1 Corinthians 5:9-13 says,...
Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 5:9-13, which read,
I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.
Paul has told the Christians in Corinth to remove the Christian man in the church who was practicing illicit sexual activity that made even the pagans blush. Paul also spoke to the church about their response to this person and the situation. It was not a non response but rather a response that boasted that this wrong was not wrong anymore or that it would not affect them to allow it to continue on.
Now comes a huge qualifier. Paul makes a huge distinction. Paul is not talking about this action to all immoral people. He is talking about the so-called brother (Christian) who is participating in a list of activities that are sin given to us in the Scriptures. Those people are the so-called Christians who are immoral or covetous or the idolater or the reviler or the drunkard or the swindler. Church discipline is to be practiced for the purpose of that person coming back to the ways of the Lord. It is God's extreme action but a separation is needed for them to know the their fellowship with God is not honoring Him and so there is a dis-fellowship with the people of God at this time.
Paul is talking about those inside the church and not those outside of the church. All will be judged by God, inside and outside of the church. Those inside the church, meaning those who are called Christians, are held to that judgment through the Scriptures and administrated by the fellow Christian brothers and sisters. Again, this is for the purpose of restoration to God and not complete isolation.
Why is this distinction important? Paul wants the Christians in Corinth to not disassociate themselves with those in the world who are not in the church. He wants them to continue to reach out with the message of Christ to the world. Those they are reaching out to will be immoral, covetous, idolaters, revilers, drunkards, and swindlers but God sent His Son Jesus Christ to save them and transform them to be fully devoted followers of Christ.
When the church speaks out about a known sin of the Bible it is directly related to those within the church but we know that the Bible speaks of things that are a benefit to all of society. The Bible says, "Do not murder." We know this was given to the Israelites in the desert by God through Moses to them but we also know that this Biblical principle is beneficial to all of human society. We promote those Biblical principles given to the church to the world as we live by them.
Recently another Biblical principle that we are to live by has been discarded and the opposite has become the law of the land. It will have an affect on our country because this instruction of the Lord has been re-defined. The world can do that but not the church. This is just another in a list of Biblical principles that have been throw out. The specific sin mentioned in the Bible is not the real issue but it is the Bible as authoritative in all matters that is the issue. The church needs to continue to stand strong on living out those principles and also to continue to preach those principles to the world because they are beneficial to the world. We are to live as God's ways are higher and holier than our own ways.
Will the church hold to God's words and God's way? That is the question but the answer should be "yes" even in the midst of a changing culture. Will church discipline come into play for those who so-called Christians who hold to the culture's standards instead of God's standards? Another question that Paul addresses that will need to happen and may we not go the way of the Corinthians and start boasting about our wisdom above the wisdom of God.
"Lord, thank You for the distinction today that does not hinder the preaching of Your gospel to the world. Thank You for Your transforming power to take us from where we were to where You are. Help us as a church to hold tightly to Your word and give us the grace needed to help correct our own and Your own to continue to follow You. Amen."
Pastor Adam
I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.
Paul has told the Christians in Corinth to remove the Christian man in the church who was practicing illicit sexual activity that made even the pagans blush. Paul also spoke to the church about their response to this person and the situation. It was not a non response but rather a response that boasted that this wrong was not wrong anymore or that it would not affect them to allow it to continue on.
Now comes a huge qualifier. Paul makes a huge distinction. Paul is not talking about this action to all immoral people. He is talking about the so-called brother (Christian) who is participating in a list of activities that are sin given to us in the Scriptures. Those people are the so-called Christians who are immoral or covetous or the idolater or the reviler or the drunkard or the swindler. Church discipline is to be practiced for the purpose of that person coming back to the ways of the Lord. It is God's extreme action but a separation is needed for them to know the their fellowship with God is not honoring Him and so there is a dis-fellowship with the people of God at this time.
Paul is talking about those inside the church and not those outside of the church. All will be judged by God, inside and outside of the church. Those inside the church, meaning those who are called Christians, are held to that judgment through the Scriptures and administrated by the fellow Christian brothers and sisters. Again, this is for the purpose of restoration to God and not complete isolation.
Why is this distinction important? Paul wants the Christians in Corinth to not disassociate themselves with those in the world who are not in the church. He wants them to continue to reach out with the message of Christ to the world. Those they are reaching out to will be immoral, covetous, idolaters, revilers, drunkards, and swindlers but God sent His Son Jesus Christ to save them and transform them to be fully devoted followers of Christ.
When the church speaks out about a known sin of the Bible it is directly related to those within the church but we know that the Bible speaks of things that are a benefit to all of society. The Bible says, "Do not murder." We know this was given to the Israelites in the desert by God through Moses to them but we also know that this Biblical principle is beneficial to all of human society. We promote those Biblical principles given to the church to the world as we live by them.
Recently another Biblical principle that we are to live by has been discarded and the opposite has become the law of the land. It will have an affect on our country because this instruction of the Lord has been re-defined. The world can do that but not the church. This is just another in a list of Biblical principles that have been throw out. The specific sin mentioned in the Bible is not the real issue but it is the Bible as authoritative in all matters that is the issue. The church needs to continue to stand strong on living out those principles and also to continue to preach those principles to the world because they are beneficial to the world. We are to live as God's ways are higher and holier than our own ways.
Will the church hold to God's words and God's way? That is the question but the answer should be "yes" even in the midst of a changing culture. Will church discipline come into play for those who so-called Christians who hold to the culture's standards instead of God's standards? Another question that Paul addresses that will need to happen and may we not go the way of the Corinthians and start boasting about our wisdom above the wisdom of God.
"Lord, thank You for the distinction today that does not hinder the preaching of Your gospel to the world. Thank You for Your transforming power to take us from where we were to where You are. Help us as a church to hold tightly to Your word and give us the grace needed to help correct our own and Your own to continue to follow You. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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