That His Spirit May Be Saved Church Discipline as a Means to Repentance and Perseverance
In an age of tolerance and moral laxity, the implementation of church discipline is often looked upon with disdain, fear, or incredulousness. However, there is clear biblical precedent for the practice of discipline within a local church context. While many are aware of several passages in Scripture that speak to this reality, in this work, Jeremy Kimble calls readers to observe clear biblical mandates, historic precedent, as well as theological and practical implications for the practice of church discipline. Seeking to venture past the pragmatic discussions surrounding church discipline, Kimble articulates for his readers a lucid theological presentation of this topic. He argues that discipline serves as a warning of potential end-time judgment. As such, discipline also serves as a means to the sinner's repentance and the perseverance of the saints within that local church. This theological understanding of discipline calls pastors and congregations to faithfulness. There is a seriousness to church discipline that cannot be ignored, and likewise discipline must also be viewed as a mercy, knowing it is a means to repentance and enduring in one's faith.
Publisher: Wipf and Stock
Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9781625642103
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Jeremy M. Kimble (PhD, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is associate professor of theology at Cedarville College. Kimble served in pastoral ministry for eight years and currently serves as an elder at Grace Baptist Church in Cedarville, Ohio.
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Kimble helpfully reminds us that church discipline, when practiced biblically and lovingly, is both a provisional judgment and a key means of grace that the Lord uses to bring wandering sheep to repentance and to separate potential wolves from the flock. Kimble presents a compelling biblical, historical, and theological argument for recovering the faithful practice of redemptive church discipline. Nathan A. Finn, Associate Professor of Historical Theology and Baptist Studies, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, North Carolina