2023 IA Truth Research Committee Meeting Resolutions Adapted by WDC

TRC Resolution of Taiwan GA:

Research and Handle the Case for Believers who Committed Sin that Leads to Death

I. Sin that is unforgivable unto death (1 Jn 5:16)

The Bible does not specify which sins lead to death and which ones do not. However, in Hebrews written during the latter apostolic age to the second generation of believers, there are four clear warnings against those believers who have unforgivable sinful attitudes:

1. Drift away and neglect such a great salvation (Heb 2:1-4)

2. Be in an evil, unbelieving heart, leading to fall away from the living God (Heb 3:7-19)

3. Have tasted the heavenly gift and fall away (Heb 6:4-8)

4. Go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth (Heb 10:26)

The scripture in 1 John 5:16-17 does not focus on which sins lead to death and which do not. In fact, “all wrongdoing is sin,” and the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23; 1 Cor5:12-13). That is to say, no matter what kind of sin a living person commits, if he does not repent and continues to sin, he will be put to death. 

The literal translation of the original text (RHEMA LCT): If anyone should see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he (who sees it) shall ask, and He will give him life, to those sinning not unto death. There is a sin unto death; I do not say that he should implore concerning that.

“To” πρός in the word “as to death,” means towards, to, cross by; head off, with; near, to, coming, go there, visit there, arrive there, arrive here, to in front of, in front of, to there, at there, there, here, as to, at, about, coming upon, causing, etc. The meaning of this preposition varies according to the case: possessive: for; indirect accusative: near, to, at; direct accusative: toward, relative, to, face to, head off. 

The case of θάνατον “death” is a direct accusative, singular, and masculine. Therefore, it refers to the sin “towards, head off to, or to” death.

II. Those who are determined to be cursed and to be disciplined following the excommunication procedure.

1. The believers who distort the gospel of Christ and let people turn to a different gospel (Gal 1:6-9)

2. The false prophets deceive and frame believers and lead many astray (Mt 24: 11, 12; Mk 13:22)

3. The false prophets let many follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth is blasphemed (2 Pet 2:1-3)

4. The false christs lead the believers astray (Mt 24:24, Mk 13:22)

5. The antichrist denies that Jesus is the Christ and denies the Father and the Son (1Jn 2:18-22, 1Jn 4:3, 2Jn 7)

6. Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit leads people to deny that Jesus is the Christ and deny the Father and the Son (Mt 12:31-32, Mk 3:29, Lk 12:10)

7. Those who commit fornication - lying with any beast, incest, homosexuality, adultery, and rape (Lev 18, 1 Cor 5, 6:16-19, Eph 5:22-33)

8. Those who perform idolatry (spiritual fornication) - after deliberate inquiry, the church confirms that a believer, who performed idol worship, does not repent and turn to God after being counseled. (Rev 17:1-8, Eze 23:1-49)

9. A murderer who kills out of hatred or by deliberate planning.

III. Church Discipline (Jn 20:19-23)

The Lord Jesus taught about the church’s discipline steps (Mt 18:15-18)

1. Scripture

• Mt 18:15- If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

• Mt 18:16- But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

• Mt 18:17- 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.

• Mt 18:18- Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

2. Step

(1) If your brother sins against you (The Greek word is “sin,” and the CUV translates “offend”

(2) Go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone

(3) But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

(4) If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church

(5) If he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

The Lord Jesus clearly taught about the steps for the church to impose discipline. If a brother who believes in the Lord commits a sin, the shepherd must find an opportunity to go to this sinner alone and point out his fault. But if he does not want to repent, we can find one or two people to talk to him. If he refuses to listen, we need to report it to the church. If after the church counsels this believer and he/she is still unwilling to listen, treat this believer as a gentile or tax collector (Mt 18:15-17). It means that this believer persists in sinning and does not want to repent. After repeated attempts to help this believer to return but he/she still refuses to listen, he/she will be no longer considered a member of the Lord, but “like a gentile and tax

collector.”

3. Church Authority

The final execution of the church is the authority endowed by the Lord Jesus. As He said, “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Mt 18:18).

The apostle Paul commanded the Corinthian church to “drive out” from among the church believers those who committed incest and did not repent (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:2.13). He handed over these people who have committed unforgivable sins to Satan (1Cor 5:5. 1Tim 1:20).

4. The Subject of Church Discipline

When the Lord Jesus hypothetically said, “your brother has sinned,” who was the “you” referring to? Let us read the following “context” of this passage:

• Mt 18:12- What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?

• Mt 18:13- And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.

• Mt 18:14- So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

5. Summary

From Matthew Chapter 18, verses 13 to 18, we learn that the Lord Jesus taught the disciples who played the role of shepherds the process of disciplining the sinning believers. After three levels of sequential exhortation, the offender’s repeated disobedience results in being isolated from the redeemed church group.

The Lord Jesus did not say what sin this brother committed. After repeated admonitions, he will be regarded by the church as a gentile who does not turn back. It would be impossible if he wants to turn back, because that would be to crucify the Lord Jesus again on the cross

IV. How to handle the case of the believer who commits sin “unto death”

1. Not to handle the case but mark it in the membership file

2. Handle the case privately

In order to take into account the beliefs of the innocent relatives and friends of the believer involved, discipline this believer in a private manner (Mt 13:29-30, 40-43).

3. Handle the case with public disclosure

The believers who sin and refuse to repent, and become leaven in the church, should be disciplined with public disclosure so that the church can remain holy (1Tim 5:20).

※ “Handle” refers to discipline following excommunicating procedure

※ “In a private manner” refers to sending a letter to the church, which this believer belongs to, but not announcing it and posting it.

※ “With public disclosure” refers to sending a letter to the church, to which this believer belongs, and to announce it or post it.

V. The Church’s guiding principles for those beliebers who commit the “sin unto death”

1. Based on the truth, we encourage these believers to sincerely repent (2 Cor 12:21)

Rationale:

(1) If a believer does sincerely repent, he/she may sin less.

(2) If a believer repents with all his/her heart, he/she may appeal to God to reduce his/her punishment.

(3) If a believer repents with all his/her heart, he/she may build up the faith of his/her family.

2. A believer should earnestly repent, as the future of those who “committed a sin unto death” is on God (Rom 2:5-6)

VI. Guiding principles for those who have repented of the “sin unto death” to blend in the life of the Church

1. Encourage them to maintain a true repentance and humility throughout their lives

2. Remind the church members to accept and care for those who have committed sins leading to death and have truly repented, so as to build up the faith of their family members.

3. It is inappropriate for them to be laid on of hands and to receive the Holy Communion.

4. They shall not undertake leading works in the church (such as sermon leading, RE teaching, being co-members of various teams, working on visitation, etc); the church council shall care and proactively know their situation, deliberately evaluate their repentance. They may participate in some non-leading work (such as cleaning, vehicle management, transportation, repairing, cooking, etc).