Paul begins 1 Corinthians 5 by calling the Church of Corinth to expel immoral members of the church. He casts the spotlight on one particular member, “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?” (NIV 1 Cor. 5:1-2)
Other versions (such as the ESV) Use the word “mourn” instead of “grief” in verse two. Both terms imply an action usually demonstrated in remembrance of the dead. After all, being a believer, this man was made alive in Christ (Romans 6:11) because Christ killed sin. So when we sin as believers we are acting as though we are dead spiritually. One minister described sin as “unbelief.” Meaning that when you sin you are demonstrating an “unbelief” in God’s commands, you are acting as though you did not believe it. Which raises the question, do you really believe it? Our actions, more often than not, can say we don’t believe.
Paul then illustrates that when you allow sinning members of the church (who are widely and publicly known for their sinning as the man Paul describes was) to stay, sin will often grow in the church. “Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?” (1 Cor. 5:6) Yeast works through the dough, it puffs it up and expands the bread. Sin, like yeast and cancer, will grow through a church.
“But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.” (1 Cor. 5:11) We are not to associate with sinners, we are to associate with the living. Paul tells them to expel the wicked man and to purge the church of sin as a solution. While some would obviously call “foul” because this can be considered “judgement.” Paul clarifies, “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?” (1 Cor. 5:12) Does not casting judgement mean ignoring sin in the church? No.
We must analyze ourselves and purge ourselves of sin (1 Cor. 5:7) so that we do not become an infection of the church. If we really believe what we say we believe, we should be striving everyday to be holy. A good way to start is by giving your body to Jesus Christ and reminding yourself everyday of your commitment. This simple challenge, by changing the way we act, can have an unequivocal domino-effect.
Jesus bought us — yes, bought us — at a price. The price of death. When we sin we betray the God who saved us. When someone saves your life, you say, “thanks” and then completely ignore him for the rest of your life, doesn’t that make you look like a jerk? We are worse when we sin because not only are we ignoring the God who saved us, but acting against Him as though he were repulsive to us.
Jesus did something much greater than we could ever do, He saved all of mankind before we were even born. We owe Him much more than our obedience, periodical attendance at church, or infrequent prayer when we get ourselves into trouble, we owe Him our life.
Yes, life.
We all have difficulty living up to this standard but can find assurance in remembering what he has done for us.
My hope is built on nothing less,
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.When darkness seems to veil his face,
I rest on his unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.His oath his covenant and blood,
Support me in the ‘whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.When the last trumpets voice shall sound,
O then I may in him be found,
Clothed in his righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before his throne”
-My Hope is Built by Edward Mote
-Ben
Devotional: 1 Corinthians 5
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