What is church discipline/excommunication?

TL;DR:

Church discipline, including excommunication, is Christ’s loving process to correct unrepentant sin, aiming to restore the sinner and protect the church’s holiness. It moves patiently from private correction to, if necessary, removal from fellowship, always with the intent of repentance and reconciliation.

what does the bible say?

Excommunication is the removal of an unrepentant person from church fellowship. It is the final step of church discipline, a process intended to call a sinner to repentance while protecting the purity of Christ’s people.

The idea of discipline began with Israel, whom God called to be holy and distinct from the surrounding nations. To preserve that holiness, He gave laws that addressed sin within the community through restitution, exclusion, and, in severe cases, death (Exodus 21–22; Leviticus 24:10–23; Numbers 15:30–36). The civil penalties of Israel revealed God’s lasting concern for the purity of His people. The church continues to address this concern, not through civil government, but through fellowship and accountability (1 Corinthians 5:12–13).

Jesus described the church’s responsibility as a patient process that begins privately, slowly expanding if the guilty party remains unrepentant. If the individual refuses to repent even when the entire church is involved, then they are removed from fellowship (Matthew 18:15–17). Paul applied this principle when he commanded the removal of an unrepentant sinner to preserve both the person’s soul and the congregation’s purity (1 Corinthians 5:1–7). Second Corinthians 2:5–11, written a few months later, appears to indicate that the man did repent, representing the ideal outcome of church discipline.

from the old testament

God’s desire for holiness among His people began long before the church. From the beginning, He called Israel to be a nation set apart, reflecting His character to the surrounding world. Their covenant at Mount Sinai was built on this call to purity—Israel was to worship no other gods and to live in obedience so that the world would know the LORD as the one true God (Exodus 19:5–6; Leviticus 19:2).
To protect that holiness, God gave Israel clear laws that included various forms of discipline. Sin within the community was not ignored but dealt with through restitution, exclusion from worship, or, in cases of serious defiance, death (Exodus 21–22; Leviticus 24:10–23; Numbers 15:30–36). These judgments underscored that rebellion against God threatened the entire nation and that holiness could not be taken lightly.
Though the church does not share Israel’s civil authority or enforce physical penalties, the principle remains the same. God still desires His people to be pure and to represent His holiness to the world. Church discipline fulfills that same purpose spiritually, preserving the integrity of Christ’s body through repentance, correction, and restoration.

from the new testament

Church discipline is the process by which the church confronts sin among its members with the goal of repentance, restoration, and purity. Excommunication is the final stage of that process, when an unrepentant person is removed from fellowship. Scripture treats this not as punishment but as protection—both for the sinner, who is warned of the seriousness of sin, and for the church, which must remain a holy testimony to Christ (1 Corinthians 5:6–7; Ephesians 5:25–27). Without discipline, sin spreads and damages the church’s witness, so correction is an act of love and obedience to the Lord who calls His people to holiness.
Jesus laid out the process of discipline in Matthew 18. When one believer sins against another, the first step is private correction so that reconciliation can happen quietly (Matthew 18:15). If the person refuses to listen, one or two witnesses should join to confirm the facts and encourage repentance (Matthew 18:16). If still unrepentant, the matter becomes a concern for the whole church (Matthew 18:17a). This slow, patient approach guards against gossip and injustice, showing respect and grace at every step.
If the individual continues in defiance, Jesus commands that the church “treat him as a Gentile and a tax collector” (Matthew 18:17b). This means the person is regarded as an unbeliever—not shunned with cruelty but no longer treated as a member of the believing community. The purpose is to cut off the comfort of fellowship so that the individual feels the weight of separation from Christ’s people and, if truly converted, is drawn to repentance. Paul applied this principle in Corinth, instructing the church to remove a man openly living in sin “so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 5:1–5). Later, when that man repented, Paul urged the church to forgive and reaffirm their love, warning that excessive sorrow could overwhelm him (2 Corinthians 2:5–8). This demonstrates that discipline is always corrective, never vindictive.
The goal of every form of church discipline, even excommunication, is reconciliation—between the sinner and God, and between believers within the body. When handled biblically, discipline restores holiness, strengthens unity, and displays the grace of Christ who disciplines those He loves so that His people may share in His holiness (Hebrews 12:10–11).

implications for today

Many believers struggle with the idea of church discipline, fearing it sounds harsh or unloving. Yet Jesus gave this process out of deep love for His people. He knows that unrepentant sin harms both the sinner and the church, and He desires His bride to be pure and whole. Discipline is one of the ways He accomplishes that purity—through correction, accountability, and the call to repentance. When handled biblically, discipline is not about punishing people but about encouraging them towards righteousness. This is similar to how God disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:3–11).

If your church practices discipline, remember that it reflects Christ’s care. Every step is meant to protect the flock and to provide ample opportunities for wandering hearts to return to Him. When sin is confronted with love and truth, then grace becomes visible: repentance leads to restoration, forgiveness strengthens unity, and holiness deepens the church’s witness. Rather than resisting discipline, believers can receive it as one of God’s good gifts, trusting that His purpose is always redemptive. Through it, Jesus purifies His people and displays to the world the transforming power of His mercy.

understand

Church discipline corrects sin to restore the sinner and protect the church.
Excommunication is the final step of church discipline, removing unrepentant members while seeking repentance and restoration.
The goal of church discipline is to always be redemptive.

reflect

How do you respond when confronted with your own sin?
How could you support the restoration of a fellow believer who has been disciplined?
How does understanding Christ’s love in church discipline change your view of accountability and holiness in your life?

engage

How can we ensure that discipline is handled with both love and truth?
What practical steps can we take to seek restoration and reconciliation in discipline?
How does the practice of church discipline strengthen the church’s witness?