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I
Cor. Chapter 5:
Memory
verses for this week: 1 Pet 2:20 For what
glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take
it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it
patiently, this is acceptable with God. Introduction:
Last
week in Chapter 4, we learned how that the child of God will one day
give an account of all the things we have done in our body.
Paul encouraged the church to follow after Christ, and not
after men which so many of them had done.
At the end of the chapter, he promised to send young Timothy
to them to exhort and encourage them in the work there in Corinth.
This week we are getting into church discipline.
This is not practiced by most churches today, but it is
certainly biblical. The
key is for it to be done properly and without damaging the offender
if it is possible. We
are warned not to judge another several times in the Word of God. Rom 2:1
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art
that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest
thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. Rom 2:2
But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to
truth against them which commit such things. Rom 2:3
And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do
such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment
of God? James 4:11
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh
evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the
law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a
doer of the law, but a judge. James 4:12
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy:
who art thou that judgest another? If you read these verses, you
might ask how can anyone enforce church discipline.
The key is to use discernment and make wise choices.
When we follow God’s rules, the person in their sin can be
brought back to a place of forgiveness if they will seek God and
turn from their error. I.
The
Sin Identified in the Church 1 Cor 5:1
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. 1 Cor 5:2
And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he
that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. We
see that the sin that was mentioned here is fornication. The Corinthians were not demonstrating the power of God in
their lives by living by the spirit.
If we do not take up our cross each day and put the old man
to death, he will rule over us.
One of the members of the church was living in immoral
relations with his step-mother. Paul said this was so bad that it was not so much named among
the Gentiles. The
Gentiles here have reference to godless unsaved people.
And he is saying they would turn in shame from such sin.
Yet these Corinthians not only knew of this and did nothing.
Rather, they seemed to be puffed up about it rather than
mourning. Now the
ones committing the sin were the guilty ones, but the church seemed
indifferent towards it and acted as if nothing wrong was going on.
This is common in churches today.
This week I read where there is much debate concerning the
Methodist decision to condemn homosexuality as sin and not allow
“gay preachers” and leaders.
When the Bible clearly teaches against this sin, what else
would allow someone to think this is correct but to turn their back
on God and His teachings and to live as a carnal Christian.
These in the church there at Corinth seemed more concerned
over which church leader to follow than to worry about following
God’s rules and principles. 1 Cor 3:3
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you
envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as
men? 1 Cor 3:4
For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of
Apollos; are ye not carnal? Sexual
sins such as fornication and adultery were forbidden both in the Old
and New Testaments. Exo 20:14
Thou shalt not commit adultery. Mat 5:27
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou
shalt not commit adultery: Mat 5:28
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust
after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Mat 5:29
And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it
from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members
should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. Mat 5:30
And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it
from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members
should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. Jesus’
teaching was that we are not to even think of having adultery with a
woman, much less perform the act.
I heard a psychologist on the radio say that when he read
these verses, it was then that he decided that there was nothing to
Christianity. He said to rate looking upon a woman with lust as the same as
performing the act made him realize that Jesus was a man with
distorted values. This
man did not comprehend what Jesus was trying to say at all.
He was trying to make us understand that even evil thoughts
themselves are sin. This
was not to say that adultery performed in the heart would have the
same devastating effect as the actual sin act.
But we are condemned already when we think like this, and
Jesus wanted us to realize the seriousness of thinking evil in the
heart. From the
treasures of the heart is where both good and bad begin.
Sexual sins carry a heavy price to a Christian since we are
bought with a price and the Holy Spirit lives within us.
To perform sexual sins with our body involves the Holy Spirit
in this, and we are to keep our bodies holy like Jesus. 1 Cor 6:18
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the
body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own
body. 1 Cor 6:19
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy
Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your
own? 1 Cor 6:20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your
body, and in your spirit, which are God's. J.
Vernon McGee had an insightful comment on this topic in his
commentary on I. Corinthians.
“This needed to be handled with church discipline.
There was no doubt about this being sin.
It is not a questionable matter.
It was such a horrible sin that it was not practiced by the
Gentiles outside the church. I
would like to say something to our present generation.
Living together without being married is sin in God’s
sight. It makes no difference what public opinion says about it or
how many people are practicing it.
The Word of God calls this sin, and there is not other way
one can look at it. It
is not a questionable sin as far as the Word of God is concerned.
The church in Corinth did not need to establish the fact that
the man was living in sin. Their
error was that they tolerated it.
They condoned the sin by doing nothing about it.
They compromised, and that is the worst thing they could have
done. You can put his
down as an axiom: A
pure church is a powerful church; an impure church is a paralyzed
church. You can look
around you at churches today and see whether or not that is true.” One
final comment on this sin of adultery.
Women who dress immodestly and cause men to lust after them
are guilty also. We
are to try our best to live in such a way to help others live Godly
lives that are separated unto the Lord. II.
The
Solution to the Problem 1 Cor 5:3
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, Paul
said he was not there present in his body, but he was present in
spirit and had judged this matter.
Paul knew the church needed to deal with the issue, and
refuse to act like nothing was going on.
Sometimes this is difficult when you have to approach a
brother or sister in Christ who are outwardly living in sin.
But when we do it with the spirit of love and concern, it
makes a big difference. To
come in harsh judgment is to not see things accurately.
Except for the grace of God, the roles could easily be
reversed. Gal 6:1
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are
spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;
considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Gal 6:2
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of
Christ. Gal 6:3
For if a man think himself to be something, when he is
nothing, he deceiveth himself. When
a member is acting disorderly and refuses to accept counsel and
refuses to repent of their evil, the church is to withdraw
themselves from those who are walking disorderly.
The doctrines are clear in God’s Word, and we are to live
by these rules and commandments. 2 Th 3:6
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh
disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. 2 Th 3:7
For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved
not ourselves disorderly among you; 1 Cor 5:4
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered
together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Cor 5:5
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. Notice
that it says when “ye are gathered together”.
Who is the “ye”? It
is the church of course. Not
the preacher, not the pope, not some presbytery that comes together
to pass down judgment. It
was to be done when the church came together in the power of our
Lord Jesus Christ. It says that if the person will not hear counsel, to
turn that one (in this case the fornicator) over to the devil for
the destruction of the flesh.
This seems harsh, but look at the reason.
That the flesh may be destroyed but the spirit saved in the
day of the Lord Jesus. I
believe many have lived sin shortened lives due to refusing to obey
the chastening hand of the Lord.
Our flesh wants us to call all the shots and do what we want
to do, but we must bring the flesh under subjection that we might
live a life that glorifies and honors God. When a person will not repent, the sinner
is turned over to Satan. Exclusion
is a serious matter, but it does not affect the excluded members
soul. The bible gives clear Scriptural Order about how
a church offender is to be dealt with BEFORE he or she is brought
before the church. They
are not to be dealt with unexpectedly.
He or she should be contacted at least twice before the
matter is ever brought before the church.
Usually this is done by the pastor and one of the deacons of
the church. Mat 18:15
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and
tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear
thee, thou hast gained thy brother. Mat 18:16
But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two
more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be
established. Mat 18:17
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the
church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee
as a heathen man and a publican. The
pastor should take the lead in trying to get things worked out with
the one who has sinned. 1 Pet 5:3
Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being
ensamples to the flock. Ezek 34:4
The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed
that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken,
neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither
have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty
have ye ruled them. Ezek 34:5
And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and
they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were
scattered. The
church members should take an active part in helping to restore the
fallen brother or sister in Christ.
When we realize how easy it is to fall, we will want to help
the one who has been deceived by Satan. Gal 6:1
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are
spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;
considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Gal 6:2
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of
Christ. Gal 6:9
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we
shall reap, if we faint not. Gal 6:10
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all
men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. If
the offender does not respond and repent, the church is to take the
final action. When
a member is excluded, we are to withdraw fellowship until that
person repents and acknowledges their error and seeks forgiveness.
When that person does get right, we should all be willing to
accept the one back into the fold and rejoice that they have gotten
right with the Lord. Mat 18:15
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and
tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear
thee, thou hast gained thy brother. Mat 18:16
But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two
more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be
established. Mat 18:17
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the
church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee
as a heathen man and a publican. Mat 18:18
Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth
shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth
shall be loosed in heaven. III.
The
Churches Responsibility 1 Cor 5:6 Your glorying
is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole
lump? 1 Cor 5:7 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: 1 Cor 5:8 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. Leaven speaks of sin.
Paul tells them that the glorying that they were doing over
the matter was not good.
They acted as if there was nothing to worry about… all sin
is covered by the blood of Christ and we can just live and rejoice
that we are under grace rather than the law.
That may sound good, but we are to give an account of all
things we do in the body after we are saved.
We read earlier how we are to glorify God with our
bodies which were bought with a price…. The shed blood of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
The warning here is that is you don’t eliminate sin and
evil from within, it will spread. When an epidemic breaks out, they always quarantine
those that are sick that others will not contract the disease. That is similar to how sin can spread if not stopped in the
church. To make this
warning more impressive, Paul uses the example of the two Old
Testament feasts of Israel. The
first feast was the passover, which was celebrated on the fourteenth
day of the first month. Exo 12:1
And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt,
saying, Exo 12:2
This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it
shall be the first month of the year to you. Exo 12:3
Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the
tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb,
according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: Exo 12:4
And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and
his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of
the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count
for the lamb. Exo 12:5
Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year:
ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: Exo 12:6
And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same
month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall
kill it in the evening. Exo 12:7
And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two
side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they
shall eat it. Exo 12:8
And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire,
and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Exo 12:9
Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast
with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. Exo 12:10
And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and
that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with
fire. Exo 12:11
And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes
on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in
haste: it is the LORD'S passover. Immediately following the
Passover, for the next seven days, they had the feast of unleavened
bread. During those
days, no leaven was to be used or kept in the house for any reason. Lev 23:6
And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of
unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened
bread. Lev 23:7
In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall
do no servile work therein. Lev 23:8
But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD
seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do
no servile work therein. Paul explains that for the New
Testament age, our passover is Christ.
Our new life begins when we believe on Christ and are
cleansed by His blood. This
cleansing should be followed in a spiritual way by the feast of
unleaved bread, meaning a separated walk in this life by the
redeemed sinner. 1 Cor 5:9 I wrote unto
you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 1 Cor 5:10 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. 1 Cor 5:11 But now I
have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called
a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer,
or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 1 Cor 5:12 For what have
I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them
that are within? 1 Cor 5:13 But them that
are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves
that wicked person. It is evident that in some
previous communication, the apostle had advised them to not
fellowship with fornicators. Either
they misunderstood the message or thought Paul perhaps meant to have
nothing to do with unsaved people who were involved in immorality.
Paul certainly did not mean this.
Christ was always going out in the highways and by ways
finding the sinners and preaching the gospel unto them.
They found fault with Christ because he was willing to sit in
the houses of sinners and to sit with winebibbers and publicans. But Christ loves all mankind, and came that whosoever will
may come to experience life, and experience it more abundantly.
Until we know Christ, we don’t even know what true living
is all about. While we should be always
taking every opportunity to reach the lost, we must be careful not
to get so comfortable with them that they guide us into wrong.
In Deuteronomy, the bible warns to not meddle with the evil
ones. Deu 2:1
Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by
the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed
mount Seir many days. Deu 2:2
And the LORD spake unto me, saying, Deu 2:3
Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you
northward. Deu 2:4
And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through
the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in
Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto
yourselves therefore: Deu 2:5
Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land,
no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir
unto Esau for a possession. Deu 2:6
Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye
shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink. Deu 2:7
For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of
thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness:
these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast
lacked nothing. So we need to find that
perfect balance where we witness to all, but live a Godly separated
life that keeps us from following the ways of the world.
It takes discretion and seeking God’s Will to do the very
thing God would have us to do.
But when Christians sin and refuse to repent, it says in
verse 11 that we are to not eat a meal with them.
This refusing to have a part with them will hopefully cause
them to come to themselves and correct the error of their ways.
When the prodigal son found himself in a far away land eating
husks with the pigs, the bible said that “when he came to
himself”, he then found direction.
Sometimes we have to wander far away before we realize that
God meant all the rules and commandments for our own good.
When we do find this out, God is standing there looking for
us to come back, just like the prodigal son’s father. Luke 15:14
And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in
that land; and he began to be in want. Luke 15:15
And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country;
and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. Luke 15:16
And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that
the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. Luke 15:17
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants
of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with
hunger! Luke 15:18
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him,
Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, Luke 15:19
And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of
thy hired servants. Luke 15:20
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a
great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and
fell on his neck, and kissed him. Luke 15:21
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against
heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy
son. Luke 15:22
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best
robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on
his feet: Luke 15:23
And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us
eat, and be merry: Luke 15:24
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost,
and is found. And they began to be merry. Internet Bible Studies are prepared and distributed free of charge. The lessons may not be sold without consent. If you have questions or wish to discuss the lessons, or possibly need help in finding Jesus Christ as your Personal Lord and Savior, contact us at mail@internetbible.net. Prov 4:18
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