I CORINTHIANS: Immorality Defiles the Church and Cannot be Tolerated, but Can be Forgiven after Repentance!

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. (I Corinthians 5:1-2)

We must remember that Corinth was an immoral society, based on the above scripture, more like amoral.  As we mentioned in a previous lesson, the temple of Aphrodite was there, which housed over one thousand temple prostitutes.  The Christian converts believed in Christ Jesus, but many were obviously having a hard time "being in the world, but not of it", and trying to continue doing certain things that they had no problems doing before but should not be doing anymore.

For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit [soul] may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (I Corinthians 5:3-5)

This is how we are to deal with immorality among believers!  First, we are always to speak the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15)  If whomever the person is, even if it's us, refuses to discontinue the immoral behavior or lifestyle, then the church is to have nothing to do with them.  The goal is not for Satan to have them, but rather to ...note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. (II Thessalonians 3:14-15)

Hopefully the person will realize that the ways of the world are not what's best for him, once Satan has his way with him; then he'll realize he misses the fellowship with other believers and desire to repent and restore his relationship with God and the church.  But what are we to do for that believer while he's not with us in the church? If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask [pray for him], and He [God] will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. [Luke 12:10] I do not say that he should pray about that. (I John 5:16)

Paul goes on to explain what the consequences will be to the church if immorality is not addressed and dealt with quickly and purposefully.  Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (I Corinthians 5:6-8)

The old leaven is the old immoral lifestyle, based on malice and wickedness.  The unleavened bread is the new moral lifestyle, based on sincerity and truth.  Remember, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)  We have to deal with immorality in the church and it can not be tolerated!  Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)

The church has to be very careful that it does not become desensitized, because we don't want to be tempted to do the same things that we used to do and that the world thinks is ok.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. (Hebrews 13:8-9)  I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. (I Corinthians 5:9-10)

Now, here's the thin line we need to make sure we don't cross.  The church is supposed to be a group of people filled with the Holy Spirit of God, who “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:15-16)  The church has to go everywhere and reach out to everyone, regardless of where they are or how they behave. 

Jesus demonstrated and explained it this way.  Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’  [Hosea 6:6] For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Matthew 9:10-13)

We who are the church have to reach out to sinners; For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:22-26)

We just have to be very careful that when we reach out to the world, we're not tempted to go back to doing the things we used to do; For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. (II Peter 2:20-21)

That's why the church can not tolerate immorality among the members of the body.  But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” [Deuteronomy 17:7, etc.] (I Corinthians 5:11-13)  Put them away, but always praying that they will repent and return!