Christian Community

The Unrepentant and Exile

Matthew 6:14 For if you would remit for men their transgressions, your heavenly Father shall also remit for you. 15 But if you should not remit for men their transgressions, neither shall your Father remit your transgressions.

Repentance includes a cessation of the sinful activity we are repenting from. One need not forgive a sinner who is unrepentant. For this reason Paul said in 1 Corinthians chapter 6:

“9 … Do not be led astray: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminates, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor railers, nor rapacious shall inherit the kingdom of Yahweh. 11 And these things some of you may have been, but you have cleansed yourselves; moreover you have been sanctified, moreover you have been deemed fit, in the name of Prince Yahshua Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.”

Paul also explained in 1 Corinthians chapter 5 that unrepentant sinners are to be put out of our community. It is the Christian's duty to recognize and condemn sin, and to inform our brethren when they are seen in sin. Paul said in Galatians 6:1: “Brethren, even if a man should already be caught up in some transgression, you, those of the Spirit, restore such a man in a spirit of meekness, watching yourself lest also you may be tested.” When a sinner is unrepentant, we are to put him out of our community. As Paul advises in 1 Corinthians 5 to “deliver such a wretch to the Adversary, for destruction of the flesh, in order that the Spirit may be preserved in the day of the Prince.” Putting a man out of our community forces him over to the Adversary – to non-Christians and aliens – and God will use them to judge the sinner, as Paul says further on in that chapter “What is it to me to judge those outside? Not at all should you judge those within you [or among you]. 13 But those outside Yahweh judges; 'you will expel the wicked from amongst yourselves.'”

However once a brother repents, he can find forgiveness with God, and we must also forgive him.