What does the Bible say about sin in the church

It only takes one person to make a difference or a change. When we look at the Body of Jesus Christ; the Church that represents the Kingdom of God on earth, we see that a person can add value to the church and be constructive or a person can cause a lot of trouble and can be destructive. Achan was such a person, who caused a lot of trouble to God’s people. When Achan became disobedient to God and sinned, it didn’t only affect Achan, but his sin affected the whole congregation. The whole congregation of Israel came under a curse and became separated from God. This happened during the Old Covenant, but what about the New Covenant? Has anything changed? What does the Bible say about sin in the church? What is the (spiritual) effect of sin in the church? What happens to a church if a member perseveres in sin and is not willing to repent and remove the sin? What does the church have to do, when someone perseveres in sin?

The rebellious behaviour of one person
caused the whole congregation to become accursed

In a previous post ‘the valley of Achor’, the victory of the people of Israel and the fall of Jericho were discussed. The people of Israel overcame and conquered Jericho, because Joshua and the people of Israel, were obedient to the Word of God. They followed God’s instructions and because of that, His Words were fulfilled.

When the city Jericho was taken, they were instructed to:

  • keep themselves from the accursed thing, otherwise, the camp of Israel became a curse
  • take all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, consecrate it unto the Lord, and bring it into the treasury of the Lord

You might think that these commandments were easy to keep, but for one man these commandments were not so easy to keep.

by one man's disobedience many were made sinners

One man became disobedient to these commandments and sinned. This man’s name was Achan. Achan was not led by the words of God, but he was led by the lust of his flesh. Achan took what belonged to the Lord.

By his deed, Achan not only became disobedient to Joshua, but he became disobedient to God.

Achan didn’t show any respect towards God, nor feared God, and acknowledge God as the Almighty God. Achan didn’t love God, because Achan didn’t keep His commandments.

Achan also didn’t love his neighbor as himself, because Achan knew what the consequences for the congregation would be if he would take off the accursed.

But Achan loved himself and was led by the lust of his flesh. The two commandments, which represent the whole law of God: love God above all and love your neighbor as yourself, were clearly not present in his life.

Achan gave in to the lust of his flesh and became disobedient to God. Through Achan’s disobedience to God, the whole congregation became accursed and became separated from God (Joshua 7:11).

Achan showed no remorse

Achan didn’t show any kind of remorse and didn’t repent of his act. He didn’t show remorse when he hid the stuff in the ground of his tent. Nor when the thousands of brothers were killed, during the attempt to conquer the city of Ai. Achan didn’t even show remorse when the accursed had to be removed among the people and Joshua called out the people of Israel. Achan just went along pretending he didn’t do anything wrong. When Achan stood among the people, Achan didn’t say anything.

Achan’s heart was hardened and therefore Achan didn’t show any kind of remorse and didn’t repent for his actions.

Maybe if Achan had shown remorse and repented of his deed, maybe things would have ended differently for Achan and his family, but that is something that we will never know…

Anyway, the people stood before Joshua, and eventually, Achan was appointed as the one, who had brought a curse upon the congregation and had caused a separation between God and His people.

The congregation needed to be sanctified

Achan was the one, who became disobedient to the Word of God, and therefore evil entered. By the deed of one man, the whole congregation became affected by evil. Just like Adam, when he sinned and sin and death entered the seed of man and affected the whole human race.

valley of Achor

The holy people of God had become unclean by evil and were separated from God.

Therefore the congregation needed to be sanctified and made holy, so that God could have fellowship with His people again.

How did they sanctify the congregation? By removing the evil out of their midst

Achan, his family, the silver, the garment, the wedge of gold, his oxen, asses, sheep, his tent, and all his belongings were brought to the valley of Achor, where they were killed.

Achan didn’t fear God

Achan saw and experienced, how God led them out of the wilderness, crossed the Jordan, and led them into the promised land. He was circumcised and was part of God’s people. He was a witness to all the great miracles, which the Lord performed before his eyes. He saw that every word of God came to pass. Achan should have feared God, because of what He had done. But Achan didn’t fear God. He stole from the accursed and stole what belonged to the Lord. By his deed, approximately 3000 people were killed.

By his deed of disobedience, he didn’t acknowledge God for Who He is. He thought that God wouldn’t see what he had done. But God sees everything, He is omnipotent.

The sinner perseveres in sin

Many people live like Achan, as impenitent sinners, and do things, which go against God’s will and persevere in sin. What could the causes of this behavior be?

  • Wrong teachings, false doctrines, so that believers will be led astray (from the path of Life)
  • They don’t renew their mind with the Word of God. They don’t study God’s Word and therefore they have a lack of knowledge of God’s Word and don’t know God’s will
  • They are not willing to lay down their own life; their flesh
  • The love for the world and all there is within is greater than the love they have for Jesus and for God.

God can’t have fellowship with sin

Just like God couldn’t have fellowship with sin (evil), as we see in the lives of Adam, Cain, Achan, Simson, Saul, David, Salomo, etc. God still can’t have fellowship with sin.

Even in Jesus’ life, we see, that when Jesus took all the sins of the world upon Him, God left Jesus. God couldn’t have fellowship with sin.

The grace of God

This is still the case. God can’t have fellowship with sin. Jesus and the blood of Jesus are the entrance to the Father and to His Kingdom. By His precious blood, you have been washed from your evil sinful nature; which is full of sin and iniquity.

Jesus came to draw sinners to repentance and to set the captives free. Jesus came to this earth and gave His life, to deal with the sin problem of the human race, once and for all.

Jesus was not crucified and Jesus didn’t die, so that people could keep living in sin.

The blood of Jesus was a sacrifice, it was a remission of sin and not a permit to keep sinning.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein (Romans 6:1-2)

What then shall we say? Shall we habitually sustain an attitude of dependence upon, yieldedness to, and cordiality with the sinful nature in order that grace may abound? May such a thing never occur. How is it possible for us, such persons as we are, who have been separated once for all from the sinful nature, any longer to live in its grip (Romans 6:1-2 KW)

Holiness instead of sin in the church

Many wrong doctrines have entered churches or congregations, whereby the cross and the blood of Jesus, dying to ‘self’, putting off the works of the flesh; sins and iniquities, and sanctification, have been replaced, by motivational ‘feel good’ sermons. Grace and love are many times used, to tolerate and condone sins.

many pastors are leading the sheep into the abyss

There are many preachers, who are afraid to preach Jesus Christ, the cross, the blood, the resurrection, sanctification, holiness, the adversary, etc. Because that means that they also have to do, what they preach and many times they are not willing to do that.

There are also preachers, who are afraid to preach hard words to the people. Because they are afraid to be persecuted by the people of the congregation or lose members.

Unfortunately, the truth is that many people can’t stand ‘hard doctrines’ anymore. They don’t want to be confronted with their behaviour and their walk. Therefore, the leaders of the church tolerate and accept sin in the church and don’t confront and correct the members of the church anymore. No, they adjust God’s Word, to the lusts and desires of people, and let the people abide in sin.

Sin in the church causes separation from God

But due to the fact, that people abide in sin and live just like the world, and therefore tolerate and accept sin in the church, many churches and congregations are separated from God. Jesus says, that whosoever keeps sinning is a slave of sin (John 8:34).

servant of sin

When you are a slave of sin then you are a sinner. We all know, that the father of sinners, is the devil and that a sinner will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

A slave of sin, cannot reign over sin, because sin reigns over him/her

Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abides not in the house for ever: but the Son abides ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed (John 8:34-36)

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin (Romans 6:6)

What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness (Romans 6:15-16)

In many churches, and congregations, the devil has built his throne, and his sons walk in rebellion (disobedience) to the Word of God, just like the world.

As saints in Jesus Christ, we must have an earnest desire to walk in holiness and righteousness. We should be obedient and stay obedient to Christ, not because we have to, but because we want to. There must be a desire in our hearts to serve Him wholeheartedly and to live according to His will.

What does God say about sin in the church?

In the Old Testament, God clearly shows, that He cannot have fellowship with people, who keep walking in disobedience to Him (in sin), and are not willing to repent.

Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him (Leviticus 19:17)

This is the will of God your sanctification

If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear (Deuteronomy 21:18-23)

Please note, that the punishment was part of the Old Covenant, which doesn’t apply to us anymore, because we are partakers of the New Covenant. which is sealed by the blood of Jesus Christ. But the principle of the cause and effect of evil, of sin in the church in the spiritual realm, is still the same.

What does Jesus say about sin in the church?

Moreover if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone: if he shall hear you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear you, then take with you one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 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 you as an heathen man and a publican (Matthew 18:15-17)

Take heed to yourselves:If your brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him (Luke 17:3)

What does the Holy Spirit say about sin in the church?

It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 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. Your glorying is not good. Know you not that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 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.

For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not you judge them that are within? But them that are without God judges. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person (1 Corinthians 5:1-13)

What do you have to do when a person is living in sin?

When you see that a brother or sister has become disobedient to the will of God; the will of Jesus, and is living in sin, then you are obligated to go to the person alone and confront him/her with his/her sin. Because the person is not only sinning against him/herself but also against you and the whole church (congregation).

You don’t gossip behind the person’s back!. No, instead you confront the person.

Deliver a person unto satan

If (s)he listens to you, then you have gained the person, for the Kingdom of God and from destruction. But if (s)he doesn’t want to listen and keep living in sin, then you take a brother or sister with you and confront the person again.

If the person still isn’t willing to listen, then you inform the church and make this case known to them.

If the person stays rebellious and is not willing to repent and remove the sin from his/her life, then you shall treat the person as a heathen and as a publican, which means, that you put him or her out of the church or congregation. Or like Paul says: “you deliver him/her to satan”

You don’t tolerate and accept the sin in the church, but instead, you remove the sin from the church. Therefore, you remove the person, who perseveres in sin, from the church, so that the person, will not be a partaker of the body of Christ anymore. When you remove the person from the church, you will save the church from being affected by evil (Read also: ‘What does it mean to deliver a person to satan?‘)

How do you deal with sin in the church?

You don’t accept sin in the church, but you remove the sin. When a person becomes born again, then the process of sanctification will begin. Every person, who becomes born again, has to go through the sanctification process, there is no one excluded. No one can live, the way they lived before they became born again and live like the old creation, as the world.

put off the old man which is corrupt

The process of sanctification won’t happen, in general, overnight. It is a process. But how fast you will grow up into a mature son of God, depends on one thing, and that is:

How much do you love God? Do you love Him above all (including yourself and the world)?

Because if you love God above all and everyone, then you don’t want to do anything, that will displease Him, and cause a separation.

We know absolutely that everyone who has been born of God and as a result is a regenerated individual does not keep on habitually sinning (1 John 5:18)

The born-again believer needs to renew his old way of thinking, which is full of lies of the world (lies of the devil), with the truth of the Word of God. So that, the born again believer, who has been made a new creation in the spiritual realm, will begin to think, speak, behave, act, and walk as the new creation; as a son of God.

Without renewing the mind, it is impossible to live according to God’s will.

Sanctification by the Word of God

The born-again son (this applies to both males and females) shall become conscious and shall be confronted, with certain behaviour, or with certain things in his life, which seemed ok, before he became born again, but after reading the Word of God, finds out that it’s not normal and ok. After the confrontation with the Truth, the born again believer can do two things:

  • he listens to the Word and obeys the Word, and repents and puts the sin away
  • he covers his ears, and does his own will, and remains living in sin. Because the love for his flesh is bigger than the love He has for Jesus and for God

The church is appointed by Jesus Christ as a spiritual institution; a spiritual government of the Kingdom of God on earth, to teach, equip, correct, and discipline the sons of God. So that, they will mature and walk as sons of God on this earth.

The church should walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh. The church shouldn’t be led by her senses, thoughts, feelings, emotions, findings, opinions, etc. But the church should be led by the Holy Spirit and the Word.

The Bible is a manual for the born again believer

When a question or a situation arises, it is not about what the people think and say about it, but what God thinks and says about it.

God is very clear in His Word. But the main problem is, that only a few people are willing to listen to Him and obey His words.

There are only a few people, who are willing to submit themselves to God. Because submission to God means, that they have to crucify their flesh with all its lusts and desires and remove certain things from their lives. And many people are not willing to do that.

They are prepared to go to church, listen to sermons, sing, and maybe do some charity work, but they don’t want to be confronted with their daily life and their behaviour. They don’t want any interference from other people telling them what to do.

The leaders of the church of Jesus Christ should live as mature sons of God, who are led by the Holy Spirit and the Word. They have the responsibility for all those precious souls of the church.

The members of the church should have an attitude of willingness and be open to correction. They should love one another because the Word says to love your neighbour as yourself. That means, that when you see a brother or sister living in sin, you have to confront him/her. Because sin means bondage to the devil, and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:22)

Do you love your neighbour, if you want him to die? Because that is what you do, if you approve and accept his/her sins, and let him/her walk in sin, without confronting him/her.

Free from sin by the blood of Jesus

Yes, you have been made free from sin, by the blood of Jesus, and not by your own works. But that doesn’t mean, that you can use the blood of Jesus, to keep walking after the flesh in sin.

Thou shall, the carnal mind is enmity against God, sin in the church

If a member of the church is not willing to submit him or herself to the authority of Jesus Christ and wants to keep living after his/her own will, then this person is rebellious and has the nature of the devil and not of the Holy Spirit.

Because the Holy Spirit is one with God, and Jesus, and isn’t rebellious.

If a person doesn’t want to submit, (s)he undermines the authority of God. The person doesn’t acknowledge God for Who He is. But the person not only rejects the Word, that God gave to man, but he rejects God Himself.

A little leaven leavens the whole lump

The Word says, that a little leaven, leavens the whole lump. Therefore if a believer, a member of the body of Jesus Christ, perseveres in sin in the church and stays in the church, then the sin of the person will affect the whole church.

The church will be a partaker of his sin and the spirit of rebellion shall also affect the lives of the other members of the church. Because the members of the church are one body.

Paul gave the example of the little leaven, to indicate the effect of sin in the church in the spiritual realm. Unfortunately, for many Christians, the Kingdom of God and the spiritual realm are still hidden.

What does the Bible say about sin? Sin destroys the church

Accepting sin in the church will eventually cause the destruction of the church. That’s why God, that’s why Jesus, and that’s why the Holy Spirit says (through Paul and other believers, who are the church) that if a person is rebellious and is not willing to listen and submit to the Word of God: remove the person out of the church, and deliver him to the world. So that, the evil will be removed from the church; the body and the church will be saved.

The church is not a charity institution, nor a social or entertainment institution to motivate and entertain people, so that they will have a good time in church. But the church is the spiritual government of Jesus Christ, which represents the authority of the Kingdom of God (the government of the Kingdom) upon this earth.

Everyone, who confesses Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as Lord of their lives, shall not be rebellious but shall submit to Jesus (the Word) and do what Jesus tells them to do.

‘Be the salt of the earth’ 

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