Chico Alliance Church
Pastor David Welch
“Holy God Healthy Church” 1 Corinthians 5:1-13
Review
Opening Address and Introduction 1:1-9
I. Reproof for fleshly behavior 1-6
A. Reproof for a divided church 1-4
Introduction
Can you imagine these headlines appearing in the Bremerton Sun?
Incestuous relationship finds acceptance in local church
Major denominations are accepting more and more Biblically condemned behavior today.
Our culture now accepts more and more destructive behavior. In this chapter Paul tackles the churches response to sin. How should we deal with known sin in the church? What should the attitude and actions of the church be in the face of sin?
Paul’s reproof in this chapter unpacks as follows.
• Paul concisely exposed the obvious sin 5:1-2
• Paul clearly explained the godly response 5:3-13
o He severely judged the erring believer
o He soundly admonished the erring church
B. Reproof for a defiled church 5
1. Paul concisely exposed the sin
a) Sin in the church - immorality
It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife. 1 Cor. 5:1
Paul came right to the point. It was an established fact that the whole community knew that there was immorality among them. He specifically and publicly identified the sin because it was already public. Basically he said, “I can’t believe the reports of immorality I am hearing.” It is important to identify public sins publicly. It keeps it from getting blown out of proportion. It keeps it from being diminished and not serious.
At the least, a member of that church was cohabiting with his step-mother.
At the worst, this member was actually cohabiting with his own mother.
I assume that the female participant did not attend the church because Paul says nothing about discipline for her. The father must have been either divorced or dead. This was not only a Biblical violation but one which disgusted the local community as well. There is evidence that cohabitation with either step mother or mother was abhorrent both to the Judeo/Christian community and even the pagan community at the time. Leviticus 18:7-8, 29
Paul told the Ephesians not to let immorality even be named among them. This church was allowing such a despicable practice to continue among them as if nothing was wrong.
God calls this immorality, pornea.
It is a Greek word for which we get our word pornography. This family of words came to refer to sexual misconduct of any kind. The Hebrews reference to Esau indicates that it also included a broader application to an out of control sensuality that caused Esau to deny his eternal birthright for temporal physical pleasure or relief.
pornos translated immoral person, fornicator from the word pernemi -- to export for sale
porne translated harlot
Porneuo translated commit fornication, act immorally, commit immorality, committed immorality, did immorality
porneia translated fornication, immoralities, immorality, sexual immorality, unchastity.
This particular sexual sin was so egregious that even the local non-believers abhorred such behavior. That is what leads me to think that perhaps this was an incestuous relationship. As bad as some of the pagan prevision was in that day with the temple prostitutes and rampant homosexuality they still drew some lines concerning particular behavior that this church ignored. What even the surrounding unbelievers abhorred, the holy church of God tolerated. How is that for a sterling community testimony?
b) Sin of the church -- arrogance
Paul confronted the sin of the church as well as the sin of the incestuous member
You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. 1 Cor. 5:2
Paul came right to the point. Actually he told them they were continually being arrogant, puffed up. They prided themselves with their noble tolerance toward sinners.
They not only failed to deal with the sin but they failed to even mourn over the situation. Instead they maintained a spiritual air about themselves. They were proud of their “spirituality” in spite of the fact that unspeakable sin was happening among them. Somehow they divorced their theology from actual behavior. That is why there were divisions and strife. The fact they were fighting with each other exposed their spiritual immaturity (you are babies) but in their mind they felt spiritually superior perhaps even to the poor apostles.
Rather than proud tolerance they should have demonstrated humble mourning. Paul used a word for deep emotional response that should have been there. Three times it was used for the response of the people at God’s final judgment on the beautiful city of Babylon.
"And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more—"The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning,… "And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!' Rev 18:11,15,19
Just think back on the response to the 9\11 disaster and you will understand the gravity of the word Paul used here. James 4:8-10 called for those sinning to mourn.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
This is the reaction the Corinthians should have had toward this unspeakable sin.
This is the reaction we should have regarding any sin that defiles the church of Christ.
Isaiah’s renewed perception of the holiness of God caused Him to understand his own pitiable condition and the sinfulness of those around him. “Woe is me! Doomed am I for I am a man of unclean lips and live with sinful people.”
Anything that defiles the body of Christ should cause us to mourn. Paul didn’t call for them to react or gossip about or kill their wounded but to mourn. Paul earlier warned about those who would bring defilement in the temple of God. They would not escape punishment. How callous we have become to sin. How indifferent we have become to both corporate and individual sin. Paul spent far less time addressing the sin of the individual than the proud indifference of the church toward sin. If they had a true perception of God’s holiness they would not have allowed such a thing to go on and still assert their “spirituality”. They would have mourned and severely dealt with the sin. We think that our private life is no one’s business. Yet every member of the body of Christ affects not only the other members but the head. Just like every action of the individual family member affects the rest of the family. When you are interconnected it is everyone’s business. Pollution brought into the church by individual body members affects the rest of the body and the head of the Church. A stab to the body is a stab to the head. Contamination to the body is contaminating Christ. Infecting the body with disease infects Christ. A Christian who acts immorally and sinfully brings consequences not only to the rest of the body of Christ and equally affects the head of the body.
Would we stand by and allow someone to deliberately trash the church building?
Why should we stand by and allow individuals to defile the temple of God.
Is our reluctance to confront sin in the church greater than our grief over its existence and its subsequent damage to the church? Everyone who walks in this door with willful, unresolved sin diminishes the capacity of this body to carry out its mission and hurts Jesus. It should cause us to mourn just as the Holy Spirit grieves over sin. It should incite us to address sin in the church as Paul called the Ephesians to do.
Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. Ephes. 5:11-12
Having exposed the sin, Paul clearly explained the godly response to the sin. Their failure to recognize the depth of their corporate sinfulness caused Paul to clearly and severely pronounce his judgment and call for Biblical action.
2. Paul clearly explained his response 3-5
For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1 Cor. 5:3-5
First, Paul severely judged the erring member
Second, Paul clearly admonished the erring church.
a) Paul severely judged the erring member
Paul basically said, “I don’t need to even be there to figure this one out.” You must act.
It is a done deal. Such abhorrent conduct demands acute consequences. There is something spiritually powerful going on in this verse. Can we somehow influence people and groups even when we are not physically present? Here, Paul pronounced a judgment in absentia in such a way that it had impact as though he were right there among them.
Paul asserted his authority in Christ. “In the name of the Lord Jesus” On the basis of a Paul’s spiritual presence along with the spiritual power of Jesus, Paul issues a spiritual judgment or sentence (perfect tense) which took affect and remained in effect. This spiritual presence came through the reading of the inspired letter to the assembly. Paul’s inspired judgment along with the presence and power of the Spirit of Christ constituted an authoritative pronouncement upon the errant believer when it was read to the assembly just as if Paul were there to pronounce it himself. This has a great deal to say about the powerful presence of Christ in the specific application of His word in the assembly of believers.
This is no clearer than in a passage so often taken out of context. The broader context of Matthew 18 is discipline and the excommunication of an unrepentant member who was to be treated as an unbeliever.
"Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.
"Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." Matthew 18:18-20
The power of discipline comes when the body lovingly deals with sin among them by the authority and presence of Christ among them. The head of the church deals with the sin of the church Jesus balances this means of dealing with sin and conflict in the very next section by the Peter’s question about forgiveness. Here, Paul purposely handed over this person to Satan (removed the churches protective covering) for the destruction or ruin of his fleshly body that his spirit might experience freedom (be loosed) in the presence of Christ.
The intent of such an action is to restore purity in the church and the one sinning. The purpose of discipline should always be restoration and purity of the individual. Excommunication and avoidance are only one means of seeking to restore. This principle of turning those sinning to bondage is found all through the Scriptures.
b) Paul soundly admonished the erring church
There are many side issues presented in his admonition but all of them fit under two basic ones.
1. Remove the sinner from inside the church
2. Don’t associate with the sinner outside the church.
(1) Remove the sinner from inside the church 6b-8
• An arrogant attitude is not good
Your boasting is not good.
No mincing of words here. Most sin begins with a thought and then turns to an attitude which turns into words which results in action which becomes a habit which becomes a character that becomes a thought pattern that deepens attitudes. In fact good habits and character develop the same way. Your proud attitude is not good (valuable, beautiful, attractive, virtuous)!
• Unaddressed sin breeds more sin
Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?
Your pride is based on faulty thinking.
“Do you not know?”
You should have intuitively realized that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. Nature teaches it. It applies in the spiritual world.
Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals." 1 Cor. 15:33
• Deal with sin in order to demonstrate the righteousness of Christ
Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened.
Remove the wicked man from among yourselves. 13b
Paul called them to realize that they were not the same anymore. Because of Jesus they were now “unleavened”, clean before God. This sanctification was their heritage residing in their spirit. On the basis of their sanctified position before God, Paul urged them to reflect their position with practice.
Clean out the leaven so that the church would walk clean before God on the outside just as they already had been cleaned on the inside because of the sacrifice of Jesus.
We think such a discipline might seem severe but that is because we have a very low view of the consequences of sin. It affects the whole. We wonder why we don’t see God working. Perhaps it is because there is a need to deal with sin.
Many remember the story of Achan in Israel’s early attempts to take possession of the Promised Land. In their arrogance they tried to achieve the victory of God without the purity of God. They strove for happiness in the land without holiness in the assembly.
Moses was severely judged because he failed to treat God as holy before the people.
because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the sons of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, because you did not treat Me as holy in the midst of the sons of Israel. Deut. 32:51
Achan deliberately violated the clear instructions of God after the astounding victory over Jericho and coveted the riches dedicated to God (stole what belonged to God).
But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard to the things under the ban, for Achan…took some of the things under the ban, therefore the anger of the LORD burned against the sons of Israel. Joshua 7:1
Because of his violation, the whole nation suffered when they tried to conquer little Ai.
It cost the lives of 36 men.
Joshua fell on his face crying out to God and basically blaming Him for the defeat.
So the LORD said to Joshua, "Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face? "Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. And they have even taken some of the things under the ban and have both stolen and deceived. Moreover, they have also put them among their own things. "Therefore the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they turn their backs before their enemies, for they have become accursed. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy the things under the ban from your midst. Joshua 7:10-12
The consequences of Achan’s sin extended to his whole family and possessions. He ended up losing the very thing he violated the command of the Lord to possess.
Will we allow the discomfort of dealing with cancer to prevent the spread of a cancer that will eventually destroy the whole body? Some times it is necessary to endure the cut of the knife to enjoy the privilege of health.
• Christ died to make us clean on the inside.
For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed
We are considered “unleavened” sinless because of the sacrifice of Christ.
• Continually celebrate the Lord’s Supper with sincerity and truth not the old sins. Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Cor. 5:6-8
Stop allowing those whose sin is obvious to all continue to celebrate the Lord’s supper or perhaps the feast of commitment. To declare commitment to the person of Christ while rejecting the commands of Christ is to lie to the Holy Spirit. It is a time to examine ourselves and our relationship to God with sincerity and honest according to what is actually true in our lives. Protect the church. Remove the unrepentant member from inside the church because his sin affects the rest of the body.
(2) Don’t associate with the sinner outside the church.
• You can’t avoid associating with sinning unbelievers
I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.
• We must avoid close association with those who sin and still claim to be believers.
But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
This list contains all the previously mentioned sins of the world and adds two more.
Our sin is no different than the world’s. The difference is many who claim that Jesus is the answer and has changed their life continue to exhibit little change. We will return to the specifics of this response and other Biblical examples in two weeks.
What is the purpose of such treatment?
It serves to cause them to realize the gravity of their sin and its impact in the body.
It illustrates what separation from God is like.
Sinning elders are to be publicly exposed so that others will deal with their sin.
Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. 1 Tim. 5:20
• We must judge those within the church NOT outside.
For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. 9-13a
Our responsibility is to call one another to holiness.
But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13
Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:15-17
We take care of discipline of those in the church. We seek to encourage them to holiness.
God deals with those outside the church. We seek to win them to salvation.
Are we sinning in such a way to affect this church family?
Are we ignoring sin among us that affects this church family?
Are we reluctant to get involved in the lives of others?
In our individualistic northwest culture are we reluctant to subject ourselves to the authority of a local church. Without accountability, there is little incentive to change.
We have built walls against what we call “meddling”. “It is no one’s business what I do!”
I hate confrontation. Yet without speaking the truth in love to one another there is no building up of the body in love. The body becomes weak and unhealthy. The body no longer has the spiritual energy to fulfill their calling in the community.
When we have members burdened with loads of sin and ignore their wounds and inability to function, the body eventually ceases to function. We must be involved in the healing process. We will cease moving forward until those disabled are nursed back to health.
Hebrews calls us to such attention to healing.
Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears. Hebrews 12:12-17
That includes loving discipline with the intent to RESORE and HEAL.
That includes forgiveness.
That includes forbearance.
We must pray for a deeper perception of the holiness of God.
Then we will have a greater sensitively to personal and corporate sin.
Then we will find ourselves mourning and crying out to God for purity.
When we become pure, then we will become productive.
Every significant revival has had two basic elements; a greater realization of God’s holiness and a mourning over our sinfulness.
Perhaps this is the block that stands in the way of Chico.
For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced. 2 Cor. 12:20-21
How about us?
Strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances, impurity, immorality, sensuality, malice, idolatry, covetousness, drunkenness (self medication), cheating others of their resources.
Lessons to Learn and Live By
We must not become callous to sin in our life but continually repent.
We must not ignore open sin among us but mourn over it and deal with it.
