SCRIPTURE: 1 CORINTHIANS 5
EXPEL THE IMMORAL BROTHER! (vs. 1-12)
SINS THAT THE CORINTHIAN BROTHERS WERE COMMITTING:
- Sexual immorality. (vs. 1)
- Pride (v. 2)
- Boasting (v. 3)
- Greed (v. 10a)
- Swindling (v. 10b)
- Idolatry (v. 10c)
- Slandering (v. 11a)
- Addiction of drinking too much liquor (v. 11b)
Paul was urging the Corinthian church to expel the immoral brothers who were committing the above sins. Christians are supposed to judge themselves first before judging those outside the church.
THOUGHTS:
The Corinthian church was boasting about the sinners instead of weeping over him. They tolerated sins in the church. That was why Paul was reprimanding them and asked them to expel the immoral brother.
The church has the responsibility to maintain the standards of morality found in God’s commandments. God tells us not to judge others. But He also tells us not to tolerate sins because allowing those sins to go undisciplined will have a dangerous effect on the church and other believers.
To exclude the sinner from the fellowship should be the last resort of disciplinary action. It should not be done out of vengeance but out of love. The church should help to correct him and restore him back. It should help not hurt the offenders but to motivate him to repent of his sins and return to the fellowship of the church.
Paul did not expect anyone to be sinless. But he was against those who deliberately sin, feel no guilt and refuse to repent. This kind of sin cannot be tolerated in the church because it will affect others and jeopardize the spiritual health of the church. Serious sins if left uncorrected will confuse and divide the congregation. A church that includes such a person would distort the picture of Christ as the light of the world. Church leaders must be ready to correct in love for the sake of spiritual unity.
God teaches us not to criticize people by gossiping or making rash judgments. However, we have to judge and deal with the open sin of a Christian that shows no remorse. The church must confront and discipline such a person in love.
Sin in the life of the believer is far worse than sin in the life of an unbeliever. We cannot isolate ourselves from the world, but we can separate ourselves from the immoral believers.