QT 3/5/2025 1 Cor 5:6-13, Continual Sin

 

1 Corinthians 5:6–13 (ESV) —

6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

 

NOTE: One of the phrases we hear often is that we are not to judge people, that is God's job. But Paul makes it clear that we are to judge those who call themselves believers and are guilty of ongoing, repeated sin (in a particular area). Paul lists examples of ongoing sin that we should judge our fellow believers: sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, reviler, drunkard, and swindler. We are told to separate from these believers. What is implied, especially in context with the last section is to confront the sin first, and if there is no response, to pass it onto the leadership of the church to handle. Let me be clear, when we confront a believer over sin, it should be someone that we have had a good relationship, otherwise it is better handled by the leadership of the church. I think it can be very dangerous to judge other believers that we don't know on (probably) insufficient information. A lot that is said or heard is wrong. Also, we would be guilty of repeated gossip (also a sin). We need to show love and mercy to all, but if we have good reason to suspect a believer guilty of repeated sin, we should pass that to the elders of the church (and only to).

 

PONDER:

1. Am I aware of a believer who is continual or repeated sin, and refuses to address his/her sin?
2. Have I prayerfully address this?
3. Do I need to talk to and elder or pastor to deal with the situation?

 

PRAYER: Father, sin is so destructive in our own lives personally and in the lives of others. Your standard is holiness. I pray that we would be receptive to your spirit in our hearts convicting us of our sin. Change us, recreate us, make us into new creatures.