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        "Persuasive Separation"
        II Thessalonians 3:14-15
        Theme:         The tolerance of sin within the Body of Christ produces a compromised purity
        that ruins the effectiveness of our witness.

      I. The Provocation of Separation – 3:14a

        A. The Defiance toward Clearly Stated Biblical Standards

          1. In this passage, Paul is dealing directly with a spirit of irresponsibility – those who were unwilling to obey the instruction to practice individual diligence and responsibility to work for their bread.
          2. However, the principle enjoys a far broader application and extends to when our brethren do things which are wrong – that is, disobedience to some teaching of Scripture.
          3. At such times, we cannot merely continue to fellowship with them as we would with those who’ve done nothing wrong.
          4. When "anyone does not obey our instruction" (that is Scriptural teaching), then Paul teaches that a form of separation must occur.
          5. Consequently, there is a standard that must be preserved in the lives of believers if they are to enjoy continued intimacy with faithful believers – cp. Psalm 119:63
          6. Among them are the following:

              7. a) If a believer teaches false doctrine and refuses to be corrected.

              b) If the professing believer is walking in immorality.

              c) If a professing believer is walking in a disrupting manner – failing to follow the prescribed biblical rules and to maintain the required standards.

          7. Therefore, if a believer fails to live uprightly, other believers are to "take special note of that person and do not associate with him." – cp. 2 Thessalonians 3:6; 1 Corinthians 5:11

              8. a) The Christian community has a character to keep, and that character is compromised by the misconduct of any of its members.

              b) A bad man may be quite at home in the world; but there is something wrong if he does not find himself alone in the Church.

              c) The condition for fellowship within the body is the willingness of each part to "walk in the Light" – cp. 1 John 1:7.

              d) The question is: "what should the response be by the Christian community when one its members errs and walks in a manner clearly inconsistent with the principles and or commands of Scripture?"

        B. The Delineation of Clearly Stated Biblical Steps – Matthew 18:15-17

          1. When we see a brother or sister in Christ who is indulgent in some sin – from gossip to fornication or adultery – it is their responsibility to "go and show him his fault in private" – a gentle appeal to walk uprightly.
          2. However, if he refuses to listen to your appeal and respond appropriately, then re-approach him and "take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed."
          3. It is only after these first two steps have been accomplished should what is taught in 2 Thessalonians be implemented: "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."

      II. The Purpose of Separation – 3:14b

        A. The Production of Remorse

          1. Notice, the Scriptures are clear that the purpose for such appeal to disobedient brothers or sisters is the generation of the feeling of shame – "so that he will be put to shame."
          2. This shame is what causes the sorrow that is said to serve as a produces repentance – cp. 2 Corinthians 7:10.
          3. The hope of believers refusing to associate with disobedient brothers or sisters is that the errant one will recognize the justice of his exclusion, and, as the Apostles states here: be ashamed.

        B. The Priority of Restoration

          1. Far from the punitive sentiment that some would associate with such activity, the motivation for our disassociation from an errant believer is the restoration of that believer – cp. 1 Corinthians 5:5.
          2. Indeed there is room for tolerance and patience – all during the time when you are approaching them personally, then as you approach them with two or three others.
          3. However, failure to win them through those approaches necessitates a cessation of tolerance and a withdrawal of fellowship so that shame may produce a heart of repentance.
          4. Often, the ostensible affect of such shame is anger and a bitter spirit – causing people to feel that this approach just isn’t working.
          5. However, we cannot forget that God’s Word is the authority that knows best – perceiving beyond what we are able to see and works in cooperation with the Holy Spirit of conviction.
          6. At this point the issue becomes: "Do it God’s way or be in God’s way."

        C. The Purity of the Righteous

          1. The other great priority is the maintenance of the purity of the Church – cp. 1 Corinthians 5:6-7
          2. In response to the errancy of a disobedient believer, the church cannot merely be indifferent: indifference would be suicidal.
          3. "The Church exists to maintain a moral testimony, to keep up a certain standard of conduct among men; and when that standard is visibly and defiantly departed from, there will be a reaction of the common conscience in the Church, vigorous in proportion to her vitality." (James Denney in The Expositor’s Bible, 1900)
          4. The church must be tolerant of sinners who are desirous of deliverance from their sin, but never tolerant of those in their midst who are sinful and quite satisfied to remain so – understanding that "a little leaven leavens the whole lump."

      III. The Perspective of Separation – 3:15

        A. The Pervasive Spirit of Affection

          1. Paul cautions believers not to possess a spirit that identifies such a disobedient believer as the enemy – "Yet do not regard him as an enemy"
          2. We have only one enemy – the Devil who takes captive people who struggle with one form of indulgence or another in deed, thought, or word – cp. 2 Timothy 2:24-26
          3. Hence, our spirit toward these disobedient brothers must be patient, and gentle while at the same time being rigidly faithful to the Word of God.
          4. The power of discipline committed to the Church is for edification, not for destruction or punishment.
          5. Love must therefore be the context in which such discipline occurs – not the alternative to love – cp. Ephesians 4:15.

        B.The Purposeful Statement of Admonition

          1. This leads us to the final statement – that proper disassociation with a believer is far more than a coldness or steely spirit often perceived by people who are held in disfavor.
          2. When separation from a disobedient brother is necessary, it should not be left to them to have to guess why someone is "cold" toward them.
          3. Rather, when such separation occurs, designed to produce shame so that the disobedient one can be brought to repentance, it requires that verbal explanation and appeal attend it – "but admonish him as a brother."
          4. The idea of "admonish" carries the connotation of instruction through orientation to truth – the word "nouthetic" counseling comes from this word – cp. Romans 15:14
          5. Considerations of our own weaknesses and sin ought not keep us from approaching our brothers, merely make us meek and humble in our approach – cp. Galatians 6:1-2
          6. Our appeal is designed to enable disobedient believers to understand that they cannot be at ease when they stand on one side, and the Word of God and the conscience of the Church on the other.

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