Restoration is gentle and aimed at recovery

A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

Rejects the heretic after warning, which is a stricter case

Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

Public rebuke is used as a warning to others

But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Excludes the evil person from the community

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

States discipline is shared by all who are truly sons

But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Says the Lord disciplines believers to keep them from condemnation

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

Direct call to repent so sins may be blotted out

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Revelation calls the fallen to repent and return

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Calls the fallen to remember, repent, and do first works

Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

Says a wandering brother can be brought back

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Calls for repentance and baptism for forgiveness

Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

Calls for repentance and prayer for forgiveness

For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Says God disciplines for our good and holiness

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Says discipline yields righteousness after pain

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Confession and forsaking sin bring mercy

Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For some are already turned aside after Satan.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

Shows falling back into bondage after escape

For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Shows a point where repentance was sought but not found.

Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Shows apostolic authority to retain sins as part of discipline

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.

Calls for restoration after discipline, fitting the repentance theme.

Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.