For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
The verse places upon the church the responsibility to judge and correct those who are within its fellowship. It does not place upon the church that responsibility toward those who are without. That inward responsibility requires confronting immoral conduct that disgraces the church and making decided efforts to show unchristian members their wrongs, rather than leaving the evil uncorrected. If those so dealt with do not reform, they are to be separated from the faithful, so that the church may remain clean and pure.
Those who willfully cherish sin while professing godliness are not to be received as members, yet persons having faults may be included so that they can learn and correct their errors. Judas was accepted despite his defects in order to give him opportunity to learn, but he afterward chose not to walk in the light. Even the church in its best condition was not composed entirely of the pure and sincere. One who has placed himself beyond the fellowship by rejecting light and truth and violating God's law cannot be fellowshiped, and even if he repents his case must be left alone while the rebuke of the church remains, so that the standard of morality is not lowered.
The verse places upon the church the responsibility to judge and correct those who are within its fellowship. It does not place upon the church that responsibility toward those who are without. That inward responsibility requires confronting immoral conduct that disgraces the church and making decided efforts to show unchristian members their wrongs, rather than leaving the evil uncorrected. If those so dealt with do not reform, they are to be separated from the faithful, so that the church may remain clean and pure.
Those who willfully cherish sin while professing godliness are not to be received as members, yet persons having faults may be included so that they can learn and correct their errors. Judas was accepted despite his defects in order to give him opportunity to learn, but he afterward chose not to walk in the light. Even the church in its best condition was not composed entirely of the pure and sincere. One who has placed himself beyond the fellowship by rejecting light and truth and violating God's law cannot be fellowshiped, and even if he repents his case must be left alone while the rebuke of the church remains, so that the standard of morality is not lowered.