1 Corinthians 5:1-5 – Dealing with Sin inside the Church – Bible study

1Cor 5:1-5 Dealing with Sin inside the Church The topic of the text (fornication) and of the sermon (dealing with sin inside the church) are not pleasant ones; but it is necessary for us to deal with them. 1. To my knowledge, we have no situations involving fornication. 2. To my knowledge, we have no on-going, rebellious sin IN the church. a. We may have unchurched people come in who are involved in such behaviors but that is not IN the church. b. Why do we let them come? We let them come with the hope that will get saved. 1Cor 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. That actually makes this a good time to preach on the topics. 1. It is easier to keep sin out than to deal with it once its in. 2. It is easier to find out how to deal with something before you are faced with it. The church decides what kind of a church it will be. The church does not get to decide the standards. God does that, but how we respond to Gods standards will determine what kind of church we are. There are only two kinds: 1. There is the Spirit-filled church that excommunicates sin. 2. There is the sin-filled church that excommunicates the Spirit. I. \#1-5\ A problem was defined A. \#1\ Known fornication was within the church of Corinth. 1. Fornication is a term which seems to mean any type of sexual sin. 2. What was the fornication here? a. In this case, it was adultery between a married woman and a man to whom she was not married. Leviticus 20:10 And the man that committeth adultery with another mans wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbours wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. b. In this case, it was an incestuous adultery between a step-son and a step-mother. Leviticus 18:8 The nakedness of thy fathers wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy fathers nakedness. c. \#1\ Paul made the comment that this type of adultery was not even acceptable behavior among the Gentiles; that is to say, among the godless; yet was going on inside the church and the church knew about it. (1) I have often warned that Christians can commit any sin a lost person can commit. (2) \#11\ Paul gave this man at least the benefit of a doubt that he was a Christian. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. (3) Christians should always be careful of putting themselves on the pedestal of righteousness. 1Cor 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. B. \#2\ The church was not doing anything about this sin or the sinners. There were two sins going on. 1. The first sin was a sin between the two individuals. 2. The second sin was the sin of the whole church. a. The attitude of this church was to ignore the sin. b. \#2\ In fact, it seems that they had somehow taken pride in their approach for Paul says they "are puffed up" which is an illustration of pride. 3. Pauls approach was not to ignore sin. a. Every situation is unique and must be dealt with uniquely. b. But two things are certain: (1) No sin can ever be allowed to roost within the fellowship of believers. (That is APATHY which leads to APPROVAL.) (2) No one guilty of sin should be blasted and cast aside. C. In todays church, we have another problem. 1. Many in todays church believe that it is wrong to condemn sin. 2. They call that judging and being judgmental. Mt 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. Lu 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Joh 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. 3. Paul made a similar statement. 1Cor 4:4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. 4. But Paul also said: 1Cor 5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 5. So did Paul forget what he said in the last chapter? Does he exempt himself from what he said in the last chapter? Read on. 1Cor 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. 1Cor 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 6. Was Paul not saying, "You are the church! Judge this matter! Deal with as God commands!"? 7. Either there is a big misunderstanding on what judging means or we have a contradiction in the Bible. I think we have a big misunderstanding on what the Bible means! 8. When the Bible commands us not to judge, it is telling us to never judge anyone based on our standards. a. However, it is never wrong to share read to someone what God has judged on the issue. b. Our problem is we spend too much time telling people what we think and too little quoting to them what God has already judged. c. You do understand that God has already judged sin? d. God is not going to decide. He had decided. The only question is whether the sinner will put their sins under the blood or not. If they do not, the judgment of God will be carried out. II. So what is the church to do with sin? A. \#2\ The believers should mourn. 1. The word MOURN means to lament, to grieve over, to sorrow. 2. Neither apathy nor anger are the reactions God calls His people to when a Christian sins. 3. What should we mourn over? a. Mourn that a believer has fallen. (1) The fallen believer is a life who has a soul and a calling from an God almighty. (2) I do not know all of the hows or whys in these kinds of situations, but I do know. (a) Life is already hard enough without such failures. (b) The soul was already burdened enough before the fall. (c) And those who were willing and able to serve God are already few enough without losing any more. (3) Mourn because no matter how broken or how stubborn, no matter how repentant or how obstinate, no matter how many or how few know, someone somewhere is going to going to have a hurting heart. b. Mourn that sin has been glorified. (1) Whenever anyone chooses wrong over right, wrong has been glorified. (2) When a lost person chooses wrong over right, that wrong gets a vote that no matter what happens, it was worth it. (3) When a saved person chooses wrong over right, that vote is all the more pungent. (4) It is a Christian saying, "I have tasted of Christ and all that He has to offer, and it is not as good as this sin." (5) I have lived through the fall and disgrace of several popular Christian personalities and I can tell you that each disgrace tarnishes the message we preach. c. Mourn over Christs pain in our sin. (1) Sin, no matter how personal it is to us, is always first against God. (2) As badly as we feel may betrayed and hurt when someone sins against us, so the Godhead feels betrayed and hurt with every sin that is committed. B. Along with mourning, a fallen believer must be confronted and warned. Matt 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 1. The Bible is describing an attempt to restore a fallen brother. Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2. Restoration means to help the fallen see his/her sin and to yield in repentance. 3. These attempts a. are to be made in love, not in anger. b. no matter how successful the restoration, they do not "undo" the consequences of sin. C. If restoring is not successful, as was this case, Paul tell us what to do next. 1Cor 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven 1. \#7\ Purge out the sinful leaven. a. \#11\ helps us to understand what he means. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. b. The members of the church should stop fellowshipping with the unrepentant sinner. (1) That means, as much as is possible, do not have any fellowship with them. (2) I would imagine this kind of judgment should start small and rise to a final cord of separation. (a) In the beginning, while there is hope of repentance, they would probably still come to church but the members would have no private fellowship. (b) At some point, if they will not repent, they would actually be put out of the church fellowship. (c) That is the point where this man and woman were at. 13. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. 2 Thessalonians 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 1 Corinthians 16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. i. Anathema means cursed, put out. ii. Maranatha is an exclamation of Gods judgment. It means literally that Jesus has come but the implication is that Jesus has come to judge in this matter. (3) I say "imagine" because I have never seen a church go forward with it. Fallen believers today either quit going to church altogether or move to another church. c. This is not intended as a spiteful or hateful act. (1) It is to demonstrate to the fallen believer that their sin has separated them from Christs favor and blessings. (2) It is to demonstrate to others that the church will not allow sinful behavior in their fellowship. d. When we have fellowship with those living in blatant sin, we (1) lend their sin approval. (2) lower the testimony of Christ to the world. (3) create a temptation to ourselves. 2. \#5\ At some point, the fallen believer is turned over to Satan that their flesh might be destroyed. 1Cor 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. a. This is essentially saying that they are turned over to death that the world might learn sin has a high price. 1 Corinthians 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 1 John 5:16 There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. b. This is not God taking away their salvation. (1) \#11\ Paul indicated this person could be a BROTHER. (2) It is God taking away the gift of life if it is abused. (3) We understand that life has a maximum on it, but you can shorten it. The goal whenever sin comes into the church is always repentance and restoration. The church is not about anger, punishment, or retribution, although it must stand as hard against sin as the sinner stands for it. In the best of results, things seldom go back to what they were; but the goal is to deal with sin in as direct and as quiet a manner as possible. My own practice has been to deal with private sins privately and with public sins publicly. I hope we always do so in love, remembering ourselves unless we be tempted as well.