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1 corinthians chapter 5
1 Corinthians Chapter 5
1 Corinthians 5:1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife.
One of the problems within that church was the growing number of sexual failures within the church. We see it all the time. A prominent pastor runs off with the church secretary. The well known evangelist admitting to extramarital relationships at some point in their marriage. Leaders and preachers coming out of the closet and announcing their homosexuality.
This is to say nothing of the masses that are following and learning from them. Nothing of the multitudes that sit under them and do the same things only without the constant spotlight.
Now remember in cities such as Corinth, casual sex and sexual promiscuity were the norm. They even had a goddess of sex called Aphrodite and the temple priests and priestesses would fornicate in the streets nightly. Many of the Christians there had grown up doing these very things with them. A habit, no doubt, that would be hard to break.
Listen, the world may have changed a bit over the years, but human depravity has not and God certainly has not. The call to sexual purity is the same now as it was in the first century church and as it was in the days of Noah. On the subject of immorality today, the problem has not gone away and with the invention of the internet it has, if anything, gotten worse.
Chapter four sort of concluded a section of the letter that dealt with pride, human wisdom and philosophy. He begins now a new section dealing with the particular behaviors and sins that plagued this church. What was one of those specific problems…well verse 1 says there were men sleeping with their fathers wife.
O.K. first of all ewwww. I thought maybe it was just a step mom, but my wife is a step mom to my two older kids so…ewwww. Not any better!
This sin is not as miniscule in number as you might think. The cases of familial rape and even consensual incest are rising. As the spirit of the antichrist grows stronger in the world, the fruit of the same grows as well.
Two things are seriously wrong here in this church…in this chapter…in this verse! And it is not the obvious. The fact that a young man is sleeping with his mom may be disturbing at the very least, the problem goes beyond that.
Problem #1---“It is being reported…”
This wasn’t like a “this just in” kind of report. No! It was reported as a bragging and boastful act. It was bragged about. No shame, no attempt to hide this act. Paul is disturbed by the lack of action taken against such thing.
Problem #2---“Not even the pagans do such things…”
Think about that! It exceeded a pagan’s tolerance for sin. Can you imagine a church or a Christian pioneering sinful action among the pagan and unbelieving world? Or doing something that would cause unbelievers to cringe at the mere thought of performing a particular act? How depraved would a Christian have to act to solicit such a reaction? Yet it happens all the time…Here is a stark reality…
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
Mahatma Gandhi
V.2-5--2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? 3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
I can remember a time when I was younger and I would overhear other kids speaking of the past nights vandalism they did or how they beat up the wimpy kid. And the stories of how guys have had their way with their girlfriends and the descriptive actions that took place…
But boasting of iniquity is normal in the world. Business men bragging about those whom they stepped on to achieve their status. Adulterers bragging about how they get away with it. Criminals proud of their clever actions and not getting caught, but in the church? A Christian?
Upon reading the letter they might have felt convicted and said “Well Paul, we are not the ones doing it.” We should be immediately reminded of the sin of omission.
James 4:17
Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.
In this case, just not being a part of it did not excuse the members of the church.
“Well Paul,” the argument goes, “We are not supposed to judge people remember?”
Really? Who said?
Paul will cover that attempted excuse a bit later in the chapter.
There is a difference between understanding a person’s struggle in showing mercy and compassion verses enabling that person.
Aiding and abetting a felon is also felony.
In speaking with teachers today this is problem in many homes. The teacher calls with a report of a bad behavior and the parents defend the child every time.
Now there is an opposite response that is equally destructive. It is the self righteous judgment, prideful hypocrisy and haughty words of condemnation as we perch high on our horses and look down at the unique singled out sinner.
There are a lot of good people who will never step into another church because of the reactions such as those.
Proper handling of another’s sin looks like this... (Not exactly shown here in these verses but truth nonetheless)
1) There but for the grace of God , go I.
No one is above the temptation and succumbing of sin.
2) Mourn, grieve, repent.
Not the offender but those involved or who knew.
3) Confront, confront, confront, then punt.
We correct, we warn, we offer help, and if nothing works, we retreat.
Matthew 18:15-17
“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
4) Leave the door unlocked.
Most important! God always allows repentance, so should we.
Luke 17:3
So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him
Galatians 6:1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
Now we need to examine verse 5 because it sounds contrary to, well, the entire New Testament.
V.5-- hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
Based on what we have learned thus far from this individual, he has never really left the camp of the world, or the enemy. As Christians we are carried over to another realm, another world. It almost sounds science fiction, but it is well known that there are two kingdom at work at all times.
One who demonstrates a deliberate and continual characteristic of the kingdom of Satan, not only has not left that kingdom, but is now trying to infiltrate the purity of the kingdom of God. Paul says “turn him over to Satan.”
This type of action is not vindictive, not vengeful, but it has a godly purpose; That his soul may be saved. Many times we have to reach rock bottom, be flat on our backs before we realize just what we have become.
Since Satan is the lowest of lows, he will eventually lead that person to a place where they are so low they can only look up. From there they will see the hand of Jesus reaching down to them. They will remember the fellowship of the church and the people there. They will remember the kindness and love that was shown. Remember the power of the Word and the Spirit being demonstrated, and, hopefully, they will return and when they do…
All judgment ends at repentance; all discipline ceases when repentance occurs. (But not all consequences cease.)
Luke 17:3
So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him
And If God ends all judgment and discipline, so should we. In the next verses Paul shows why the latter action, though harsh and drastic, is necessary.
Verses 6-8--
6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
This is a Passover reference. The door post, the sprinkle of blood, the removal of all yeast. The leaven was never to be eaten during this time. Yeast is symbolic of sin. Using this image we are reminded of three things…
1) A little leaven can spoil the whole batch.
One sinful activity, left unchecked in the church can bring that church down. This is the reason for the drastic action Paul is telling them to take.
2) You are a new batch of dough…without yeast.
That is, in Christ your yeast has been washed away. This is why when a Christian partakes in the practices of his old life, he introduces yeast. So often when a small practice of our past life is acted upon, it opens the door for more temptation.
Case and point. “Well I will just have a couple of beers.” This leads to sexual stimulation, which can lead to thoughts and actions of an immoral nature. Which, if acted upon, can lead to more serious results like adultery, fornication, masturbation or an increased desire to watch porn. Then guilt may set in as the Holy Spirit begins to move. And then anger and condemnation come, which is then passed onto those around you. Then relationships are strained and fighting takes place and that same guy storms out screaming, “I’m going to the bar…” and there he has not 2 or 3 beers, but just gets plastered.
Not only does a little sin spread, not only are you a new creation, a new batch of dough thanks to Jesus, but…
3) We are to celebrate that life. Celebrate those facts.
What is a celebration? It is a remembrance and reminder of a great event. I.E. birthday, anniversary, Christmas…If we do not celebrate our new life in Christ on a regular and consistent basis, we will naturally cease to appreciate that new life. And since God’s mercy is new every day, each day is a birthday in Christ, each day an anniversary, each day a reason to celebrate.
V.9-13--
9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister[c] but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.
12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”
Paul expands the borders of a sinful brother or sister. Not just sexual sins but the idolater, the greedy, the drunkard, the swindler…and he is clear to make the distinction between who we are to judge and who we are not to judge. Obviously those in the world should not be judged by us. They are what they are.
Whatever letter he wrote to them (now lost) he told them this already. But like many Christians do, we read the Word and apply it to someone else. “I wish so and so could read this…”
They felt that as long as they did not associate with the sinners of the world they were good. Paul did not say, “have nothing to do with immoral pagans…” but rather fellow Christians.
There are far too many Christians who do not associate with sinners.
We are commanded to serve the lost, the wicked, and the sinners. Jesus did! We serve Christ, yes, but we do so by going to the sinners with Jesus.
My favorite magician is David Blain. Mainly because he goes into the ghetto and other sordid places to share his gift. You can see on their faces that they respected that.
Luke 15:1-2
Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
We are called to go eat with sinners. There is a far greater judgment for Christians when it comes to sin than there is for sinners. You see, they are just doing what comes natural to them.
But a saved believer, with a new nature, should also be doing things that come natural to that new nature. And if they are not, if you are not, you might as well just turn yourself over to Satan. Stop trying to excuse, explain, hide, and balance or whatever you’re doing with your sin that helps you sleep at night. You might as well just sin properly, at least then you might be able to overcome this thing.
Paul, in speaking about Christians that were trying to meld the world’s practices and sin together with the church, said this…
Galatians 5:12
As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
Perhaps for you it is time to stop walking the line with one foot in each kingdom and just choose a side. The alternative is a Christian life that can only be defined as lukewarm and we all know what Jesus does with them.
Be Blessed
1 Corinthians 5:1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife.
One of the problems within that church was the growing number of sexual failures within the church. We see it all the time. A prominent pastor runs off with the church secretary. The well known evangelist admitting to extramarital relationships at some point in their marriage. Leaders and preachers coming out of the closet and announcing their homosexuality.
This is to say nothing of the masses that are following and learning from them. Nothing of the multitudes that sit under them and do the same things only without the constant spotlight.
Now remember in cities such as Corinth, casual sex and sexual promiscuity were the norm. They even had a goddess of sex called Aphrodite and the temple priests and priestesses would fornicate in the streets nightly. Many of the Christians there had grown up doing these very things with them. A habit, no doubt, that would be hard to break.
Listen, the world may have changed a bit over the years, but human depravity has not and God certainly has not. The call to sexual purity is the same now as it was in the first century church and as it was in the days of Noah. On the subject of immorality today, the problem has not gone away and with the invention of the internet it has, if anything, gotten worse.
Chapter four sort of concluded a section of the letter that dealt with pride, human wisdom and philosophy. He begins now a new section dealing with the particular behaviors and sins that plagued this church. What was one of those specific problems…well verse 1 says there were men sleeping with their fathers wife.
O.K. first of all ewwww. I thought maybe it was just a step mom, but my wife is a step mom to my two older kids so…ewwww. Not any better!
This sin is not as miniscule in number as you might think. The cases of familial rape and even consensual incest are rising. As the spirit of the antichrist grows stronger in the world, the fruit of the same grows as well.
Two things are seriously wrong here in this church…in this chapter…in this verse! And it is not the obvious. The fact that a young man is sleeping with his mom may be disturbing at the very least, the problem goes beyond that.
Problem #1---“It is being reported…”
This wasn’t like a “this just in” kind of report. No! It was reported as a bragging and boastful act. It was bragged about. No shame, no attempt to hide this act. Paul is disturbed by the lack of action taken against such thing.
Problem #2---“Not even the pagans do such things…”
Think about that! It exceeded a pagan’s tolerance for sin. Can you imagine a church or a Christian pioneering sinful action among the pagan and unbelieving world? Or doing something that would cause unbelievers to cringe at the mere thought of performing a particular act? How depraved would a Christian have to act to solicit such a reaction? Yet it happens all the time…Here is a stark reality…
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
Mahatma Gandhi
V.2-5--2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? 3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
I can remember a time when I was younger and I would overhear other kids speaking of the past nights vandalism they did or how they beat up the wimpy kid. And the stories of how guys have had their way with their girlfriends and the descriptive actions that took place…
But boasting of iniquity is normal in the world. Business men bragging about those whom they stepped on to achieve their status. Adulterers bragging about how they get away with it. Criminals proud of their clever actions and not getting caught, but in the church? A Christian?
Upon reading the letter they might have felt convicted and said “Well Paul, we are not the ones doing it.” We should be immediately reminded of the sin of omission.
James 4:17
Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.
In this case, just not being a part of it did not excuse the members of the church.
“Well Paul,” the argument goes, “We are not supposed to judge people remember?”
Really? Who said?
Paul will cover that attempted excuse a bit later in the chapter.
There is a difference between understanding a person’s struggle in showing mercy and compassion verses enabling that person.
Aiding and abetting a felon is also felony.
In speaking with teachers today this is problem in many homes. The teacher calls with a report of a bad behavior and the parents defend the child every time.
Now there is an opposite response that is equally destructive. It is the self righteous judgment, prideful hypocrisy and haughty words of condemnation as we perch high on our horses and look down at the unique singled out sinner.
There are a lot of good people who will never step into another church because of the reactions such as those.
Proper handling of another’s sin looks like this... (Not exactly shown here in these verses but truth nonetheless)
1) There but for the grace of God , go I.
No one is above the temptation and succumbing of sin.
2) Mourn, grieve, repent.
Not the offender but those involved or who knew.
3) Confront, confront, confront, then punt.
We correct, we warn, we offer help, and if nothing works, we retreat.
Matthew 18:15-17
“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
4) Leave the door unlocked.
Most important! God always allows repentance, so should we.
Luke 17:3
So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him
Galatians 6:1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
Now we need to examine verse 5 because it sounds contrary to, well, the entire New Testament.
V.5-- hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
Based on what we have learned thus far from this individual, he has never really left the camp of the world, or the enemy. As Christians we are carried over to another realm, another world. It almost sounds science fiction, but it is well known that there are two kingdom at work at all times.
One who demonstrates a deliberate and continual characteristic of the kingdom of Satan, not only has not left that kingdom, but is now trying to infiltrate the purity of the kingdom of God. Paul says “turn him over to Satan.”
This type of action is not vindictive, not vengeful, but it has a godly purpose; That his soul may be saved. Many times we have to reach rock bottom, be flat on our backs before we realize just what we have become.
Since Satan is the lowest of lows, he will eventually lead that person to a place where they are so low they can only look up. From there they will see the hand of Jesus reaching down to them. They will remember the fellowship of the church and the people there. They will remember the kindness and love that was shown. Remember the power of the Word and the Spirit being demonstrated, and, hopefully, they will return and when they do…
All judgment ends at repentance; all discipline ceases when repentance occurs. (But not all consequences cease.)
Luke 17:3
So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him
And If God ends all judgment and discipline, so should we. In the next verses Paul shows why the latter action, though harsh and drastic, is necessary.
Verses 6-8--
6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
This is a Passover reference. The door post, the sprinkle of blood, the removal of all yeast. The leaven was never to be eaten during this time. Yeast is symbolic of sin. Using this image we are reminded of three things…
1) A little leaven can spoil the whole batch.
One sinful activity, left unchecked in the church can bring that church down. This is the reason for the drastic action Paul is telling them to take.
2) You are a new batch of dough…without yeast.
That is, in Christ your yeast has been washed away. This is why when a Christian partakes in the practices of his old life, he introduces yeast. So often when a small practice of our past life is acted upon, it opens the door for more temptation.
Case and point. “Well I will just have a couple of beers.” This leads to sexual stimulation, which can lead to thoughts and actions of an immoral nature. Which, if acted upon, can lead to more serious results like adultery, fornication, masturbation or an increased desire to watch porn. Then guilt may set in as the Holy Spirit begins to move. And then anger and condemnation come, which is then passed onto those around you. Then relationships are strained and fighting takes place and that same guy storms out screaming, “I’m going to the bar…” and there he has not 2 or 3 beers, but just gets plastered.
Not only does a little sin spread, not only are you a new creation, a new batch of dough thanks to Jesus, but…
3) We are to celebrate that life. Celebrate those facts.
What is a celebration? It is a remembrance and reminder of a great event. I.E. birthday, anniversary, Christmas…If we do not celebrate our new life in Christ on a regular and consistent basis, we will naturally cease to appreciate that new life. And since God’s mercy is new every day, each day is a birthday in Christ, each day an anniversary, each day a reason to celebrate.
V.9-13--
9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister[c] but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.
12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”
Paul expands the borders of a sinful brother or sister. Not just sexual sins but the idolater, the greedy, the drunkard, the swindler…and he is clear to make the distinction between who we are to judge and who we are not to judge. Obviously those in the world should not be judged by us. They are what they are.
Whatever letter he wrote to them (now lost) he told them this already. But like many Christians do, we read the Word and apply it to someone else. “I wish so and so could read this…”
They felt that as long as they did not associate with the sinners of the world they were good. Paul did not say, “have nothing to do with immoral pagans…” but rather fellow Christians.
There are far too many Christians who do not associate with sinners.
We are commanded to serve the lost, the wicked, and the sinners. Jesus did! We serve Christ, yes, but we do so by going to the sinners with Jesus.
My favorite magician is David Blain. Mainly because he goes into the ghetto and other sordid places to share his gift. You can see on their faces that they respected that.
Luke 15:1-2
Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
We are called to go eat with sinners. There is a far greater judgment for Christians when it comes to sin than there is for sinners. You see, they are just doing what comes natural to them.
But a saved believer, with a new nature, should also be doing things that come natural to that new nature. And if they are not, if you are not, you might as well just turn yourself over to Satan. Stop trying to excuse, explain, hide, and balance or whatever you’re doing with your sin that helps you sleep at night. You might as well just sin properly, at least then you might be able to overcome this thing.
Paul, in speaking about Christians that were trying to meld the world’s practices and sin together with the church, said this…
Galatians 5:12
As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
Perhaps for you it is time to stop walking the line with one foot in each kingdom and just choose a side. The alternative is a Christian life that can only be defined as lukewarm and we all know what Jesus does with them.
Be Blessed
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