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I Corinthians 5
Paul addresses a serious issue within the Corinthian church: the acceptance of blatant sexual immorality. A man is involved in a sinful relationship with his stepmother, and the church’s prideful attitude toward this sin is deeply concerning. Paul reminds the Corinthians that such behavior is unacceptable and must be confronted. He instructs them to remove the unrepentant individual from their fellowship, not out of malice, but to encourage repentance and protect the church’s purity. Paul compares sin to leaven, warning that it spreads and corrupts the entire body. He urges the church to live as unleavened bread, pure and holy in Christ. Furthermore, Paul clarifies that he is not addressing unbelievers but instructs the church to hold fellow Christians accountable, emphasizing the importance of upholding God’s standards within the church.
Arrogance among God’s people can take many forms. In today’s reading, it manifests as unaddressed immorality, as if God would not hold the group accountable. Paul emphasizes that the church must confront sin for the good of the sinners and the purity of the congregation. This should be our attitude toward ungodliness among us. We must humbly accept that we will answer to God for inaction. However, our motives must always be to save and protect, whether it be the sinner or the members of our church family. This may require extreme actions, such as breaking off associations with someone or removing them from the local church fellowship. All must be done with the hope of restoration and peace.
Holy God, we hear Your call to morality and holiness in Jesus’ name. Help us confront violations of Your will within ourselves and among Your people with humility, love, and courage. Teach us to address sin with the desire for restoration and fellowship, being mindful to protect the integrity of Your little ones among us. Grant us wisdom to discern how to approach those in sin, balancing mercy and resolve as we stand for Your will. Strengthen our commitment to live as unleavened bread, set apart for You, and determined to abandon arrogance and purge sin from our midst.
Thought Questions:
- What might lead a local church to overlook sin among them? How can you help your local fellowship overcome this and address souls?
- How important is it for local churches to keep sin from among their midst? Why is it dangerous to allow ungodliness to be common among us?
- Why are Christians told “not to associate” with brethren caught in sin? Why is this important, and what does it look like in your life?