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1 Corinthians 5:1-5 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
When The World Infiltrates The Church
What do we do when the world infiltrates the Church? The world is ALWAYS trying to infiltrate the Church. When a person joins the “membership” roll of the Church following water baptist, each professing believer in the Church takes the word of the new member that they are actually “born again”. Sadly,
Some of those who are on the physical roll of the Church are not spiritually a part of the Church.
Though we use man made paper and “rolls” to annotate our “members”, the Bible says that:
Acts 2:47 (ESV) … the LORD ADDED TO THEIR NUMBER DAY BY DAY those who were being saved.
1 Corinthians 12:13 (NKJV) For BY ONE SPIRIT WE WERE ALL BAPTIZED INTO ONE BODY–whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free–and have ALL BEEN MADE TO DRINK INTO ONE SPIRIT.
It is the Holy Spirit of God Who adds people to the Church. To be in the Church, one must be in the Book of Life (Psalm 69:28; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5). You cannot be in the Book of Life unless you are regenerated, or born again. The Christian has seven actions performed on them from the Holy Spirit of God. They are …
1. Regenerated (Palingenesia, born again) – John 3:3; Ephesians 2:1
2. Justified (Dikaiosis, imputed righteousness) – 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:24-26
3. Adopted (Huiothesia, legally brought into the family of God) – Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:4-5
4. Reconciled (Katallage, restored relationship with God) – Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
5. Redeemed (Apolutrosis, purchased or ransomed from slavery) – Colossians 1:13
6. Sanctified (Hagiasmos, Positionally set apart for God’s use. Daily changed to be more like Christ) – 1 Corinthians 1:2
7. The promise of Glorification (Doxazo, ultimately purified to walk with God in eternity) – Romans 8:30
No man made “roll” does this. Now there’s really nothing wrong with a “roll”. It’s not sinful. When Jesus called the Apostles to His side, Matthew (10:2-4), Mark (3:16-19), and Luke (6:14-16) all list a “Roll Call”. It is later in Scripture we find out that Judas Iscariot, though he was called by Jesus, though he was on the paper roll, was never saved. Jesus said:
John 6:70 KJV … Have not I chosen you twelve, and ONE OF YOU IS A DEVIL?
Jesus chose Judas knowing he was not saved, that he was a false follower (John 17:12). The Apostle John said of Judas “HE WAS A THIEF, and having charge of the money bag he used to HELP HIMSELF to what was in it” (John 12:4-6). When someone “joins” the Church physically, we cannot see their hearts.
But we can see their fruit.
The Apostles saw the fruit of Judas Iscariot, and John called him out on it. But sadly, this young man who was a “member” of Corinth, his fruit was rotten. But the Church did nothing about it. They just looked the other way.
The Fruit Of The Child Of God
Should Not Be Sexual Sin
1 Corinthians 5:1 It is REPORTED COMMONLY (akouō holōs) that there is FORNICATION (porneia) among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.
Word Study: Paul says “It is REPORTED COMMONLY”. This is the Greek akouō holōs, and this could be translated “EVERYBODY HAS HEARD”. This was long before there was an Internet or Social Media. What was happening in Corinth was being passed on by word of mouth. Beloved, When something weird is going on in a Church body, word gets out. People hear. Unbelievers hear.
What the unbelievers are hearing is that there is “FORNICATION”, porneia “illicit and unbiblical sexual activity”. This is a catch all phrase for any type of sexual deviancy, including adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals, sexual intercourse with close relatives. There is porneia in the local Church.
This man – a member of Corinth – was in a sexual relationship with his stepmother (Paul here says “HIS FATHER’S WIFE” (patēr gynē) rather than “his mother” (mētēr)).
Among the “Gentiles” or the unsaved Romans this was not even allowed. And it was certainly not allowed according to the Scripture that the Church had at this time. The Bible says:
Leviticus 18:8 NKJV – The nakedness of YOUR FATHER’S WIFE you shall not uncover; it is your father’s nakedness.
Only your father should enjoy an intimate relationship with his stepmother. Even the Romans understood this was evil. The Digest of Justinian (Book 23, Title 2) stated “For a man to marry his stepmother, ex-mother-in-law, stepdaughter, or ex-daughter-in-law… was, in juristic interpretation, incestuous”.
Even unbelievers would not tolerate what this young man was doing. But Corinthian Christians not only tolerated, but were proud of that the man was doing!
1 Corinthians 5:2 KJV And ye are PUFFED UP (physioō, swollen up with pride), and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU (exairō).
Rather than be ashamed that one of their members was in grievous sexual sin, the Corinthian believers were proud that they were so tolerant. I am sure that the Pastor of the Church was heavily involved in promoting this type of evil. The Ten Commandments, the basis of national stability, states:
Fifth Commandment – Exodus 20:12 HONOR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. (Deuteronomy 5:16; Ephesians 6:2-3; Matthew 15:4)
Seventh Commandment – Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. (Deuteronomy 5:18; Matthew 5:27-28; Hebrews 13:4)
Word Study: Paul said that rather than be proud, they should have desired that the one who did this “might be TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU”. This is the Greek exairō. This word is used in the Septuagint to describe how to handle a false witness:
Deuteronomy 19:17-19 KJV Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days; 18 And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; 19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou PUT THE EVIL AWAY FROM AMONG YOU.
Paul quotes this verse in our context:
1 Corinthians 5:13 KJV – But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore PUT AWAY FROM AMONG YOURSELVES (exairō) that wicked person.
The Church is to disfellowship those in unrepentant sexual sin. The Church is not to give the nod to such behavior. But the Church is to:
1 Corinthians 5:4-5 KJV – In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, WHEN YE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To DELIVER SUCH AN ONE TO SATAN for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
In the Bible, the world outside of Christ’s Kingdom (the Church) is called “the Kingdom of Satan”. The Church recognizes the behavior is godless, and withdraws from association with the openly sinning believer until they repent.
Jesus sends the Church with a mission, to …
Acts 26:18 NKJV – … to open their eyes, in order to TURN THEM FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT, and FROM THE POWER OF SATAN TO GOD, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.
Those who are saved by the Grace of God are “DELIVERED FROM THE POWER OF DARKNESS, and CONVEYED into the KINGDOM OF THE SON of His love” (Colossians 1:13). We are not to be walking in darkness, but to be walking in the light with God, according to His Word. The Church is to “DELIVER SUCH A ONE TO SATAN”. Not to condone what that person does, but to distance yourself from that person. If he continues down that path, since “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), he will reap what he sows.
The intent of addressing the problem is to lead the professing Christian back into harmony with the will of God and His Word – that the person might be saved.
that the spirit MAY BE SAVED in the day of the Lord Jesus
If someone gets into sin and the Christian looks the other way, or even justifies the sin that this person is engaged in, then that person will never repent. And if that person never repents, then that person will leave this life without Christ and without forgiveness.
So the sinner is disfellowshipped. Not to hurt them. Not to be cruel. But a genuine Christian is indwelt with the Holy Spirit, and a genuine Christian knows what is righteous and what is not. When the Church goes along with the nonsense of sin, then that person will most likely die in their sins.
You need not repent if you think its OK!
Illustrate: Just today I heard about a “Pastor” from Myers Park Covenant Church (Charlotte, NC), a Church that encourages its members to march in Gay Pride Parades wearing shirts saying “God is PROUD of you”. The Church celebrates “Supporting our Muslim Neighbors”, telling those in the local Muslim faith that they celebrate “your building plans for your new house of worship”. In a recent “sermon”, the “pastor” Tim Moore celebrated the annual homosexual Pride March by telling the congregation that the Eunich that Philip led to the Lord was “transgender, queer, or gay”. The Church is not Bible based, but culturally based.
And they claim to be Baptists.
They are not, in any real sense of the word, “Baptists”. They are acting like unbelievers. And their actions are leading people away from repentance and reception of Christ.
Looking The Other Way On Open Sin
Allows Sin And Death To Spread
1 Corinthians 5:6-8 KJV Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
How did Corinth get so far away from the Scripture? How did Myers Park get so far away from the God of the Bible? Paul makes it clear:
a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump
I love baking bread. “Leaven” or yeast is used in making and baking bread. In the Old Testament, leaven or yeast was often used to illustrate sin. You small amount of yeast into a flour mixture, add sugar (making it sweet), and it will feed on that sweetness. As the yeast feeds, it spreads throughout ALL the flour mixture, causing the bread to rise.
Preach: Leaven will not grow without assistance. You have to put something “sweet” in the bread mixture that the leaven will feed on. Sin will not grow without assistance. When sin is not addressed and rebuked, but PRAISED, it will grow and go throughout the entire congregation. The Pastor is called to rebuke, not to justify, sin. The Body of Christ is the Kingdom of Christ on the earth. The Church is never to justify sin.
2 Timothy 4:2 NKJV Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, REBUKE, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
Titus 2:13-15 NKJV looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR US, that HE MIGHT REDEEM US FROM EVERY LAWLESS DEED and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. 15 Speak these things, exhort, and REBUKE WITH ALL AUTHORITY. Let no one despise you.
Titus 1:9 NKJV {A Pastor is to be} HOLDING FAST THE FAITHFUL WORD as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and CONVICT THOSE WHO CONTRADICT.
1 Timothy 5:20 NKJV Those who are sinning REBUKE IN THE PRESENCE OF ALL, that THE REST ALSO MAY FEAR.
The Pastor at Corinth was encouraging the congregation to look the other way. The congregation was looking the other way. And over time, sin so disrupted the Church that the Church didn’t look like a Church, but the dark world around it.
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that YE MAY BE A NEW LUMP, as YE ARE UNLEAVENED. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us
Jesus died on the Cross not just to save us, but to purify us. We are not saved IN our sins, but FROM our sins.
The Apostle tells us:
Romans 6:18-23 NKJV And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so NOW PRESENT YOUR MEMBERS AS SLAVES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR HOLINESS. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For THE END OF THOSE THINGS IS DEATH. 22 But now having been SET FREE FROM SIN, and HAVING BECOME SLAVES OF GOD, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Christian is to be UNLEAVENED with sin. The Church is to be UNLEAVENED with sin. Those who “HAVE EYES FULL OF ADULTERY and that CANNOT CEASE FROM SIN, entice unstable souls. Their HEARTS ARE TRAINED IN COVETOUSNESS. They are cursed children who have forsaken the right way. They have GONE ASTRAY, like Balaam the son of Beor, who LOVED UNRIGHTEOUSNESS” (2 Peter 2:14-15, AP). They must be recognized as unfit, as bad fruit, and not recognized as believers but as unbelievers.
We Can And Should Reach Out To The Lost,
But We Must Never Claim The Lost Are Saved
1 Corinthians 5:9-11 KJV I wrote unto you in an epistle NOT TO COMPANY {synanamignymi} WITH FORNICATORS: 10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you NOT TO KEEP COMPANY {synanamignymi}, if any MAN THAT IS CALLED A BROTHER be a FORNICATOR {pornos, sexual sinner}, or COVETOUS {pleonektēs, pronounced pleh-on-ek’-tace, greedy}, or an IDOLATOR {eidōlolatrēs, worshiper of false gods}, or a RAILER {loidoros, pronounced loy’-dor-os, abusive bully}, or a DRUNKARD {methysos}, or an EXTORTIONER {harpax, robber, thief}; with such an one no not to eat.
Word Study: Paul had previously written Corinth, and told the believers there “NOT TO COMPANY {synanamignymi} WITH FORNICATORS”. That really difficult Greek word synanamignymi (pronounced soon-an-am-ig’-noo-mee) means “do not mix up together with, do not receive to yourself as equals, do not be intimate with”. Paul uses this word three times in his writings. Twice here, and in:
2 Thessalonians 3:14 KJV And if any man OBEY NOT OUR WORD BY THIS EPISTLE, note that man, and HAVE NO COMPANY WITH HIM {synanamignymi}, that he may BE ASHAMED.
The word is also used in the Septuagint for compromising your faith. God said in Hosea 7:8 “Ephraim MIXED HIMSELF AMONG THE PEOPLE (synanamignymi)”. Rather than stay true to God, the nation of Ephraim compromised their faith – and God was not happy with them. In verses 9-11 Paul establishes a principle that every believer is to follow. To paraphrase this section, the Apostle is saying:
“If someone says that they are a believer in Christ, but the fruit of their life is sexual sin, greed, worship of false gods, an abusive bully, a drunkard, or a thief … do not share a meal with them. However, you are allowed to sit and share a meal with known sinners, just as Jesus did (Matthew 9:10-13; Mark 2:15-17; Luke 5:29-32).”
With believers who are acting like unbelievers, you are NOT to eat with them. You are in no way to encourage them to stay in sin. But with unbelievers who are acting like unbelievers, you ARE to eat with them to perhaps to win them to Christ.
Paul ends with these words:
1 Corinthians 5:12-13 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
Those that are “WITHOUT”, that is, outside the Kingdom of Christ, God will judge them. These people we are to witness to, to tell of Christ. But within the Church we must Biblically police our own ranks. If someone wanders from Christ, we do not justify the wandering. We encourage them to repent, to return to Christ, to live for Him and for His glory. But if they will not repent, we are plainly told:
put away from among yourselves that wicked person
Sin is a horrible affront to God. His Son died on the Cross to make atonement for our sins. We are not to cover sin, but to cast off sin. We are to be light in this present evil world, to the glory of God our Savior. Amen.
