Pt 21 Shun False Brethren
To shun false brethren is not comfortable, but to do is measured to have the effect of turning them to Christ. The recognition that being separated for bad behavior, an act that we have all grown up with from the time of school all through to the basic nature of our society, has always been designed to bring about repentance in the heart.
But what happens when this fundamental doctrine is ignored?
When sin becomes sanctified through the process of justification? We must justify our acceptance of sin and it is not long that we naturally condemn those who reject such justification. Suddenly, all who condemn the sinner are seen as evil.
This is precisely where we are today in the world.
But how close are we in the Church?
This very Church can testify that we are far closer than we have ever thought. Read on.
1 Corinthians 5:9–13
9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
10 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.
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.
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
TODAY WE SHALL FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON PAUL’S CONTENTION RESPECTING False or Sinful Brethren.
We are going to look inwardly at the state of the Church and deal with two aspects that Paul identifies in the entirety of this Chapter;
The First is the SINNER COMFORTABLE IN THEIR SIN
The Second are those who justify and even reward the sinner in his sin.
How is God represented in among Churches today?
The overt problem in this passage of 1st Cor 5 is twofold;
The first is the Sinner so comfortable in their sin, completely unmolested and accepted as a good and just representation of the character of God and the Church.
The Second are those who JUSTIFY and reward the sinner for their sin, they are puffed up rather than mourn, the welcome the discordant brother and reward him with their fellowship rather than separate from him.
Beloved, when evil is justified righteousness is vilified!!
And “Woe unto them which call evil good and good evil”
Such is exactly what has occurred to this very church, both you as a congregation and me as a pastor, in the last two years. I can think of no greater practical example of the truth of this passage in 1 Cor 5. The Wolf and they who supported him in the sedition of this Church on the 17th of March 2024, and the pastor who has both justified and rewarded the sinner while condemning those he sinned against, YOU AND I.
Beloved, if SIN MUST BE CALLED OUT and revealed for what it is, then lets do so that others also may learn. Those who will make the claim that this pastor is only trying to justify himself and that such is not to be entertained need to remember the book that he is preaching from, and learn that a good part of both 1st and 2nd Corinthians sees Paul justifying himself to a worldly church who cannot discern between good and evil.
The Limitation Of Tolerance Contended
1 Corinthians 5:9
9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
This chapter begins by revealing the common knowledge of an individual within the church being, not only tolerated, but almost celebrated.
It is for an overt sin that is not even named within the gentile/secular world;
1 Corinthians 5:1–2
1 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. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
It is here the we see that sin is not only left unmolested to the sinner, but accepted and even justified by the Church as a whole, Pastor and congregation alike.
Paul states that they are essentially justifying this man in verse 6, referring to is as “Glorying” in it, which is astounding to consider;
1 Corinthians 5:6
6 Your glorying is not good.
From verse 1 to verse 6 it is impossible not to consider that both have occured; the sinner made so comfortable in his sin by a church who now even rewards his perversion by being “puffed up” rather than mourning”, and “glorying” in it rather than realising the inevitability of it corrupting the whole church; Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 1 Corinthians 5:6
Verse 9 begins with a contention and a call to rememberance of a former letter Paul had written to them;
1 Corinthians 5:9
9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
Beloved, to learn that no less than three letters were written to the Corinthians Church respecting sin and their tollerance of it, two of which were clearly perfectly inspired of God to be included for our OWN admonition, but a recognition that this letter here is the second time Paul has addressed this matter, ought to tell us how serious this is.
1 Corinthians 5:9
9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
Shun them, remove yourselves from them lest you JUSTIFY THEM in their debauchery and be caught up in their error.
Numbers 16 sees God call out the congregation of Israel to separate themselves from the sin of Korah, Dathan and Abiram lest they themselves be literally swallowed up by the consequence of their sins;
Numbers 16:26
26 And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.
You know the account in the scripture,
Numbers 16:32–34
32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. 33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. 34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.
Paul was not unwise in calling the Church to separate themselves from such sinners, in verse 9 he refers to Fornicators (sex outside of marriage), but he expands this further inverse 11 to Covetousness, idolatry, railers, drunkards, extortioners and we need to place an “ETC” for there are many other overt sins that the scriptures elsewhere mentions to separate from,
2 Corinthians 12:20 Paul notes
…. debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:;
Proverbs 4:14–16
14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
Do not be caught up with them beloved, remember Korah, Dathan and Abiram, withdraw yourselves;
Proverbs 1:10
10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
Proverbs 9:6
6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
Psalm 26:4
4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
We will speak more to this in the next point as we will come to our own experience that highlights much of that which Paul addresses in this chapter.
But as parents and also as children re recall and are wary of who it is that our Children spend time with. Who is it that are a part of their company, are they sinners? Are they good people?
If they are sinners, we know that it would not take long for the leaven to spread to our child, for their is no doubt they shall cause some to fall. (Prov 4:16)
But Paul is not speaking of our relationship to the world, he is referring most clearly to our relationship to those who call themselves a brother.
The Connection Of Distinction Excepted
Paul is dealing with SIN IN THE CHURCH, we see that in the first eight verses but it is confirmed to us from verses 10 & 11, saying;
10 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.
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. 1 Corinthians 5:10-11,
We know again that the focus is narrow in that which Paul is addressing when he elaborates that distinction even in verse 12;
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
It is that last part of the last verse, together with verse nine, that Paul is trying to drive home.
The man who calls himself a “brother” who sins in such an overt way, those who identify themselves as “Christian” yet have no repentance and indeed “are puffed up” justifying or “glorying” in their sin, rather than “mourn” it (see verse 2), Paul here declares not only that you are to put away from among you such a person, but also declares him to be a “wicked person“.
Look again to see it brethren and consider.
Jesus had called us to “be in the world but not of the world”.
John 15:18–19
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
All of the sins Paul identifies are natural for those who are “in the world”, We are indeed “In the world”, Jesus spoke of that two chapters later;
“These are in the world” he says in John 17:11, then verse 12;
John 17:12
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, …..
Though the Bible warns us generally not to keep company with wicked people, PAUL grants that we do line in the world and it is NOT those who are OF THE WORLD that he is drawing our attention to;
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. 1 Corinthians 5:10-11,
While we may tolerate the wicked and the foolish of the world, at least for the sake of the gospel, WE SHOULD NEVER TOLERATE a man or woman who claims to be a Christian who is in such overt sin.
IT IS THE MAN WHO IS “CALLED A BROTHER” who we separate from.
Those who claim the name of Christ and yet are so clearly in overt sin without REPENTANCE, Paul refers to as “wicked”. Paul does not refer to the wicked that are outside the Church, but those who find comfort in the Church;
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
God will judge them who are outside the Church and of the world, but the Church is called to judge them that are within the Church.
Paul sees a wicked person taking comfort in his sin, in a Church who are justifying the sin of “that wicked person”.
This is the same person Paul demands 5 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.
Now beloved, this is the crux of the matter and the entire point.
The Relationship Of Blasphemers Rejected
1 Corinthians 5:11
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.
I could have used the words Charlatans, Pretenders, Imposters, Hypocrites, imposters etc, but the overt sin of “any man that is called a brother” is far more vile than that of “the fornicators of this world“, for in every way they defile the very name and character of God!
The single most perverse and hateful thing I see today are those who call themselves Christians and yet act and behave in ways that not even the godless of the world do.
They blasphemously comfort the sinner in their sins and justify the wicked. When they do this, they just as naturally condemn the righteous.
Last week I stated this clearly in my sermon “A Little Leaven”. When that which is evil is tolerated it becomes accepted, once it is accepted you begin to justify accepting it, once it is justified it is sanctified and once it is sanctified all that stands against it is VILIFIED.
Another way of seeing it in the secular world (Though we are speaking hear of the Christian, bare with me). Crime vies for decriminalisation, once decriminalised it vies for legality, once legal it vies for sanctity, and finally once it is sanctified is demands exclusivity. Evil is seen as good, and good is seen as evil.
Beloved, SINNERS WILL NEVER TOLERATE THE RIGHTEOUS…NEVER. But they will demand the righteous tolerate the sinner.
Tasmania was THE LAST state in Australia to decriminalise Homosexuality. It was the 1st of May, 1997. Yes, less than thirty years ago homosexual acts were a criminal offence in Australia.
Today it is a crime to criticise it.
Sin SPREADS UNTIL IT DOMINATES AND WHEN IT DOMINATES IN THE CHURCH IT BECOMES BLASPHEMY.
Paul charges the church not to do so, not in the Church, SEPARATE, put them out, 5…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.
The purpose is salvation for the sinner and sanctity for the Church. This is the PURPOSE.
Every church has both the authority and the responsibility to do this work that the Church not blaspheme the Lord. Every Pastor has a duty to lead in this work, when he fails in this obligation he fails in his duty as a Pastor.
Hope Baptist Church Story
The greatest practical example that I can give you, both of the SINNER LEFT UNCHECKED in his sin, the SINNER unmolested or rather coddled in his sin, AND THOSE WHO JUSTIFY AND EVEN REWARD THE SINNER FOR HIS SIN is what has occurred over the last two years which you yourselves only know a small amount.
This is yet just a tiny fragment of that HOPE BAPTIST STORY.
We can see that the modern Church had come to the point long ago to blaspheme the name of Christ by tolerating the wicked and condemning the righteous, but never had I thought it would be the case among Independent Baptist Churches.
Unlike the Churches of the world, these had once held a very high standard. I must note that certainly not all fall into this apostate category, the pastor that will be addressed below certainly does however, together with all who follow his pernicious way.
Nevertheless, he and churches like him certainly look good, they look serious. They use the KJV, they use the Great Hymns of the Faith, argued to be the most trustworthy and biblical hymn book in the world.
The most conservative of them do not employ any Contemporary Christian Music in the Church, they understand that it is the thin end of the wedge, a stepping stone to apostasy.
Beloved, what would you say if I told you that the devilish man who led the sedition in this Church two years ago had not only found acceptance in another Independent Church, but that the pastor of that Church intends to have that Wolf trained to become a Pastor?
What would you say if I told you that not only had that pastor given refuge to the man and his followers, but simply accepted EVERYTHING THEY TOLD HIM as gospel truth?
What would you say if I told you that that pastor, in justifying the wicked, naturally condemned this Church, even though he NEVER ENQUIRED OVER A SINGLE ISSUE?
He simply listened to the reasonings they gave, it scratched him just where he seemed to be itching, and through what is simply known today as CONFIRMATION BIAS, he believed them without making a single enquiry of any of you.
He had several phone numbers and could quite easily have asked for more, if he had any interest whatever at coming to the truth of the matter, but would not.
The deacon had written to him to warn him several months ago AND GAVE HIM THE RECEIPTS. That pastor NEVER PRESENTED ANY OF THAT INFORMATION TO HIS CHURCH, for we had asked four questions of him on the 11th of September 2025, one of which included ‘have you provided your church with the received information, both verbal and written, prior to any consideration related to him (Cody Kereopa).
It was the only question he did not answer.
A meeting was apparently held to discuss the question of training The Wolf for the ministry, one would think, having the information supplied and ensuring he would honestly present the wolf, he would be transparent, BUT HE WAS NOT.
This is a typical attribute of a minister who lords over his congregation, who decides what he wants to present must be accepted without controversy.
He condemns your Pastor employing nothing other than the gossip he was told, did not ask if I had ever said such and so, simply utilises accusation as enough evidence for condemnation.
In doing so beloved, the burden of proof is reversed, in other words, when you are condemned by accusation, you are guilty until proven innocent.
It is a matter of interest that his own constitution and covenant obligations condemns this. But he is typical of many apostate ministers, they employ the scripture when it suits them, not when it is inconvenient to do so.
He believes the leaders of this Church, including the two men who have known me for some thirty years, are simpleton fools unable to think for themselves and rejects the testimony of the half of this Church who were not swayed by the wiles of that devil.
Individuals with discernment and wisdom, whom God had separated from the foolish.
He does not believe any in this Church are “objective”… even though he himself never made a single enquiry that risked contradicting what he chose to believe.
A perfect, living example of a man in authority, justifying the sinner and condemning the righteous.
He minimises the sin of the wolf, thinking he was just trying to have a meeting on that day. But he was not here, did not witness what many of you witnessed that day. Did not hear the children cry, did not notice that the seditious sect left their children at home for this gentle meeting, does not know nor care to know that several of the ministries were abandoned by them to gently have a meeting.
And completely ignored the elephant in the room, the slanderous document that Cody Kereopa disseminated far and wide calling for the overthrow of the pastor and boasting he had successfully separated “half the members of the Church“.
He minimises sin by using the concept of the word ONLY to justify himself, the WOLF ONLY had a Bible study, the Crystal Creek Christian Camp board “did nothing more than not invite Hope to a camp“, and this is the most astounding, chastising your pastor for exhorting that pastor for only “attending a funeral“. Yes, that pastor honoured and justified the entire group of people who sinned against this Church by attending the funeral of the co-conspirator, whom God took very day after the sedition.
But apparently he did not know these people.
No consideration on his part that such an act would be inappropriate at this time. His actions were just like the Wolf, no conscience, no empathy, no thought and no care whatever for the people of the church he planted. he felt completely comfortable in adding insult to injury. No doubt, in minimising the sin of Cody Kereopa (The Wolf) he whitewashes his own.
As a Church we determined “not to keep company” with sinning brethren, and to
5…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.
Clearly, every Church has not only this authority to do so, but an obligation. AND CLEARLY, there is much more of the iceburg under the ice than meets the eye.
ALL PASTORS know the amount of time and ministry they had undertaken with each member of their Church. For example, this pastor knew that the only thing that group had in common was a mutual, but unspoken, disdain for their pastor.
Once this “Unity” was complete, they would largely separate. And so they have.
The WOLF always scatters the sheep, John 10:12.
Not only had that pastor completely undermined the authority of this Church, but has given to the wolf and his followers justification for an act that not a dozen pastors spoken to (including him) had experience nor known to have experienced elsewhere.
But “Sedition” was minimised to “a request for a meeting” that pastor was told, and he accepted that without question, without enquiry, even though he himself heard the tears of this Pastor when he called him shortly after the event.
(So gullible I was to have never known that that pastor harboured secret hatred for me, for what kind of a friend would give the benefit of the doubt to his enemies?)
In his letter, the WOLF boasted to have sown discord and split, quote “Half the members of the Church” and here we have a pastor who has both welcomed and approved, justified and rewarded a man who split the first Church he was ever a member of!
Consider this phrase for a moment and please tell me what you think it means, it was written by that pastor in an email to me justifying his dishonour and disrespect for the authority of this Church;
“When the split was forming in your Church” I was receiving phone calls and correspondence from people at your church
What does that tell you?
When did he know about the split in this Church? When it was forming.
Not a single telephone call, not a single warning that we may have had opportunity to pray or attempt to reconcile the matter when there was yet potential opportunity, NOTHING.
Yet six days before the event, we were warned by an interstate pastor who knew us only by name, that a split was imminent. He then encouraged us to call another pastor, also interstate, who had told me that his Church had been setting time aside already to pray for our Church.
That miracle led to our knowledge formally of what I had begin to suspect only two weeks earlier.
Yet the pastor who has now rewarded the wolf for his work, knew well before that “the split was forming in your Church…” but not a word, not a prayer, not a care.
That that pastor MINISTERED TO MEMBERS OF THIS CHURCH without my knowledge or advice or consent is astonishing. His level of contempt for good and proper order can only be matched by his hypocrisy in justifying separation from this Church for running a free of charge gospel camp, without first consulting him and his club.
Let me make this clear, it is NEVER ASSUMED in Paul’s letter that when an individual is to be “…delivered …. unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. That he is to be picked up by a passing Church without question or enquiry.
It is clear in the scripture that such a man is to remain separated from any of the brethren until repentance is found in him, and ALL CHURCHES ARE TO BE GIVEN THE BENEFIT OF ANY DOUBT before such a sinner is relieved of the consequence of his sin.
Any hope of repentance in this man or his followers is now taken away when they are first coddled and justified by wilfully ignorant ministers.
Consider 2 Thessalonians 3:6
6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
This is the state of the apostate Church, now finally reaching the Independent Baptists.
When sin is minimised, it becomes tolerated, when sin is tolerated it becomes justified, when justified, it is sanctified, when sanctified, the righteous are VILIFIED!
Evil becomes good, good becomes evil.
This is our present LIVED EXPERIENCE.
And yet there is truly so much more. A book could be written on this experience alone, I have already written some 31,000 words.
Let me close.
Beloved, what we have witnessed in that pastor and in all that we have experienced in the last few years, is a perfect testimony to the truth of 1 Cor 5 when it is IGNORED.
The same is applied to your personal life beloved. Do not ignore the sin of your Children, do not coddle corruption.
Addressing such issues begin in the home.
The mess of the world is due to sin never being addressed and all people doing that which is right in their own eyes.
It begins in the home.
Addressing sin takes courage and effort, not addressing it and excusing it is cowardice and lazy. The end result is destruction and the final judgement of God upon this world.
SIN WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THE END.
Those involved ought to be greatly ashamed this side of eternity, for a time will come when both pastors and Christians will stand to give an account for this particular event and all that surrounds it, it is certain it will not be those from this Church who will be shamed, for we attended to all that which Paul here testifies to. The leaven now purged, and we have truly become a new lump (1 Cor 5:7).
The Church is seen in the scriptures as the Pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim 3:15)
Sin MUST BE DILIGENTLY sought out to be verified, ACCUSATION ALONE DOES NOT COUNT.
WHO IS THE ACCUSER OF THE BRETHREN? Satan.
Do you know what the word Devil means?
It simply means “Slanderer” or “accuser” “false accuser”.
When we condemn people simply through accusation without enquiry, WHOSE WORK ARE WE DOING? WHO ARE WE LIKENED TO BELOVED?
Much more of the church is living in blasphemy against God than we thought.
They justify the wicked… and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him
(Isaiah 5:23),
but it will not go well for them;
Isaiah 5:20–21
20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Beloved, please do not mistake me, I have great respect for the pastors of these Churches, and I pray they will repent for their sin against this Church that they may be blessed.
By far Independent Baptist Churches are the best and most faithful of all the denominations, and there are many good and faithful pastors today. But all that glitters is not Gold.
Learn to discern, read your bibles, call sin as sin in your own life first, in doing so you will, like the many of this Church who warded off the advances of others two years ago, you will be able to discern that which is evil and good.
Separate yourself from false brethren. Be courageous to stand on truth and be diligent to learn it!
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