Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 5
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.
As believers we must be able to know the difference between those who know and love Jesus and those who do not. The Corinthian Christians were putting up with a fornicator who called himself a Christian. Paul told them to discipline him by delivering him to Satan and to put him out of the church. Sin is always serious, but for a believer to continue in a practice that is blatantly sinful deserves discipline.
However, some Christians really get this mixed up. They are so worried about being around sinful people that they judge unbelievers in their sin and try to avoid them completely. Paul here says he is not telling them to do that. As a matter of fact, you would have to do out of the world to be away from sinful people. No, they need the gospel witness that comes from followers of Jesus. You don’t have to run with them into revelry and immorality, but don’t completely avoid them. They need the Jesus that you have!
However, a person who says he or she is a follower of Jesus and yet lives a blatantly sinful life is to be confronted and avoided.
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.
Christians are now dead to sin (Romans 6:2). For a Christian to continue in known sin is not acceptable. Instead, the church should try and help this person understand their sin and work to confess and forsake it. If we go along like all is well, the person will be worse off and will bring the destroying leaven into the church.
1 Corinthians 5:6-7 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 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.
Sin has been dealt with on the cross. Christians are now dead to it. If you have sin in your life, confess it and receive God’s cleansing and forgiveness and then get busy following Jesus!
In Christ,
Rody
