So Alexander the coppersmith was a believer, was he?
Of course church discipline is for members of the church. It would make no sense for me to exclude some random fellow from my church if he never sets foot in the place anyway.
I am not sure what kind of church you belong to, but our church is composed of those who are regenerated, baptized and then accepted into membership by vote of the church upon their testimony. Alexander would have never made the cut.
He wouldn't have to disciplined because he wouldn't have been a member. Go back to the context.
Having said that, who is Alexander? One has two choices:
1. 1Ti 1:20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
--Yes, in this case he may have been a believer, excommunicated from the church just like the immoral brother in 1Cor.5:1-5 was--delivered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh (with the purpose of repentance in mind). These words are similar.
Or,
2.
Act 19:24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
Act 19:25 Whom
he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
Act 19:32 Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.
Act 19:33 Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd.
Act 19:34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" (ESV)
--It gives no indication of who this "Alexander" is. It is unlikely that he is the one in 1Tim.1:20. But Paul could be referring to this Alexander, an unsaved Jew, who may have stirred up a lot of trouble in Ephesus while he was there at that time. It is possible that he was the coppersmith. I am not sure.
Do you take it as certain that everyone who is a member of your church is saved? Someone makes a credible profession of faith, is baptized and comes into membership. Is he definitely saved? Even when he commits an egregious sin and refuses to repent? You tell me; yes or no? "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My father in heaven."
I will guarantee you: There is no one that fits the description of the immoral man of 1Cor.5 or the "Alexander the Coppersmith" in our church. Guaranteed.
Obviously, we do not baptize people and bring them into membership lightly, but mistakes were made, even in N.T. times. 'For certain men have crept in unnoticed........ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ' (Jude 4). Were these men saved? Yes or no? If they weren't, you are saying they couldn't be disciplined because discipline is only for believers.
No, they weren't saved. No, you don't go through the steps of discipline as outlined in Matthew 18.
The church comes together, the pastor holding the seat of chairman, and explains how these are dangerous false teachers. If they are as dangerous as you say, then all that is needed is a letter sent to them. They don't need to come back again. They are not welcome here. Or, it could be done by the pastor in person. Steps of discipline are not needed for false teachers.
Confess your mistake. Show them out.
2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
--Apply that to "the house of God" as well.
So is this what you're telling me? If a member of my church commits a serious sin, I have to ask myself, is he saved or not? If I think he's saved, I can put him under discipline and exclude him from the church, but if I think he's unsaved, I can do nothing about him because discipline is only for believers.
Do you not think that is just slightly bonkers?
"If a member of your church..."
--You deal with each person on an individual basis meeting their needs individually. Remember the words of Jesus in Mat.18:15-18. Gain your brother at the very first step and all is well.
Deal with his need. Is it salvation, immorality, etc.
Simply follow the instructions of Christ. It is not so difficult.
