1 Corinthians, Part 5

The Letters of Corinth 1 Corinthians 5 Part 5: 

The Letters of Corinth 1 Corinthians 5 Part 5 Friendship Baptist Church Pastor Brian Chilton

Moral laxity and church discipline: 

Moral laxity and church discipline Story of evangelical vs. mainstream church life. Is it important for a church to maintain a high degree of morality for its’ membership? Is church discipline mandated by the Bible? We will review these issues in tonight’s lesson.

Failure to discipline a sinner: 

Failure to discipline a sinner

The immoral problem: 

The immoral problem 1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! Paul does not beat around the bush. He gets straight to the point. Porneia ( porneia ) which is translated “sexual immorality” means any form of sexual sin. There is a man who was having relations with his father’s wife. It is clear that the woman is NOT the man’s mother. So there are two options: 1. The woman could have been divorced from the man’s father, or 2. The woman is the father’s widow. This was against the biblical law (Lv. 18:8, 20:11; Deut. 22:30; 27:20) and the Roman law. Whether the woman seduced the man or vice versa is not clear. However, it is clear that the man is a Christian and the woman is not.

The immoral response: 

The immoral response 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. Paul shows that the church took their Christian liberties too far. They celebrated this action instead of condemned the action. There are hints with the term “ ’ epenqhsate ” ( epenthesate ) translated “mourned” being used that there may have been a death in the church. Instead of mourning the loss of a loved one, they were proud of the sinful nature of this young man. Again, the fact that the man is condemned and not the woman shows that the man was a Christian and the woman was not.

The immoral solution: 

The immoral solution 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, (3) “For” links this idea with what had been presented. Paul condemned not only the person, but the approving nature of the sin. Paul already cast judgment on the one involved in this sin. Paul encouraged the church to do likewise. (4) Verses 3-5 are one long sentence in the Greek text. So, verse four falls in line with the judgment of the person who was living in sin. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ shows the authority behind the judgment. When you are gathered together shows that the judgment was to take place at the next available worship service. Power of our Lord Jesus Christ , shows that although Paul was not present, the Lord Jesus is always present.

Deliver One to Satan?: 

Deliver One to Satan? 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Deliver such a one to Satan clearly means to excommunicate or “cast one out of the church” the person in sin. Colossians 1:13 states, “ He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love ,” Destruction of the flesh shows the end result of a person who strays too far from the Christian path. A lifestyle based in sin always leads to destruction of the flesh. Examples: Ananias and Sapphira , demise by greed (Acts 5:1-10) Elymas , the blinded sorcerer (Acts 13:8-11) Paul’s own “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor. 12:7) Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus shows that Paul still anticipates the believer to be in heaven. The sinning believer must reach a point where he realizes the impact of his sin. It may take death to do so.

The immoral purging: 

The immoral purging 6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (6) The Corinthians not only did not deal with the problem, they were proud of the actions of the individual. Paul shows that a little sin allowed allows a whole host of sin to be allowed. The church must stand against the things the Lord prohibits. (7) Christ is our Passover lamb. He freed us from the penalty of death by nailing to the cross our sins. Let us not repay Him by allowing more sin in the camp to be atoned. Christ Jesus said something similar concerning adultery, “ If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” (Matthew 5:29, NIV). (8) The Christian’s life is supposed to be a festive one. We celebrate Christ’s gospel with sincerity and truth.

Immorality must be judged: 

Immorality must be judged

Christian company: 

Christian company 9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners , or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner — not even to eat with such a person. (9) Paul addresses an earlier letter that he wrote. There was a misunderstanding about keeping company with sexually immoral people. (10) Paul did not tell them to become monks and to have no associations with the sinner. (This would go against evangelism.) (11) Rather, Paul explains that the Christian should not keep company with someone who claims to be a Christian but who has become sexually immoral, covetous, an idolater, a reviler (swindler), a drunkard, or an extortioner . But why? The reason is that such a person is running from God. Only the Holy Spirit can bring one back. If the person will not listen to the Holy Spirit, he or she will not listen to you. Pray for the individual and trust that God will bring them back. Sin is infectious. If you claim that the actions of the sinning Christian are okay, you are in fact participating in the sin by agreeing with the action.

Inside immoral judgment: 

Inside immoral judgment 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” Paul shows that we are not to judge one another. However, we must hold each other accountable within the church. If the church allows for behavior that is ungodly, it will affect the remainder of the membership. The church puts its’ seal of approval on the actions of its’ membership. Do our actions speak positively or negatively about the ministry of our church? Paul ends this segment with a quotation from Deuteronomy 17:7: “You must purge the evil from among you .” (Deut. 17:7, NIV)

Conclusion:: 

Conclusion: Church discipline is a very serious thing and needs to be the last resort. However, when conditions require discipline, the leadership and church must support such decisions otherwise they are supporting the sin of the one being disciplined. Obviously, the leadership of the LORD is mandated in such a move. In the end, the move should be made so that God can bring ultimate reconciliation. Sometimes, it may be best for the parties to remain separated. But there is coming a day, when God will bring reconciliation for all His children.

Bible study challenge round two: 

Bible study challenge round two

Question 1 (2 points): 

Question 1 (2 points) The fact that Paul condemns the man and not the woman shows what about the woman? A. The woman was not a Christian. B. The woman did not actually participate in the sexual sin. C. The woman was not a citizen of the town. D. The woman was not Jewish.

Question 2 (2 points): 

Question 2 (2 points) Fill in the blanks of the following verse from Deuteronomy 7:17: “ You must ______ the ____ from among ___.” (NIV) A. maintain, evil, us B. purge, evil, you C. evil, you, purge D. allow, evil, you

Question 3 (2 points): 

Question 3 (2 points) What penalty did God inflict upon Elymas the sorcerer for his sin as found in Acts 13:8-11? A. Death B. Deafness C. Speechlessness D. Blindness

Question 4 (2 points): 

Question 4 (2 points) “Excommunication” means which of the following? A. Casting one out of a cell phone contract B. Casting one out of a Sunday School class C. Casting one out of a choir D. Casting one out of a church

Question 5 (2 points): 

Question 5 (2 points) The Greek word “ porneia ” ( porneia ) is used of Paul to describe which of the following in verse 1 of chapter 5? A. doctrinal sins B. sexual sins C. social sins D. tithing sins

Bonus question (10 points): 

Bonus question (10 points) Excluding the “house of Stephanas ”, who were the ONLY two men that Paul baptized in the Corinthian church? A. John Mark and Barnabas B. Peter and Apollos C. Crispus and Gaius D. Sosthenes and Timothy

Please turn in your papers the answers will be given on the next slide: 

Be sure to write your name on your paper!!! Please turn in your papers the answers will be given on the next slide

Question and answer time (20 possible pts): 

Question and answer time (20 possible pts ) 1. The fact that Paul condemns the man and not the woman shows what about the woman? Answer: A. The woman was not a Christian. 2. Fill in the blanks of the following verse from Deuteronomy 7:17: “ You must ______ the ____ from among ___.” (NIV) Answer: B. Purge, evil, you 3. What penalty did God inflict upon Elymas the sorcerer for his sin as found in Acts 13:8-11? Answer: D. Blindness 4. “Excommunication” means which of the following ? Answer: D. Casting one out of church 5. The Greek word “ porneia ” ( porneia ) is used of Paul to describe which of the following in verse 1 of chapter 5 ? Answer: B. Sexual sins Bonus. Excluding the “house of Stephanas ”, who were the ONLY two men that Paul baptized in the Corinthian church? Answer: C. Crispus and Gaius

Next Week:: 

Next Week: Lawsuits among believers Further description of sexual immorality