Forty-Six Sermons in Volume II of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read the Sermon entitled 'The nature and end of excommunication'.
Today Edwards expounds 1 COR. v. 11. 'But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.'
Edwards' main doctrine from the sermon is 'Those members of the visible Christian church who are become visibly wicked, ought not to be tolerated in the church, but should be excommunicated.'
Firstly Edwards discusses the nature of excommunication, particularly by showing that church discipline is both privative and positive.
Secondly Edwards endeavours to show the proper subjects of excommunication: those who are in gross sin and impenitent.
Thirdly Edwards speaks about the ends of ecclesiastical censure:
(i) That the church may be kept pure, and the ordinances of God not be defiled;
(ii) That others may be deterred from wickedness;
(iii) That the persons themselves may be reclaimed, and that their souls may be saved.
What grabbed me
Good chapter on an important subject.
I loved Edwards' last sentence: 'If you strictly follow the rules of discipline instituted by Christ, you have reason to hope for his blessing; for he is wont to bless his own institutions, and to smile upon the means of grace which he hath appointed. '
Now if that's not an encouragement to practise church discipline, nothing is.
Next week's reading
Read the Sermon entitled 'When the wicked shall have filled up the measure of their sin, wrath will come upon them to the uttermost'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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