[:en]EXPEL THE IMMORAL BROTHER (vs. 1-13)
The Corinthian church did not deal with a specific sin in the church. A man was having an affair with his father’s wife (stepmother.) The church was ignoring the issue and Paul insisted that the church had the responsibility to maintain the standard of morality in God’s laws. God tells us not to tolerate flagrant sin because allowing such sin to go undisciplined will have a dangerous effect on other believers. It will also tarnish the reputation of the church, thereby bring disgrace to the name of the Lord.
Paul told them to hand this man over to Satan so that Satan would inflict him physically. His experience may drive him to repentance and bring him to God.Paul was writing to those wh owanted to ignore this church problem. They did not realize that allowing public sin to exist in the church affects all its members. It will also divide the congregation. Tolerance of sin would jeopardize the spiritual health of the church.
Yeast weas a symbol of sin. That is why Paul said: “Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dought? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast”. The old yeast represents malice and wickedness while the new bread without yeast represents sincerity and truth. (vs. 6-8)
We are not to disassociate ourselves from unbelievers if we want to carry Christ’s commission. But we are to distance ourselves from a person who claims to be a Christian yet indulges in sins explicitly forbidden in the Scripture.
Paul told them not to associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. (v. 11)
A church that include such a person cannot be the light of the world. It cannot present Christ to the world. That is why church leaders must be ready to correct in love and for the sake of spiritual unity. We have no business to judge people outside the church. But we are to judge and deal with sin that can hurt others. Open sin in the church by a person who claims to be a Chrisitian and sin without remorse must be confronted and discipline in love.[:]