CHAPTER 5

It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

The Greek word from which "fornication" is translated is porneia.
It is defined as harlotry, which includes adultery and incest.

Leviticus 20:11 specifically states that a man must not have his father's wife.

Yet, there - in the church at Corinth - it happened.
And, obviously, the persons were allowed to remain in the church.

Is there any sin that is perfectly non-specific to the church?
No!
BECAUSE, we are ALL sinners! (See Romans 3:23)

What an awful witness to the world from the church!

This is one of the reasons why it is so difficult to win people to Christ.
The witness of the church is defiled by the actions of the members.

Paul says even the Gentiles (worldly people) don't accept this kind of action.
Yet....

2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

The church is even acting haughty about it!

They have initiated no discipline!

Whatever happened to church discipline?

Yes, as Christians, we are to live:
"With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Eph 4:2-3)

But we are FIRST called to "...walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called..."(Eph 4:1)

See 1Peter 2:9, 2Corinthians 6:17, and 2Corinthians 7:1.

Church discipline should begin with EACH Christian living holy lives.

3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Paul directs the church to take disciplinary action.
In fact (vs 5) he directs the excommunication of him/them as members.

If they would "defile the temple of God" (1Cor. 3:17), they should be taken out of the membership of the church.

The common understanding was that there are only two kingdoms: the Kingdom of God, and the kingdom of Satan.
To be IN one is to be OUT of the other!
To be OUT of one is to be IN the other!

Paul exemplified this action in the church at Ephesus.
There, he "delivered unto Satan" Hymanaeus and Alexander (who refuted the resurrection).
(See 1Timothy 1:20)

The purpose of discipline is to direct one into moral action.
For instance, children are taught not to lie.
And, if they lie afterward, they are disciplined to learn proper action.

It seems quite strong that Paul should say "for the destruction of the flesh."
However, this probably means that the discipline is expected to cause a destruction of the fleshly appettites to which the persons have submitted themselves.

Actually, Jesus Himself outlines proper disciplinary procedures within the church in Matt. 18:15-17.
First, go to the person individually and try to reason for correction.
Second, go to the person with witnesses trying to reason for correction.
Third, tell the church and let the church speak to him in public assembly.

After this procedure, if the person is unwilling to correct the illicit behavior, then he is to be counted as
"a heathen man and a publican" (Matt. 18:17)

6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
7 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:
8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Obviously, the people were quite confident in allowing the behavior.
"Boasting" is defined as exhibiting confidence.
This, Paul said, "is NOT good!"

This evil corrupted the whole church in the eyes of the public!
Therefore, again, Paul calls for the excommunication of the ones who have committed such an act.
He says, "Purge out ... the old leaven."

Most folk know that a small amount of yeast will invade a large mass of flour.
Yeast, in the Bible, is sometimes used to depict corruption.
UNleavened bread cannot be made with leavened flour.

Hence, the church cannot be shown an example of morality when it contains immorality.

The paschal lamb in the feast of the Passover was a typification of Christ.
Paul was letting them know that Christ is NOW the ONLY paschal lamb!
And, when we have surrendered to Him, we are to put away sin from our hearts and live FOR Him!

9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
10 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.
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.

Paul said, "I wrote unto you in an epistle."
This, in all probability refers to a former letter he had sent them, which was never recovered.
There are other books (or letters) that are referred to in the Bible, but were never recovered.
(See 2Samuel 1:18, and 2Chronicles 9:29)

He had written that they not keep company with fornicators, covetous, extortioners, or idolaters.

And, now, he is writing that they not keep company with them even if they call themselves a "brother".

"with such an one no not to eat."
Or, to eat at the same table - which indicated acceptance.

We are not necessarily defined by the company we HAVE -- those whom we meet and greet.
But we are defined by the company we KEEP -- those with whom we form lasting friendships.

It is the duty of Christians to meet and greet those who have immoral lives.
For, how are we to lead them to Christ unless we exhibit a cordial personality?

Yet, it is NOT the life of a Christian to have lasting and formal friendships with those who live immoral lives!
When you put on gloves and work in the flower garden,
the dirt does not become "glovy", but the gloves become dirty!

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;" (2Peter 2:9)

As Christians, we must learn to maintain cordiality without being engulfed in the immoral lives of others.

12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Paul states he has no authority over those who are "without" the church.

We, as Christians, do not "judge" those who are not in the church.
That word "judge" is derived from the Greek krino which carries with it a meaning of condemning.
It is not our place to condemn another for their actions, even if they are immoral!
It is our place to lead them to Christ -- HE is the ultimate Judge!!

However, it IS our place (as Christians) to speak out to immoral behavior.
And, especially so when it is IN the church!

When a person in the church defies moral truth and lives openly against it, that person is to be "put away" from the church.

Again, may I say, the PROPER manner for this is a simple process defined in Matt. 18:15-17.

Let all our approach to such problems be with kindness, tenderness and yet with firmness.

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.
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