Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 24; 1 Corinthians 5; Ezekiel 3; Psalm 39
1 Corinthians 5:9-10 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 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.
The apostle had instructed the Corinthian believers not to keep company with fornicators. The Bible is here helping us understand that we must be in contact with immoral and idolatrous people who are lost. There are going to be neighbors, work associates, acquaintances, and extended family members who are not followers of Jesus. They are ‘of this world’. As followers of Jesus we must live IN this world. We must not be OF this world. Jesus prayed for his followers:
John 17:14-15 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Jesus wants us to remain in this world to be a witness to him. He does not want us to be of this world and he prayed for our protection from the evil one while we are here. So the fornicators that believers are not to keep company with are those who are ‘so called’ believers.
1 Corinthians 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.
The Bible tells us that a person who claims to be a believer and lives an openly sinful lifestyle is the person we are not to keep company with. A true follower of Christ will desire to leave this old sinful lifestyle behind.
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
If we claim to belong to Jesus, we must depart from iniquity. So we must not ‘hang out’ with people who live openly sinful lifestyles and claim to know Jesus. We are doing them a disservice. If we don’t help them understand that they are living inconsistent lives, they will not know that what they are doing is sinful. We may also be influenced by their immoral behavior. A believer who is living a sinful lifestyle needs to be corrected.
Let’s live consistent lives in Jesus!
In Christ,
Rody
