©2002 Pastor Tom Miles

Paul in the first four chapters discussed the subject of division in the body.  He also looked at the power of Christ within the believer and how that power should be handled.  And now in chapter five Paul begins to look at the issues of immorality and their position in the church and life.

In verse one, fornication of this type mentioned is looked upon as a rare crime.  It is also one that is viewed even by the heathen as an abomination.  This is a believer that is committing this sin of fornication with his stepmother.  This type of relationship for even the heathen nations was considered a criminal act.  And in verse two Paul says, "are you haughty and feeling proud of your actions and of the actions of this man that has done this offense?"  Paul wonders why they didn't feel sadness over this sin.  He wonders why they didn't remove the sinner from their presence.  Why did they still allow him to continue to be in the presence of the believers while sinning?  Paul says in verse three that even though he is not present with them he is with them in spirit and knows how this situation should be judged.  Paul is letting the Corinthian Believers know that this is a matter that should not be dealt with lightly.  Something of this nature can tear a body of believers apart.

In verses four and five we see that Paul's spirit was so strong amongst the Corinthians that it seemed he were right there with them.  Paul says that in the name of Jesus the person should be told of their wrong and removed until they decide to correct the situation before the eyes of God and the people.  Paul believes that in doing this it will help the person to either see the right path to take or remain in sin.  And if he remains in sin, at least out of the body, the body will not be harmed by one man's fornication.

The Corinthians we see in verse six were boasting and making light of things while the terrible sin of incest was among them.  Paul's words were written in hopes of showing the Corinthians that they were wrong and needed to do something about the sin in their body.  Paul continues on to tell them that it's not just this "great" sin but that any sin in the body will destroy the body!  In other words Paul is saying simply that SIN IS SIN!  Big or small it is all sin and it is wrong.  No sin is acceptable to God!

Paul refers to the Corinthians in verse seven as being a new church still young in believers, yet they are chosen of God to enjoy and flourish in Christ who is the Passover Lamb.  But for them to enjoy this Passover Lamb sin must not be present!  Verse eight refers to our life and how we should handle it.  The Passover feast lasted seven days representing a period of completion.  God created all things in seven days and it is symbolic of our completion in Christ.  During the Passover feast there must be no sin present and during our life with Christ we must be free from sin also so we do not miss the day of the Lord!  We need to get rid of the old man and take on the new man, which is in Christ!  I thank You loving Father for giving us the privilege to enjoy a full life free from sin through Christ right here right now on earth.

In verses nine to eleven Paul is getting a bit more personal talking about who and what we become familiar with in life.  Paul is saying we should not become familiar or have familiar fellowship with immoral people.  Paul knows it is impossible not to come in contact with non-believers or believers that live a mixed life during our normal course of the day, but it is possible to stay away from fellowship with them.  We need to treat this type of person with love but not allow their life to taint ours.  We can become one with them by others seeing us with them.  Fornicators are them that have illicit sex and forsake the things of God.  Covetousness is turning from God and wanting that which isn't yours. Extortionists are those that become greedy, always wanting more, raping the land, and the poor and needy simply to obtain wealth for self.  Idolaters are those that worship things other than God.

These people we meet everywhere but we don't have to associate with them in a manner of fellowship.  We are to strive to do them good but not make them our companions and fall into their wickedness. We must let them know who we are, what we stand for and witness to them but not take them unto us as friends lest we become known as one of them.  If we willingly associate with unbelievers in their atmosphere we risk corruption along with them.  Since a person is known for certain behavior it can mark the body of Christ, the church, by having open association with such a person in a manner of familiar fellowship such as eating, drinking, or recreating with!

Paul continues in the last two verses to say that the church should leave the judging of outsiders to God and concern themselves with putting their own house in order.  If sin is in the church remove it and leave it to God to handle!  Pray for them and keep them away from the body so as to not corrupt and commit them to God.  Paul says we are to not allow sin to grow and fester in the church especially!  Sin will run rampant outside the body of Christ but inside the body it should not.  Paul is saying that these types of things happen outside of church but should not be happening within the church and this is what we need to be cautious of and remove from our body of believers.  A believer fellowshipping with sin is without God during this time of fellowship and should be treated as a sinner before they have opportunity to corrupt the entire body.

Father, thank You for revealing Your Word so boldly to us--saying that if we know sin is in the church we need to cut it off quickly.  Thank You for showing us how to handle sin in the church by removing it with love, praying for the sinner in love, but not allowing the sin to corrupt the body of Christ!

Where Jesus is Lord!
Living Vine Ministries
Pastor Thomas Miles

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