I Corinthians 5

For this lesson, we will continue our study of the book of I Corinthians, with Chapter 5

In our study of I Corinthians 4, we concluded with these statements:

(I Cor 4:21) What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

It’s their choice, but what will determine the difference? What determines how we treat our children or grandchildren? Isn’t it their conduct? As long as they behave, everything can be pleasant and enjoyable, but what if they challenge us and will not obey? Then it is a different matter.

It’s better for them, and better for all, to do the will of God. Then we can have peace and love.

(1 Cor 5 NKJV) 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!

What was the real problem?

Was it that they had an immoral person among them?

Was it the way they had handled the problem?

Why had they mishandled the problem so badly?

(I Cor 5:2) And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.

(1 Cor 5:2 NASB) And you have become arrogant, and have not mourned instead, in order that the one who had done this deed might be removed from your midst.

(1 Cor 5:2 NIV) And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?

(1 Cor 5:1 TLB) Everyone is talking about the terrible thing that has happened there among you, something so evil that even the heathen don't do it: you have a man in your church who is living in sin with his father's wife.

The Living Bible takes a bit of liberty here, but, knowing human nature, it’s probably true.

Compare:

(1 Cor 5 NKJV) It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you,

“It is actually reported” I think we can imply “Everyone is talking.” This is part of the problem. It is damaging to the church.

The same principle still applies for us today.

(1) It lets him think it’s okay because the church has not acted. (Verse 4 will deal with this.)

(2) It sends the wrong message to the others members of the church. (Verse 6 will deal with this.)

(I Cor 5:3) 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.

I think this is Paul’s way of saying,

“It’s an open and shut case.”

I can decide what needs to be done, and I’m not even there “to hear both sides of the case.”

There is no justification for what he has done. It’s that simple.

One more message: You need to do Something!

(I Cor 5:4) 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, {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.

(Mat 18:15-17 NKJV) "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. {16} "But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' {17} "And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

One interpretation: (1 Cor 5:5 NIV) hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.

Further thoughts: Withdraw fellowship so that he will know he does not have God’s approval.

(2 Cor 2:6-11 NKJV) This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, {7} so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. {8} Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. {9} For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. {10} Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, {11} lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

(I Cor 5:6) Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

(I Cor 5:7) 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.

“Therefore purge out the old leaven” In the Bible, leaven is bad. It represents evil:

(I Cor 5:8) 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.

“Therefore let us keep the feast . . . with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

There is an obvious truth here, and one that we may need to think about—I think it is also a reference to the Lord’s Supper – the unleavened bread.

A clarification of something said in

“I Corinthians” The lost first Corinthians.

(I Cor 5:9) 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.

In other words, Paul is saying that we come in contact with the immoral people of the world everyday. We do not have control over them or their conduct.

Now a clarification of two cases of immorality: Those on the outside, and those on the inside.

There is a difference.

(I Cor 5:12) 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."

That doesn’t mean we should not try to convert them, but we have no authority of any kind over them.

The lessons of Chapter 5

Take decisive action against those of the church who are in serious sin. The purpose is to save their soul.

Leaving sin in the church is like leaven:

It spreads to others.