1 Corinthians 5:1-13 - Sin In The Church.
1 Corinthians 5:1-13 - Sin In The Church.
1 Corinthians 5:9-13 (NLT) When I wrote to you before, I told
you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. 10 But I
wasn't talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are
greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this
world to avoid people like that. 11 I meant that you are not to
associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual
sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a
drunkard, or cheats people. Don't even eat with such people. 12 It isn't
my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your
responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. 13 God will
judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, "You must
remove the evil person from among you."
1 Corinthians 5:9-13 (CWR) I wrote to you previously, reminding
you not to socialize with believers who blatantly continue to live
in open sin or it will look like you approve of what they're doing.
10 I'm not talking about nonbelievers, because if you want to stay
away from adulterers, crooks, greedy people or those who worship
false gods, then you'd better live on another planet. 11 When I wrote
you before, I advised you not to socialize with anyone who calls
himself a believer but is known to be immoral, greedy, an idol
worshiper, a slanderer, a drunkard or a cheater. Don't keep inviting him to
your house, or your neighbors will get the idea that it's all right
for Christians to do such things. 12 It is none of our business to
judge those who are not believers, but as a church, we do have a
responsibility to discipline our own. 13 God will judge those outside the
church, but you're responsible for disciplining members who are openly
disgracing Christ.
1 Corinthians 5:9-13 (MSG) I wrote you in my earlier letter that
you shouldn't make yourselves at home among the sexually
promiscuous. 10 I didn't mean that you should have nothing at all to do with
outsiders of that sort. Or with crooks, whether blue- or white-collar. Or
with spiritual phonies, for that matter. You'd have to leave the
world entirely to do that! 11 But I am saying that you shouldn't act
as if everything is just fine when one of your Christian companions
is promiscuous or crooked, is flip with God or rude to friends,
gets drunk or becomes greedy and predatory. You can't just go along
with this, treating it as acceptable behavior. 12 I'm not responsible
for what the outsiders do, but don't we have some responsibility for
those within our community of believers? 13 God decides on the
outsiders, but we need to decide when our brothers and sisters are out of
line and, if necessary, clean house.
These verses are instructions for dealing with open sin in the
church, with a person who claims to be a Christian and yet who sins
without remorse. The church is to confront and discipline such a person
in love. [Life Application SB]
The church has power to discipline its own members, but it has
no power to control nonmembers. Paul made it clear that it was the
duty of the church in Corinth to use its authority to deal
effectively with the openly and defiantly erring member. [SDA Bible
Commentary]
Allowing public sin to exist in the church affects all its
members. Paul did not expect anyone to be sinless--all believers struggle
with sin daily. Instead, he was speaking against those who
deliberately sin, feel no guilt, and refuse to repent. This kind of sin
cannot be tolerated in the church because it affects others. Yeast
makes bread dough rise. A little bit affects the whole batch. Blatant
sins, left uncorrected, confuse and divide the congregation. [The One
Year Bible Companion re 1Co. 5:6]
The Corinthian believers had refused to deal with a specific,
blatant sin in the church. The church was ignoring a situation most knew
about, and Paul said the church had a responsibility to uphold God's
commandments.
Paul's instructions are specifically for dealing with blatant
sin by a person who claims to be a Christian. Paul does not support
disciplining or even judging those who are not believers. And not every sin
deserves church discipline. Paul does not expect anyone to be sinless -
every believer struggles with sin daily. Rather, Paul is instructing
the church regarding people who deliberately sin, feel no guilt, and
refuse to repent. Such obvious sins, left uncorrected, confuse and
divide the congregation because the church is not practicing what it
preaches.
For many, the prospect of church discipline is filled with
confusion and anxiety. The idea of punishing a fellow believer grates
against many people's inclinations. Most churches simply avoid such
confrontation. But just as parents punish their children to correct, restore,
and guide them, a church should discipline believers with the goal
of freeing them from sin and keeping them in the community. And
just like parents, a church should discipline believers in the
context of committed acceptance and love. [One Year NLT SB re 1 Cor.
5:1, 2, 11, 12]
Whereas God judges those who are not a part of the church, He
has delegated responsibility to the church to exercise its own
discipline. Ban or excommunication is the method of discipline, provided the
attempts described in Matthew 18:15-17 have been executed first. The ban
should be the decree of the whole church together (v. 4). A study of
the N.T. reveals a number of habitual, visible unrepentant acts
which clearly call for church discipline: (1) sexual immorality, (2)
covetousness, (3) idolatry, (4) reviling, (5) drunkenness, (6) extortion (1
Cor. 5:11), (7) disorderliness/laziness (2 Thess. 3:6-12), (8) false
teaching (1 Tim. 1:18-20), (9) divisiveness (Titus 3:10, 11). [Believer's
SB]
The phrase "damage control" is used frequently in political
circles, referring to limiting negative press coverage following a
potentially damaging act or statement by a politician. The phrase could,
however, easily be applied in a number of other areas. Take sex, for
instance. Sex is a wonderful expression of love between a husband and
wife. It is an experience that strengthens and builds the marriage
relationship. Why would damage control be needed in this area?
Paul addresses this topic in his first letter to the
Corinthians, warning them to avoid sex outside of marriage. Ignoring this
warning today is not only spiritually harmful, but it can be physically
deadly. It is important to stop the damage before it begins. As you read
this passage, note the seriousness and intensity of Paul's teaching,
and determine not to let sexual sin devastate your life.
The hissing doubt of the world says that the Bible's
restrictions only keep us from harmless pleasures. The world downplays the
risks and plays up the pleasures, making exceptions and excuses.
Spare yourself some grief, and keep in mind the damage that
sexual sin can do. It hurts God because it defies the guidelines that
he so lovingly gave us. It hurts others because it breaks the
commitment necessary to a relationship. And it deeply affects our
personalities, which respond in anguish when we harm ourselves physically and
spiritually. The destruction caused by sexual sin is so great that God urges
us to run from it (1 Corinthians 6:18).
Sex itself doesn't do any harm - sexual sin does. Preserve
God's design for sex in your life, and you'll enjoy the pleasure of
his Holy Spirit. [The One Year Through the Bible Devotional by Dave
Veerman re 1 Cor. 5:1-6:20]
MINI-VIDEO DEVOTIONALS ON THIS PASSAGE BY PASTOR SHAWN BOONSTRA:
1 Corinthians 5:9-11; Christianity in a Healthy Church:
http://www.itiswritten.com/television/episodes/2358 [A Better Way To Live By Shawn Boonstra]
1 Corinthians 5:9-11; Tolerance and Discipline:
http://www.itiswritten.com/television/episodes/7034 [A Better Way To Live By Shawn Boonstra]
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782
Power of the Gospel Testimonies:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUVyxqAV3-Y&feature=youtu.be
Musical Devotional On Christian Living:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcotY5K7T0c
Prophecies Decoded Sermon Series:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDY:
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Guides:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Discover Bible Studies: http://studies.itiswritten.com/discover/
Or Send Request for Bible Studies to Fred Gibbs at:
fggibbs@aBible.com
